California Ocean Sport Fishing Cheat Sheet 2022-2023
This cheat sheet provides a quick index to regulations. For precise regulation on on individual species, please refer to the official document - 2022-2023 Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations (PDF)
Prohibited Fin fish
White Shark
Green Sturgeon
Giant Sea Bass (A.K.A. Black Sea Bass)
Garibaldi
Groupers - gulf and broomtail
Rockfishes: bronzespotted, cowcod, yelloweye
Salmon - ing (a.k.a. Chinook), pink, sock- eye, silver, and chum
Steelhead (rainbow trout)
Refer to Fishing Season Closure: [Southern] , [Central] , [San Francisco] , [Mendocino] , [Northern]
No Limit Fin Fish
Anchovy, northern
Butterfish, Pacific (a.k.a. Pacific pompano)
Herring, Pacific
Herring, round
Jacksmelt
Mackerel, jack (a.k.a. Spanish mackerel)
Mackerel, Pacific (a.k.a chub mackerel)
Queenfish (a.k.a. herring)
Sanddabs - all except Pacific (for Pacific sanddab see “Flatfish, Other”)
Sardine, Pacific
Sculpin, Pacific staghorn (a.k.a. bullhead)
Topsmelt
Tuna, skipjack
Ratfish
Finfish With Size Limit
Barracuda
Bass, Striped
Bonito, Pacific
Basses, kelp, barred-sand, and spotted-sand
Cabezon
Greenlings, A.K.A Sea Trout
Scorpionfish. A.K.A Sulpin
Halibut, California
Lingcod
Seabass, White
Shark, Leopard
Sheephead, California
Sturgeon, White
Yellowtail
Finfish With Generous Quality Limit (No Size Limit)
Smelt, surf
Surf Perch, Generial. except Redtail Perch
Surf Perch, Shiner
Thornyheads
Pacific Cod
Codling
Dolphin fish, A.K.A Dorado
Flatfish, other
Mudsucker, long jaw
Prickback Monkey-face, A.K.A Monkeyface eel
Rattail, A.K.A Grenadier
Sablefish, A.K.A Black cod
Sharks, spiny, dogfish, and soupfin
Smelt, Surf
Tuna, Albacore
Tuna, Bigeye and yellowfin
Ocean Whitefish
Whiting, Pacific. A.K.A Pacific Hake
Unspecified Flatfish
Unspecified Finfish: White Croaker, Opaleye, Sargo, california, Lizardfish, etc
Finfish With Strict Quality Limit (No Size limit)
Rockfish, Black
Rockfish, Vermilion
Rockfish, Canary
Rockfish, Copper
Rockfish, Quillback
Marlin
Rockfish, Bocaccio. A.K.A Salmon Grou er
Sharks, sixgill and sevengill
Sharks, blue, shortfin, mako, and thresher
Swordfish
Trout, other than steelhead
Tuna, Bluefin
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Anchovy, northern
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Barracuda, Calif.
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. - Sec. 27.60(a)
size limit: 28" total length / 17" alternative length. - Sec. 28.25
seasonal limit: -
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Barnacles
prohibited - Sec. 29.05(b)(1)
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giant sea Bass (a.k.a. black sea bass)
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striped Bass
limit: 2 - Sec. 27.85(b)
size limit: 18 inches North of Pt. Conception. No limit at the South - Sec. 27.85(c)(1) and (2)
seasonal limit: year-round - Sec. 27.85(a)
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Pacific Bonito
limit: 10 - Sec. 28.32(a)
size limit: 24" fork length or 5 pounds, but 5 fishes less than the limit may be taken - Sec. 28.32(b)
seasonal limit: -
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Basses - kelp, barred sand and spotted sand
limit: 5 combined - Sec. 28.30(b)
size limit: 14" total length / 10" alternative length - 28.30(a)
seasonal limit: -
Kelp bass:
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Barred sand bass:
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spotted sand bass:
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Butterfish, Pacific (a.k.a. Pacific pompano)
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Cabezon
limit: 10 within Rockfish Cabezon, Greenling of combined 10 - Sec. 28.28(b)
size limit: 15" 28.28(c)
seasonal limit: year-round. Closed to boat Jan1-Feb28 - Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Coastal Pelagic Species
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: ? Sec. 1.39
seasonal limit: ? Sec. 1.39
Cod, Pacific
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a), 20 combined, 10 for individual species of Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny dogfish, all skates, ratfish, all grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, longspine thornyhead and shortspine thornyhead. - Sec. 28.49(b)(3)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Codling (Antimora microlepis)
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a), 20 combined, 10 for individual species of Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny dogfish, all skates, ratfish, all grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, longspine thornyhead and shortspine thornyhead. - Sec. 28.49(b)(3)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Dolphinfish (a.k.a. dorado)
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Fish, Other (ratfish, finescale codling, Pacific grenadier & all other genera and species of grenadiers )
limit: Sec. 1.91(a)(11)
size limit: Sec. 1.91(a)(11)
seasonal limit: Sec. 1.91(a)(11)
Flatfish, Federally Managed
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a), 28.49(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
Flatfish, Other
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a), 28.48(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 28.48(a)
Pacific Sanddab
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Garibaldi
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Greenlings - kelp and rock (a.k.a sea trout)
limit: 10 within Rockfish Cabezon, Greenling of combined 10. - Sec. 28.29(b)
size limit: 12" - Sec. 28.29(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
kelp Greenlings
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rock Greenlings
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Groundfish, Federal
limit: Sec. 1.91(a)
size limit: Sec. 1.91(a)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51, and 28.48(a)
Groupers - gulf and broomtail
gulf grouper
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broomtail grouper
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Grunion, Calif.
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 28.00
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Halibut, Calif.
limit: 5 south of Point Sur, Monterey County; 3 at north - Sec. 28.15(a)
size limit: 22" - Sec. 28.15(b)
seasonal limit: -
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Halibut, Pacific
limit: 1 - Sec. 28.20(b)
size limit: - - Sec. 28.20(c)
seasonal limit: May 1 to 15, June 1 to 15, July 1 to 15, August 1 to 15, and September 1 to October 31; 25,220 pounds quota - Sec. 28.20(a)
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Herring, Pacific
limit: 10 gallon, 100 pounds. ~520 fish - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Herring, round
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Highly Migratory Species as defined in Sec. 1.49
limit: Sec. 1.49
size limit: Sec. 1.49
seasonal limit: Sec. 1.49
Jacksmelt
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Lingcod
limit: 2 - Sec. 28.27(b)
size limit: 22" - 28.27(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Mackerel, jack (a.k.a. Spanish mackerel)
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Mackerel, Pacific (a.k.a chub mackerel)
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Marlin - black, blue, and striped
limit: 1 - Sec. 28.50
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Mudsucker, longjaw
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Prickleback, monkey- face (a.k.a monkeyface eel)
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Queenfish (a.k.a. herring)
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Ratfish
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b), 28.49(b)(3)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Rattail (a.k.a grenadier)
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a), 28.49(b)(3)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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RCG Complex (Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenlings)
limit: Sec.28.28(b),28.29(b),28.55(b), Sec. 1.91(b)
size limit: Sec. 28.28(c), 28.29(c), 28.55(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
Rockfish, black
limit: 10 within Rockfish Cabezon, Greenling of combined 10 - Sec. 28.55(b)(2)
size limit: - Sec. 28.55(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Rockfish, Vermilion
limit: 3 within Rockfish Cabezon, Greenling of combined 10 - Sec. 28.55(b)(2)
size limit: - Sec. 28.55(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Rockfish, bocaccio (a.k.a salmon grouper)
limit: 10 within Rockfish Cabezon, Greenling of combined 10 - Sec. 28.55(b)(2)
size limit: - Sec. 28.55(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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canary Rockfish
limit: 10 within Rockfish Cabezon, Greenling of combined 10 - Sec. 28.55(b)(2)
size limit: - Sec. 28.55(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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copper Rockfish
limit: 1 within Rockfish Cabezon, Greenling of combined 10 - Sec. 28.55(b)(3)
size limit: - Sec. 28.55(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
quillback Rockfish
limit: 1 within Rockfish Cabezon, Greenling of combined 10 - Sec. 28.55(b)(4)
size limit: - Sec. 28.55(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
Rockfishes - bronzespotted, cowcod, yelloweye
bronzespotted Rockfish
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cowcod
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yelloweye Rockfish
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Roundfish
limit: Sec. 1.91(a)(7)
size limit: Sec. 1.91(a)(7)
seasonal limit: Sec. 1.91(a)(7)
Sablefish (a.k.a. black cod)
limit: 20 combined, 10 for individual species of Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny dogfish, all skates, ratfish, all grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, longspine thornyhead and shortspine thornyhead. - Sec. 28.49(b)(3)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Salmon - king (a.k.a. Chinook), pink, sock- eye, silver, and chum
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Sanddabs - all except Pacific (for Pacific sanddab see “Flatfish, Other”)
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
Sardine, Pacific
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Scorpionfish, Calif. (a.k.a sculpin)
limit: 5 - Sec. 28.54(b)
size limit: 10" Sec. 28.54(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Sculpin, Pacific staghorn (a.k.a. bullhead)
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Seabass, white
limit: 1 for south of Pt. Conception in 3/15-6/15; 3 otherwise - Sec. 28.35(c)
size limit: 28" - Sec. 28.35(a)
seasonal limit: year-round 28.35(b)
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Sharks1 as defined in Sec. 1.91(a)(5)
Shark, leopard
limit: 3 - Sec. 28.56(b)
size limit: Sec. 36" - 28.56(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Shark, white
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Sharks - sixgill and sevengill
limit: 1 per species - Sec. 28.41
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
sixgill shark
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sevengill shark
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Sharks - blue, shortfin mako and thresher
limit: 2 per species - Sec. 28.42
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
blue shark
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shortfin mako shark
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thresher shark
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Sharks - spiny dogfish and soupfin
limit: 1 soupfin. 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species of Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny dogfish, all skates, ratfish, all grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, longspine thornyhead and shortspine thornyhead. - Sec. 28.49(b)(2)and(3)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
Spiny dogfish
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soupfin
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Sheephead, California
limit: 5 - Sec. 28.26(b)
size limit: 12" - Sec. 28.26(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Skate - big, California, and longnose as defined in Sec. 1.91(a)(6)
limit: *20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species of Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny dogfish, all skates, ratfish, all grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, longspine thornyhead and shortspine thornyhead.** - 28.49(b)(3)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
Big Skate
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California Skate
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longnose Skate
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Smelt, surf
limit: 25 pounds combined - Sec. 28.45
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Sturgeon, white
limit: 1 per day; 3 per year - Sec. 27.90(b)
size limit: 40"-60" fork length - Sec. 27.90(c)
seasonal limit: year-round. but see other regulation: Sec. 27.90(a), Sec. 27.95
report card required
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Sturgeon, green
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Surfperches, general
limit: 20, not including shiner surfperch; but 5 for San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay - Sec. 28.59(c)(1)
size limit: 10.5" for redtail. None for others - Sec. 28.59(d)
seasonal limit: Sec. 28.59(b)
Surfperch, redtail
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Other surfperch
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Surfperch, shiner
limit: 20 within 20 finfish combined - Sec. 28.59(c)(2)
size limit: - - Sec. 28.59(d)
seasonal limit: Sec. 28.59(b)
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Swordfish, broadbill
limit: 2 - Sec. 28.40
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Thornyheads - longspine and shortspine
limit: 20 combined, 10 for individual species of Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny dogfish, all skates, ratfish, all grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, longspine thornyhead and shortspine thornyhead. - Sec. 28.49(b)(3), Sec. 1.91(a)(8)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
longspine Thornyheads
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shortspine Thornyheads
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Topsmelt
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Steelhead (rainbow trout)
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Trout (other than steelhead)
limit: 3 - Sec. 27.70(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Tuna, albacore
limit: 10 for Point Conception South; 25 for North. in addition to 20 finfish limit - Sec. 28.38(a)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Tuna, bluefin
limit: 2, in addition to 20 finfish limit - Sec. 28.38(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Tuna, skipjack
limit: no limit. - Sec. 27.60(b), Sec. 28.38(c)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Tunas - bigeye and yellowfin
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a), Sec. 28.38(d)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
bigeye tuna
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yellowfin tuna
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Whitefish, ocean
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a), Sec. 28.58(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Whiting, Pacific (a.k.a. Pacific hake)
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a), 28.49(b)(3)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 27.20 through 27.51
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Yellowtail
limit: 10 - Sec. 28.37(a)
size limit: 24" - Sec. 28.37(b)
seasonal limit: -
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All flatfish not listed above (for example, diamond turbot, etc.)
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
diamond turbot
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All marine finfish not listed above (including but not limited to: white croaker, opaleye, sargo, Calif. lizardfish, etc.)
limit: 20 finfish combined, 10 for individual species. Sec. 27.60(a)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
white croaker
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Shrimp - ghost and blue mud
limit: 50 combined Sec. 29.87
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.05(a) and (b)
ghost shrimp
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blue mud shrimp
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Abalone, red
limit: 3 per day, 18 per year - Sec. 29.15(c)
size limit: 7" - Sec. 29.15(d)
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.15(a) and (b)
Emergency regulations: season open in May, June, August, September and October.
report card required
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Abalone - all other species
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All marine invertebrates not listed below (including but not limited to: limpets, turban snails, native oysters, octopuses, non-Cancer crabs, shrimp, sand dollars, sea urchins, worms etc.)
limit: Sec. 29.05
size limit: Sec. 29.05(a) and (c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.05(a) and (b)
Clams, general
limit: Sec. 29.05(a)
size limit: Sec. 29.05(a), 29.10(b), 29.20(a) and (d)
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.05(a) and (b), 29.20(b)
gear limit: No hydraulic hand pumps. 29.20(c)
Clam, Pismo
limit: Sec. 29.40(b)
size limit: Sec. 29.05(c), 29.10(b), 29.20(d), 29.40(c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.20(b), 29.40(a) and (d)
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Clam, razor
limit: Sec. 29.45(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.20(b), 29.45(a)
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Clams - gaper and Washington
limit: Sec. 29.25
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.20(b)
Gaper clam (horse clam / horseneck clam)
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Washington clam (butter clam / money
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Clams - geoduck (a.k.a. horse or horseneck clams)
limit: Sec. 29.30
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.20(b)
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Clams - littleneck, soft- shell, chiones, northern quahogs, cockles
limit: Sec. 29.35(a)
size limit: Sec. 29.05(c), 29.10(b), 29.20(d), 29.35(b)
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.20(b)
littleneck clam
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softshell clam
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Northern quahogs clam (hard-shelled clam)
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Crab, Dungeness (Cancer magister)
limit: 10 - Sec. 29.85(a)(3)
size limit: 5.75 inches - 29.85(a)(7) and (c)
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.85(a)(1) and (2)(A) and (B)
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Crabs - Cancer genus other than Dungeness crab (rock crab, etc.)
limit: 35 - Sec. 29.85(b)(2)
size limit: 4 inches - Sec. 29.85(b)(3), and(c)
seasonal limit: year-round - Sec. 29.85(b)(1)
Rock crab
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Crab, sand (a.k.a. mole crab)
limit: Sec. 29.85(d)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.05(a)
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Lobster, spiny
limit: Sec. 29.90(b)
size limit: 29.90(c) and (e)
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.90(a)
report card required
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Shrimp, bay (a.k.a. grass shrimp)
limit: Sec. 29.86
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.05(a) and (b)
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Mussels
limit: Sec. 29.55
size limit: 10 pounds
seasonal limit: Annual quarantine issued by CDPH: no take from May through October. Biotoxin Information Line: 1-800-553-4133
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Scallop, rock (Crassadoma)
limit: Sec. 29.60(a)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
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Scallop, speckled (bay)
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Squid - market and jumbo Snail, moon
limit: Sec. 29.70
size limit: -
seasonal limit: -
Jumbo Squid
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Market squid
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Shrimp, coonstripe
limit: Sec. 29.88(b)
size limit: -
seasonal limit: Sec. 29.05(a)
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