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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

No Limit Fin Fish

Finfish With Size Limit

Finfish With Generous Quality Limit (No Size Limit)

Finfish With Strict Quality Limit (No Size limit)

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)

  • prohibited

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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

  • prohibited

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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

  • prohibited
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

  • prohibited
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

  • prohibited

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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

  • prohibited

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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

  • prohibited

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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)

  • prohibited

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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

  • prohibited

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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)

  • prohibited

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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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