On March 26 , 2024 , the California Fish and Game Commission adopted proposed changes to the 2024 groundfish season . Those changes are now in effect . The following is an overview of changes in the 2024 groundfish sport fishing regulations : Split of Central Groundfish Management Area ( GMA ): The Central GMA is now split into two sub-management areas . Using 36 º N . latitude ( near Point Lopez ) as the split point , the sub-management areas are the Central GMA North and Central GMA South . This split provides more inshore groundfish fishing opportunities to anglers in areas south of 36 º N . latitude , an area that historically has little to no catch of quillback rockfish , a prohibited species . 20-fathom inshore fishery : Extending to a depth of approximately 120 feet in state waters ( 0-3 miles from shore ), this new set of waypoints define a 20-fathom boundary line that largely avoids quillback rockfish in their primary depth range between 20 fathoms ( 120 feet ) and 50 fathoms ( 300 feet ) off the coast of northern and central California . Boat-based fishing season depths : Below is a summary of the 2024 seasons for each GMA . A 20-fathom or 50-fathom ‘ inshore only fishery ’ and the all-depth fishery allows opportunities to retain nearshore , shelf and slope rockfish , lingcod , cabezon and greenling . During months when there is an ‘ offshore only fishery ’, fishing for groundfish will only be allowed seaward of the 50-fathom boundary line , and only shelf rockfish , slope rockfish and lingcod may be retained . Take and possession of nearshore rockfish , cabezon and greenling are prohibited during the offshore only fishery . Northern , Mendocino , San Francisco and Central GMA North of 36 º N . Latitude

Jan . 1 – Mar . 31 : Closed Apr . 1 – Apr . 30 : 50 fathom offshore only fishery May 1 – Sept . 30 : 20 fathom inshore only fishery Oct . 1 – Oct . 31 : 50 fathom offshore only fishery Nov . 1 – Nov . 30 : 20 fathom inshore only fishery Dec . 1 – Dec . 31 : 50 fathom offshore only fishery Central GMA South of 36 º N . Latitude & Southern GMA Jan . 1 – Mar . 31 : Closed Apr . 1 – June 30 : All depth fishery July 1 – Sept . 30 : 50 fathom inshore only fishery Oct . 1 – Dec . 31 : 50 fathom offshore only fishery Descending device requirement : A descending device must be carried aboard and available for immediate use on any vessel taking or possessing any species of federal groundfish . Descending devices are used to send fish back to the depth from which they were taken , resulting in considerably higher survival rates for rockfish suffering from barotrauma compared to fish that are released at the water ’ s surface . Vermilion rockfish limit : To protect vermilion rockfish from overfishing , the sub-limit is now two fish within the Rockfish , Cabezon and Greenling Complex 10-fish limit , in the Mendocino , San Francisco , Central , and Southern GMAs . The 4-fish vermilion rockfish sub-limit is unchanged for the Northern GMA . Cowcod Conservation Areas repealed : The Cowcod Conservation Areas off Southern California were repealed and replaced with a series of smaller closed areas ( Groundfish Exclusion Areas ) that are specifically designed to protect the sensitive and abundant coral and sponge populations documented in those areas . The Cowcod Conservation Areas , excluding the eight Groundfish Exclusion Areas , will be open to fishing for the first time in more than 20 years , after being closed in 2001 . Divers and shore-based anglers : There are no changes for divers and shore-based anglers , who will continue to be exempt from boat-based season restrictions affecting rockfish and other federally managed groundfish . This allows for year-round diving and shore-based angling for groundfish , in line with current regulations . As a reminder , when boat-based groundfish fishing is closed , all types of fishing gear except spearfishing gear are prohibited on board the vessel or watercraft ( motorized or non− motorized ) when taking and / or possessing groundfish . ways to identify quillback and gopher rockfish Prohibited species : Take of bronzespotted rockfish , cowcod , quillback rockfish , and yelloweye rockfish is prohibited year-round at all depths . For more information on groundfish , check out CDFW ’ s Groundfish web page , which provides information on groundfish fishery science and management , barotrauma , and new fish identification resources for yelloweye rockfish , yellowtail rockfish vs . olive rockfish , and other rockfish species of concern , as well as more general fish identification materials . – California Department of Fish and Wildlife

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Limits of a variety of rockfish are filling anglers bags while fishing the Central Coast with Flying Fish Sportfishing .

Photo Courtesy of Flying Fish Sportfishing

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