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California regulations

Rockfish Regulations in California 2026

California rockfish regulations in 2026: 10 fish/day bag limit. Zone-specific exceptions may apply — see the rule table below. Sourced from CDFW.

About Rockfish

Rules (15)

California statewide
Daily bag
10 fish/day
Verified · View official source ↗
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
Verified · View official source ↗
All Ocean WatersOpen
Status
Permitted
Fillets must have the entire skin attached.
Verified · View official source ↗
Central Groundfish Management AreaOpen
Status
Open
Verified · View official source ↗
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.
Verified · View official source ↗
Mendocino Groundfish Management AreaOpen
Status
Open
Verified · View official source ↗
Northern
Daily bag
4 fish/day
Verified · View official source ↗
Northern Groundfish Management AreaOpen
Status
Open
Verified · View official source ↗
Ocean WatersClosed
Status
Prohibited
TAKE AND POSSESSION IS NOT ALLOWED
Verified · View official source ↗
San Francisco Groundfish Management AreaOpen
Status
Open
Verified · View official source ↗
Southern
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Verified · View official source ↗
Southern Groundfish Management AreaOpen
Status
Open
Verified · View official source ↗

Other California fish regulations

Other regulated species in California with current rule pages — same CDFW source, same verification cadence.

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

Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with CDFW before keeping a catch.

← All California fishing regulations