California regulations
Rockfish Regulations in California 2026
California Rockfish regulations as of 2026-05-08: Daily bag 10 fish; Gear Not More Than Two Hooks And One Line; Status Closed. Sourced from CDFW.
Rules (15)
California statewide
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
AllClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Daily bag
- 10 fish
- Gear
- Not More Than Two Hooks And One Line
These species shall not be taken or possessed as part of the RCG limit within the Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling complex (RCG complex, as defined in Section 1.91) limit of 10 fish, in any combination of species When angling
All Ocean WatersOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Fillets must have the entire skin attached.
Central Groundfish Management AreaOpen
- Status
- Open
Groundfish Exclusion AreasClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
- Status
- Closed
Take or possession of all rockfish is prohibited The limit on bronzespotted rockfish, cowcod, quillback rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish is zero. These species shall not be taken or possessed as part of the RCG limit.
Mendocino Groundfish Management AreaOpen
- Status
- Open
Northern
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
Northern Groundfish Management AreaOpen
- Status
- Open
Ocean WatersClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
TAKE AND POSSESSION IS NOT ALLOWED
San Francisco Groundfish Management AreaOpen
- Status
- Open
Southern
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
Southern Groundfish Management AreaOpen
- Status
- Open
Also known as
Rockfish is also called Vermilion Rockfish, Black Rockfish, Yelloweye Rockfish. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in California.
Frequently asked questions
When is Rockfish season in California?
Rockfish season in California is set by CDFW. Some zones may have specific open windows; see the rule table above.
What is the size limit for Rockfish in California?
California does not publish a state-wide minimum size for Rockfish. Check zone-specific rules above.
What is the daily bag limit for Rockfish in California?
Daily bag limit for Rockfish in California is 10 fish in All, per CDFW.
Official sources cited
- https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=239985&inline
- https://wildlife.ca.gov
- https://www.eregulations.com/california/fishing
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with CDFW before keeping a catch. Last verified .