Can I Keep?California Saltwater Fishing Regulations (2026)
Recreational size limits, bag limits and seasons for 43 saltwater species in California, from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Last checked November 7, 2026. Where a species has several rules (by area or water), the table shows the first; open the species for all of them.
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Official California regulations · Saltwater fishing license
Inshore
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Halibut (6 rules) | The minimum size limit is 22 inches total length. | 2 per person | The recreational fishery for California halibut (Paralichthys… |
| Striped Bass | 18 in minimum | 2 per person | The recreational fishery for striped bass (Morone saxitilis) is open… |
| Surfperch (6 rules) | Redtail surfperch (Amphistichus rhodoterus) have a minimum size limit… | 20 per person | The recreational fishery for surfperch (PDF) (family Embiotocidae) is… |
Reef fish
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Sheephead (2 rules) | 12 in minimum | 2 per person | The recreational fishery for California sheephead (Bodianus pulcher)… |
| Giant Sea Bass | — | — | The recreational fishery for giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) is… |
| Groupers | The daily bag and possession limit is 10 fish within the general… | 10 per person | Identification Guide: Grouper Identification The recreational fishery… |
| Kelp Bass, Barred Sand Bass, Spotted Sand Bass | 14 in minimum | 5 per person | The fisheries for kelp bass, barred sand bass, and spotted sand bass… |
Offshore & pelagic
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Grunion | — | The bag limit is 30 fish. | The recreational fishery for California grunion (Leuresthes tenuis)… |
| Herring Eggs | — | — | — |
| Leopard Shark (6 rules) | 36 in minimum | 3 per person | The recreational fishery for leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) is… |
| Pacific Herring (6 rules) | — | Ten gallons of Pacific herring may be taken per day (approximately… | The recreational fishery for Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) is open… |
| Sharks (state-managed) (6 rules) | The bag limits for sixgill shark (YouTube) (Hexanchus griseus) and… | The bag limits for sixgill shark (YouTube) (Hexanchus griseus) and… | Open year-round, except that white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias)… |
| Tunas (5 rules) | — | Refer to California ocean sport fishing regulations for bag limits… | The recreational fishery for tunas is open year-round. |
| White Seabass (4 rules) | 28 in minimum | The daily bag and possession limit is three fish. | The recreational fishery for white seabass (Atractoscion nobilis)… |
| Yellowtail | 24 in minimum | The daily bag and possession limit is ten fish. | The fishery for yellowtail (Seriola dorsalis) remains open year-round. |
Groundfish & flatfish
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronzespotted Rockfish | — | zero fish per person | Fishing is closed year-round, at all depths, no retention at any time… |
| Cabezon (5 rules) | Cabezon and Greenlings: No minimum size limit | 10 per person | Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters | April 1… |
| California Scorpionfish | The daily bag and possession limit is 5 fish with no minimum size… | 5 per person | The recreational fishery for California scorpionfish (Scorpaena… |
| California Scorpionfish (a.k.a. sculpin) (4 rules) | The daily bag and possession limit is 5 fish with no minimum size… | 5 per person | The recreational fishery for California scorpionfish (Scorpaena… |
| Cowcod | — | zero fish per person | Fishing is closed year-round, at all depths, no retention at any time… |
| Kelp and rock greenlings (5 rules) | Cabezon and Greenlings: No minimum size limit | 10 per person | Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters | April 1… |
| Lingcod (5 rules) | 22" total length | 2 fish per person | Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters | April 1… |
| Nearshore rockfish (5 rules) | All Rockfish: No minimum size limit | 10 per person | Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters | April 1… |
| Ocean Whitefish (2 rules) | The daily bag and possession limit is 10 fish within the general… | 10 per person | The recreational fishery for ocean whitefish (opens in new tab)… |
| Other Federally Managed Groundfish (6 rules) | Refer to California ocean sport fishing regulations for size limits… | Refer to California ocean sport fishing regulations for size limits… | The recreational fisheries for all other federally managed groundfish… |
| Pacific Halibut (5 rules) | The daily bag and possession limit for Pacific halibut is one fish… | 1 per person | The recreational fishery for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus… |
| Pacific Sanddab and Other Flatfish (6 rules) | Refer to California ocean sport fishing regulations for size limits… | Refer to California ocean sport fishing regulations for size limits… | The recreational fishery is open year-round, at all depths for the… |
| Petrale Sole and Starry Flounder (6 rules) | There are no bag or size limits for petrale sole or starry flounder. | There are no bag or size limits for petrale sole or starry flounder. | The recreational fisheries for petrale sole (Eopsetta jordani) and… |
| Quillback Rockfish | — | zero fish per person | Fishing is closed year-round, at all depths, no retention at any time… |
| Shelf and slope rockfish (5 rules) | All Rockfish: No minimum size limit | 10 per person | Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters | April 1… |
| Yelloweye Rockfish | — | zero fish per person | Fishing is closed year-round, at all depths, no retention at any time… |
Salmon & trout
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook salmon (6 rules) | — | — | The recreational fishery for ocean salmon (Onchorynchus spp.) is… |
| Sturgeon (5 rules) | White sturgeon greater than 60 inches fork length may not be removed… | The daily bag and possession limit for white sturgeon is zero (0)… | The recreational fishery for white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)… |
Crabs, lobster & shrimp
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Shrimp (Grass Shrimp) | — | Limit: Five pounds. | — |
| Dungeness Crab (5 rules) | The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5¾… | 10 per person | NOTE: CDFW has delayed the opening of the recreational Dungeness crab… |
| Ghost Shrimp and Blue Mud Shrimp | — | Limit: 50 in combination of species. | — |
| Rock Crab (6 rules) | 4 in minimum | 35 per person | The recreational fishery for all rock crab species, including red… |
| Spiny Lobster | The minimum size limit is three and one-fourth inches measured along… | The daily bag limit is seven lobster. | The recreational fishery for California spiny lobster (Panulirus… |
Clams, oysters & scallops
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abalone (2 rules) | — | — | The recreational fishery for red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) is… |
| Clams (6 rules) | Review California ocean sport fishing regulations for size limits… | Review California ocean sport fishing regulations for size limits… | Razor Clams The razor clam fishery is closed in Humboldt and Del… |
| Mussels (6 rules) | — | The daily bag and possession limit is 10 pounds (in the shell) of… | The recreational season for California sea mussel (Mytilus… |
| Razor Clam (2 rules) | — | — | The fishery for Pacific razor clam (Siliqua patula) is closed in… |
| Red Abalone (4 rules) | — | — | The recreational fishery for red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) is… |