Fish Limits Locked In: New Rules for West Coast Groundfish Hauls
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting December 16, 2025, recreational fishers off Washington, Oregon, and California get updated rules to catch more plentiful groundfish while keeping overfished species safe. These inseason tweaks help balance fun fishing with smart conservation during 2025-2026. No big money changes, just smarter fishing for a healthier ocean and happier anglers!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Two‑Fish Canary Rockfish Limit
Starting December 16, 2025, federal recreational fishing rules off California set a sub-bag limit of 2 canary rockfish. The rule implements the 2-fish sub-bag limit to keep canary rockfish mortality within agreed state sharing allocations and to align federal rules with California state regulations.
New RCG Complex Bag and Hook Limits
Effective December 16, 2025, the recreational RCG (rockfish, cabezon, greenlings) complex has a coastwide daily bag limit of 10 fish and a two‑hook, one‑line limit when the RCG season is open. The rule also sets sub-bag limits: 4 vermilion/sunset rockfish between 42° N lat. and 40°10' N lat., 2 vermilion/sunset south of 40°10' N lat., 2 canary rockfish, and 1 copper rockfish; retention of yelloweye, bronzespotted, quillback, and cowcod is prohibited; multi-day limits are authorized by a valid California permit and must not exceed the daily limit multiplied by days in the trip.
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