Shelf and slope rockfish Regulations in California (2026)

Where

Northern Management Area (ocean)

Size limit

All Rockfish: No minimum size limit

Bag limit

10 fish in combination per person, except: Copper rockfish (PDF): 1 fish per person Vermilion/sunset rockfish (PDF): 4 fish per person combined in Northern Management Area 2 fish per person combined in all other areas Canary rockfish (PDF): 2 fish per person

Season

Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters | April 1 - December 31: Open all depths

• Descending device required in possession when taking federal groundfish from a boat in ocean waters (CCR T14, §27.20(b)(2)).
• Boundary: 42°00’ N. latitude (CA-OR Border) to 40°10' N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) (CCR T14, §27.25(a)) Printable PDF of this table
• Filleting aboard a vessel: All Rockfish: No minimum length. Fillets must have entire skin attached Cabezon and Greenlings: No minimum length. Fillets must have the entire skin attached
• Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions (footnote 2).
• Page updated June 23, 2026; regulations subject to in-season change.

Official source

Where

Mendocino Management Area (ocean)

Size limit

All Rockfish: No minimum size limit

Bag limit

10 fish in combination per person, except: Copper rockfish (PDF): 1 fish per person Vermilion/sunset rockfish (PDF): 4 fish per person combined in Northern Management Area 2 fish per person combined in all other areas Canary rockfish (PDF): 2 fish per person

Season

Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters | April 1 - December 31: Open all depths

• Descending device required in possession when taking federal groundfish from a boat in ocean waters (CCR T14, §27.20(b)(2)).
• Boundary: 40°10' N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) to 38°57.5' N. latitude (Point Arena)(CCR T14, §27.30(a)) Printable PDF of this table
• Filleting aboard a vessel: All Rockfish: No minimum length. Fillets must have entire skin attached Cabezon and Greenlings: No minimum length. Fillets must have the entire skin attached
• Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions (footnote 2).
• Page updated June 23, 2026; regulations subject to in-season change.

Official source

Where

San Francisco Management Area (ocean)

Size limit

All Rockfish: No minimum size limit

Bag limit

10 fish in combination per person, except: Copper rockfish (PDF): 1 fish per person Vermilion/sunset rockfish (PDF): 4 fish per person combined in Northern Management Area 2 fish per person combined in all other areas Canary rockfish (PDF): 2 fish per person

Season

Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters | April 1 - December 31: Open all depths

• Descending device required in possession when taking federal groundfish from a boat in ocean waters (CCR T14, §27.20(b)(2)).
• Boundary: 38°57.5' N. latitude (Point Arena) to 37°11' N. latitude (Pigeon Point)(CCR T14, §27.35(a))
• Filleting aboard a vessel: All Rockfish: No minimum length. Fillets must have entire skin attached Cabezon and Greenlings: No minimum length. Fillets must have the entire skin attached
• Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions (footnote 2).
• Page updated June 23, 2026; regulations subject to in-season change.

Official source

Where

Central Management Area (ocean)

Size limit

All Rockfish: No minimum size limit

Bag limit

10 fish in combination per person, except: Copper rockfish (PDF): 1 fish per person Vermilion/sunset rockfish (PDF): 4 fish per person combined in Northern Management Area 2 fish per person combined in all other areas Canary rockfish (PDF): 2 fish per person

Season

Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters | April 1 - December 31: Open all depths

• Descending device required in possession when taking federal groundfish from a boat in ocean waters (CCR T14, §27.20(b)(2)).
• Boundary: 37°11' N. latitude (Pigeon Point) to 34°27' N. latitude (Point Conception)(CCR T14, §27.40(a)) Printable PDF of this table
• Filleting aboard a vessel: All Rockfish: No minimum length. Fillets must have entire skin attached Cabezon and Greenlings: No minimum length. Fillets must have the entire skin attached
• Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions (footnote 2).
• Page updated June 23, 2026; regulations subject to in-season change.

Official source

Where

Southern Management Area (ocean)

Size limit

All Rockfish: No minimum size limit

Bag limit

10 fish in combination per person, except: Copper rockfish (PDF): 1 fish per person Vermilion/sunset rockfish (PDF): 4 fish per person combined in Northern Management Area 2 fish per person combined in all other areas Canary rockfish (PDF): 2 fish per person

Season

Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters | April 1 - June 30: Open All Depths | July 1 - Sep 30: 50 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C) | Oct 1 - Dec 31: 50 Fathom - Offshore Only Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C)

• Descending device required in possession when taking federal groundfish from a boat in ocean waters (CCR T14, §27.20(b)(2)).
• Boundary: 34°27' N. latitude (Point Conception) to the U.S.-Mexico Border (CCR T14, §27.45(a))
• Filleting aboard a vessel: All Rockfish: No minimum length. Fillets must have entire skin attached Cabezon and Greenlings: No minimum length. Fillets must have the entire skin attached
• Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions (footnote 2).
• Page updated June 23, 2026; regulations subject to in-season change.

Official source