Fish and Game Commission
CONTACT: Don Schultze, Marine Region, (916) 722-7658
Troy Swauger, Information Officer, (916) 654-2096
MEDIA ADVISORY
SACRAMENTO -- New fishing regulations adopted by the California Fish and
Game Commission that will affect angling for various marine fish stocks
remain under review by the Office of Administrative Law, the state's
oversight agency for rule making proposals.The proposed regulations, adopted at the Commission's December meeting, affect recreational and commercial fishing for such popular bottom dwelling species as rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, and sheephead, said Patricia Wolf, regional manager for the California Department of Fish and Game's Marine Region.
Until the new regulations are approved, last year's regulations remain in place and continue to be in effect. This includes a ban on sport fishing for rockfish and lingcod in state waters (up to three miles offshore) between Monterey County's Lopez Point and Point Conception in Santa Barbara County. The closure is not consistent with federal regulations in the area which allow for rockfish and lingcod fishing in waters between three to 200 miles offshore.
DFG is reminding anglers that rockfish and lingcod retention is prohibited when fishing in areas closed to fishing for these species.
Anglers are urged to follow the more restrictive federal gear restrictions, bag limits and size restrictions when fishing in state waters. A summary of the current state and federal regulations for the affected species can be found on DFG's web page at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/newrockfish.html.