An important bit of information I neglected to share yesterday in my post-tuna hangover (small boat tuna guys, you know what I'm talking about) is that the rockcod regulations that we were told will be changing, have changed. The press release: "

In response to new scientific information on quillback rockfish populations off California, the California Fish and Game Commission took emergency action on Aug. 14 to restore access to fishing depths in state waters that have been closed to protect them since 2023. The new state regulations are in effect as of Aug. 28, 2025.

In state waters between the Oregon/California border and Point Conception (34° 27’ N. Lat.), fishing for rockfish, cabezon, and greenling (RCG Complex) and lingcod is now open in all depths.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is working to implement similar all-depth fishing regulations for federal waters, however they are not expected to take effect until mid-September. As a result, federal waters will remain closed to RCG Complex and lingcod fishing north of 36° N. Lat. (near Lopez Point) until federal regulations are in effect. From Lopez Point to Point Conception, federal waters will remain closed for RCG Complex and lingcod fishing seaward of the 50 fathom Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line.

A map that includes the boundary line between state and federal waters is available on the Ocean Sport Fishing Map Viewer.  

Since fishing in the Southern Groundfish Management Area (south of Point Conception, to the US/Mexico border) is constrained by copper rockfish (Sebastes caurinus) and vermilion rockfish (Sebastes miniatus)/sunset rockfish (Sebastes crocotulus), there are no changes to the current fishing seasons in the Southern Groundfish Management Area.

Anglers should also take note of other important elements of the state’s recreational groundfish regulations:

There is now a two fish sub-bag limit on canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) statewide.  

Vermilion rockfish and sunset rockfish are now considered the same species for regulatory purposes. Both species in combination count towards the vermilion rockfish/sunset rockfish sub-bag limits.

Retention of quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger), bronzespotted rockfish (Sebastes gilli), cowcod (Sebastes levis), and yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) remains prohibited statewide. 

This blog post will be updated when federal regulations that open RCG Complex and lingcod fishing at all depths go into effect; please check back regularly. The Summary of Recreational Groundfish Regulations web page will also be updated with the most current information.  

Please send CDFW any questions you may have regarding the new recreational RCG Complex and lingcod regulation changes." 

   A very basic summary: You can fish all depths. The stuff you couldn't keep before you still can't keep. The canary limit dropped to two. The middle water (120 to 300 feet) hasn't been fished in almost two  years. If you don't mind reeling a little more it should pay off. 

   Also, salmon will reopen on September 4 through September 7th. If the 7500 fish quota isn't caught in that time than it will reopen for another short window later. In my humble opinion, after watching black-out-the-meter schools salmon chase stripers out of the surf here for two weeks, guys having to release multiple salmon at Hog Island, the first season going well over quota in their "limited" two days, well, probably don't wait for the second opener. My prediction is 20,000 fish will be caught. Or more. I plan on personally accounting for at least two. Good luck if you go. Remember, it will be open from Point Reyes, south to Point Sur. Not off Tomales Point or Bodega Head. There will be plenty of fish there but they are no go. Go south, young man...