Title FGC — California Fish & Game Code

Barracuda and yellowtail not less than 28 inches in length may be taken with hook and line at any time.

It is unlawful to take, possess, sell, or purchase any white sea bass less than 28 inches in length, measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the end of the longer lobe of the tail.

No barracuda or yellowtail less than 28 inches in length may be sold or purchased, except that not more than five barracuda and five yellowtail per day may be possessed by the holder of a commercial fishing license for noncommercial use if taken incidentally in commercial fishing…

No person holding a commercial fishing license while on any barge or boat which for hire carries any sport fisherman may take or have in his possession in any one day more than the aggregate number of the following kinds of fish permitted in the case of sport fishing: bluefin tun…

Barracuda and yellowtail shall be measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the end of the longer lobe of the tail.

From May 1st to August 31st, inclusive, all of the following are unlawful: (a) For any one person to have in his or her possession on any boat, barge, or other vessel more than 500 pounds of yellowtail. (b) For any two or more persons to have in their possession on any boat, barg…

(a) No female angel shark measuring less than 42 inches in total length or 151/4 inches in alternate length and no male angel shark measuring less than 40 inches in total length or 141/2 inches in alternate length may be possessed, sold, or purchased, except that 10 percent of th…

(a) A person shall not take, possess, sell, or purchase for commercial purposes any leopard shark less than 36 inches in total length. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), leopard sharks less than 36 inches in total length possessed by a person for aquarium display on or before J…

(a) Herring eggs may only be taken for commercial purposes under a revocable, nontransferable permit subject to such regulations as the commission shall prescribe. In addition to the license fees provided for in this code, every person taking herring eggs under this section shall…

California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) may be taken at any time. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

No California halibut may be taken, possessed, or sold that measures less than 22 inches in total length. Total length means the shortest distance between the tip of the jaw or snout, whichever extends farthest while the mouth is closed, and the tip of the longest lobe of the tai…

(a) Except where subdivision (b) has been complied with, marlin meat, whether fresh, smoked, canned, or preserved by any means, shall not be bought or sold, or possessed or transported for the purpose of sale. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (a) of this section,…

Swordfish shall not be taken, possessed aboard a boat, or landed by a person for commercial purposes except under a valid swordfish permit. At least one person aboard the boat shall have a swordfish permit issued to that person that has not been revoked or suspended, subject to r…

The fee for the permit issued pursuant to Section 8394 is three hundred thirty dollars ($330). This permit fee does not apply to the holder of a valid drift gill net shark and swordfish permit required under Article 16 (commencing with Section 8561) or to any person who participa…

(a) Upon the recommendation of the director regarding management measures for surfperch of the family Embiotocidae, the commission may adopt regulations to manage the commercial surfperch resource and fisheries consistent with Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7050), including, b…

(a) It is unlawful to take fish for commercial purposes in that portion of Tomales Bay in District 10 between a line drawn from the most northern tip of Tomales Point northeast, 47° magnetic, to the opposite shore in the vicinity of Dillon Beach, and a line drawn west from the we…

North of Point Conception, squid may be taken the year around; however, the commission may adopt regulations specifying the days of the week and the times of the day when squid may be taken.

(a) In District 10, it is unlawful to engage in the following activities: (1) Attract squid by a light displayed from any vessel, except a vessel deploying nets for the take, possession, and landing of squid or from the seine skiff of the vessel deploying nets for the take, posse…

(a) California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis), mudsuckers (Gillichthys mirabilis), and yellowfin gobies (Acanthogobius flavimanus) may only be taken for commercial purposes with baitfish traps in the tidewaters of Districts 31/2, 4, 41/8, 43/4, 16, 17, and 21, in the tidewaters…

(a) To the extent not in conflict with Section 8607, marine species of fin fish that are classified as groundfish may be taken under the regulations of the commission. (b) Marine species of fin fish, including, but not limited to, fin fish that are classified as groundfish, may b…

(a) Sea cucumbers shall not be taken, possessed aboard a boat, or landed by a person for commercial purposes except under a valid sea cucumber permit issued to that person, which has not been suspended or revoked. (b) When taking sea cucumbers by diving, every diver shall have a …

(a) Applicants for a sea cucumber permit shall specify by gear type, either trawl or dive, the method in which the applicant intends to take sea cucumbers. The gear type of a sea cucumber permit, either trawl or dive, shall not be transferable. (b) The fee for a sea cucumber perm…

(a) A valid sea cucumber permit may be transferred by the permittee if the permittee has previously held a valid sea cucumber permit for any four permit years and landed at least 100 pounds of sea cucumbers in each of those permit years, as documented by electronic fish tickets w…

(a) The commission, upon recommendation of the department or upon its own motion and in consultation with the sea cucumber fishing industry, may adopt regulations, including provisions governing seasons, gear restrictions, hours of operation, and any other measures that it determ…

This article shall become inoperative on April 1, 2030, and as of January 1, 2031, is repealed.

The department shall manage the Pacific mackerel resource in conformance with the federal fishery regulations as recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and as adopted by the Secretary of Commerce.

Pacific mackerel may be taken under a revocable nontransferable permit issued by the department to boat owners or operators under conditions prescribed by the department.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the fishery for market squid (Loligo opalescens) is the state’s largest fishery by volume, generating millions of dollars of income to the state annually from domestic and foreign sales. In addition to supporting an important commercial…

(a) No person shall purchase squid from a vessel or vessels unless that person holds a license issued pursuant to Section 8032 or 8033, employs a certified weighmaster, and the facilities operated by the person are located on a permanent, fixed location. (b) Notwithstanding any o…

(a) On or before December 31, 2002, the commission, after consideration of the report and recommendations prepared by the department pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 8426, and, after public hearings, shall adopt a market squid fishery management plan and regulations to prot…

Commencing April 1, 2003, and annually thereafter, the fees for a commercial market squid vessel permit and for a commercial squid light boat owner’s permit shall be established by the commission. The total amount of fees collected pursuant to this section, including any revenue …

(a) Any statement made to the department, orally or in writing, relating to a permit issued under this article, shall be made under penalty of perjury. (b) The commission shall revoke the commercial fishing license, the commercial boat registration of any vessel, and, if applicab…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing in this article shall prohibit or otherwise limit the authority of the director or the commission under any other law.

Sections 8420.5 to 8423.5, inclusive, and Sections 8426 and 8427 shall become inoperative upon the adoption by the commission of a market squid fishery management plan and the adoption of implementing regulations pursuant to Section 8425, and are repealed six months thereafter.

Except as otherwise provided in this article, it is unlawful to sell or purchase any species of trout. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

Dolly Varden or steelhead trout from without the State may be possessed and sold within the State when they are inspected and tagged in accordance with regulations prescribed by the commission. The cost of such inspection and tagging shall be paid by the person submitting the tro…

Steelhead trout from without the State may not be sold or possessed in District 11/2 in excess of the daily bag limit on steelhead trout for that district. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

Nothing in this article applies to trout grown pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 15000).

It is unlawful to sell or purchase any fresh, canned, or cured fish taken in the Klamath River District or in the waters of the Smith River. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

No catfish may be sold, except catfish imported from without the state or catfish grown pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 15000).

Except as provided in Section 8436.5, fish of the family Centrarchidae (Sacramento perch, crappie, black bass, and sunfish) shall not be taken or possessed for commercial purposes, sold, or purchased, other than fish that are cultured pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Sect…

Notwithstanding Section 8436, the commission shall adopt regulations which authorize the importation and sale of dead fish of the family Centrarchidae if the fish have been lawfully taken outside of California, they have been taken in another state or foreign country that permits…

The following freshwater fish may be taken for commercial purposes pursuant to regulations adopted by the commission: (a) Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense). (b) Species of the following families: (1) Lamprey (Petromyzontidae). (2) Smelt (Osmeridae). (3) Sucker (Catostomidae). (…

The commission may authorize the use of commercial fishing gear and fishing methods to take any fish listed in Section 8437 in those areas of the state otherwise closed to that use pursuant to this code.

Notwithstanding Section 200, the commission shall regulate the taking of freshwater clams for commercial purposes.

Any person engaged for profit in the taking, transporting, or selling of live fresh-water fish for bait shall first obtain from the department a live fresh-water bait fish license to possess the fish for those purposes. The commission may prescribe regulations governing these lic…

The annual license fee for a live freshwater bait fish license is fifty-five dollars ($55) for each person.

A license issued under Section 8460 shall authorize the taking of only golden shiners, fathead minnows and such other species as the department may designate, under such regulations as the commission may prescribe. The commission may prohibit in any part or all parts of the State…

Traps not over 24 inches in greatest length nor more than 12 inches in greatest depth or width, or seines of not over 1/2-inch mesh stretched measure and not more than 4 x 30 feet in size, may be used for the taking of fish of the carp and minnow family (family Cyprinidae), sucke…

The taking of crayfish shall be subject to regulations as prescribed by the commission.