In-Season Ocean Fishing Regulation Changes

This page contains information about unscheduled, in-season regulation changes for recreational and commercial ocean fishing.

CDFW is required to notify the public of in-season groundfish regulation changes at least 10 days before the new regulations becomes effective, via news release.

The department shall give the public and the NOAA Fisheries no less than 10 calendar days' notice of any fishery closure or rule change implemented pursuant to this section via a department news release. - California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 27.20(f)(external link)

For information about new and proposed in-season regulation changes separate from those under Fish and Game Commission rulemaking authority, visit CDFW's Proposed Regulations page.

Further information may be obtained by calling your local CDFW office. You may also sign up for the Marine Region News Service to receive automatic notification of in-season regulation changes.

News Releases, Updates and Informational Notices

Summaries of Regulation or Season Changes

August 31, 2026

The recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County has been reopened. Recent testing conducted by state health agencies shows domoic acid has decreased to safe levels in razor clams in this area.

August 19, 2026

On August 19, 2026, federal fishery managers took inseason action to close the summer commercial ocean salmon fishing season off California. The 83,000 Chinook salmon Summer Harvest Limit has been attained, and the summer commercial season has been closed.

Federal fishery managers also took action to modify the recreational spring/summer ocean salmon fishing season, adjusting the closure date to August 24, 2026 in the San Francisco Management Area. The last day of the recreational spring/summer ocean salmon season will be August 23, 2026 in this area.

July 31, 2026

The June 26, 2026 Monterey Bay commercial fishing restrictions for northern anchovy and Pacific sardine taken for human consumption have been lifted. This action comes after state health agencies determined that northern anchovy and Pacific sardine no longer pose a human health risk if consumed.

The recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County has been closed due to a human health risk. High levels of domoic acid have been found in razor clams.

July 28, 2026

The Klamath Management Zone (ocean waters between the California/Oregon border and 40º10′ N. latitude) is now closed for recreational ocean salmon fishing. The Fort Bragg Management Area (ocean waters between 40º10′ N. latitude and Point Arena) will open August 1 for recreational ocean salmon fishing, and continue through August 9. The remainder of the August dates previously scheduled for the Fort Bragg Management Area are now closed. The San Francisco and Monterey management areas will open for recreational salmon fishing from August 1 through August 31 or until the harvest guidelines for Chinook salmon are met, whichever is earlier. There have been no changes to the recreational fall ocean salmon season that begins in September.

June 26, 2026

In waters south of Pigeon Point, San Mateo County (37⁰ 11.000’ N. lat.) to a line due west from Point Lobos, Monterey County (36⁰ 31.461’ N. lat.), the commercial take of northern anchovy and Pacific sardine for human consumption has been restricted. Commercial take of northern anchovy and Pacific sardine for bait use is allowed, though any anchovy or sardine sold as dead bait must be clearly labeled as not for human consumption or use in pet food. The fishery restrictions only apply to northern anchovy and Pacific sardine, which have been found to have high levels of domoic acid in samples. This restriction does not apply to other finfish.

May 15, 2026

In Fishing Zone 3 (Sonoma/Mendocino county line, 38°46.125' N. Latitude to Pigeon Point, 37°11' N. Latitude), a recreational trap prohibition will go into effect at 6 p.m. on May 22, 2026. CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place in early June 2026.

April 17, 2026

A 30-fathom depth restriction will be implemented in the commercial Dungeness crab fishery effective 6 p.m. on April 30, 2026 in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 (California/Oregon border to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line). In Fishing Zone 3 (Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Pigeon Point), the commercial Dungeness crab fishery will close at 6 p.m. on April 30, 2026, at which time the commercial take and possession of Dungeness crab from those waters is prohibited unless using alternative gear, the use of which is authorized to begin at 7 a.m. on May 7, 2026.

Permitted commercial Dungeness crab vessels are conditionally authorized to retrieve lost, damaged, abandoned, or otherwise derelict commercial Dungeness crab traps. Read the press release for details and conditions.

There are no changes to the current recreational crab fishing regulations or seasons.

March 13, 2026

The commercial Dungeness crab fishery will close on March 27, 2026, at 6 p.m. in Fishing Zones 4 and 5 (Pigeon Point, 37°11' N Latitude to Point Conception, 34°27' N Latitude) at which time the commercial take and possession of Dungeness crab from those waters is prohibited unless using alternative gear, the use of which is authorized beginning April 3, 2026. This is the first time CDFW has authorized the use of alternative gear, or pop-up fishing gear, in the commercial Dungeness crab fishery. The use of approved alternative gear in Fishing Zones 4 and 5 will be allowed beginning April 3, 2026, at 7 a.m. The commercial fishery will remain open in Fishing Zones 1, 2, and 3 (California/Oregon border to Pigeon Point) under existing crab trap reductions.

A recreational crab trap restriction will go into effect on March 27, 2026, at 6 p.m., in Fishing Zones 4 and 5. Recreational crabbers may not use crab traps in those fishing zones for the rest of the season, but take of Dungeness crab by other methods (including hoop nets and crab snares) will be allowed. The next risk assessment will take place in early April 2026.

January 23, 2026

The waters off Humboldt County from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock state marine protected areas (41° 17.6' N. latitude) to Cape Mendocino (40° 10.0’ N. latitude) will open for commercial Dungeness crab fishing on Jan. 30, preceded by a 64-hour gear setting period beginning at 8:01 a.m. on Jan. 27 under a 15 percent gear reduction.

January 8, 2026

The commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open at 12:01 a.m., Jan. 15, 2026 under a 15 percent gear reduction in the following areas:

California/Oregon border (42° 0.0’ N. latitude) to the southern boundary of the Reading Rock state marine protected areas (41° 17.6' N. latitude)
Cape Mendocino (40° 10.0’ N. latitude) to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (38° 46.125’ N. latitude).

From the southern boundary of the Reading Rock state marine protected areas (41° 17.6' N. latitude) to Cape Mendocino (40° 10.0’ N. latitude) the commercial Dungeness crab fishery will remain closed due to unhealthy levels of domoic acid in the crab. Commercial Dungeness crab fishing in this area will reopen when state health officials determine that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health.