Title FGC, California Fish & Game Code

(a) Upon appropriation of funds by the Legislature for purposes of this section, commencing January 1, 2025, the commission may open a bobcat hunting season in any area determined by the commission to require a hunt. (b) Before opening a bobcat hunting season in any area, the com…

(a) Before opening a bobcat hunting season pursuant to Section 4157, the department, in consultation with other relevant state agencies, local governments, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, landowners, and scientific entities, shall develop, upon appropriation by t…

As used in this chapter: (a) “Dam” includes all artificial obstructions. (b) “Conduit” includes pipe, millrace, ditch, flume, siphon, tunnel, canal, and any other conduit or diversion used for the purpose of taking or receiving water from any river, creek, stream, or lake. (c) “O…

Except as otherwise provided in this code, it is unlawful to construct or maintain in any stream in Districts 1, 138, 112, 2, 214, 212, 3, 312, 4, 418, 412, 434, 11, 12, 13, 23, and 25, any device or contrivance that prevents, impedes, or tends to prevent or impede, the passing o…

In including the United States within the scope of this chapter the Legislature declares that it understands that the law and policy of the United States with respect to the development of water resources, the reclamation of land from flood and overflow, and in all other respects…

The United States shall file with the commission pursuant to this chapter a separate application for each dam it proposes to construct or enlarge if an owner other than the United States would be required to file an application pursuant to Division 3 of the Water Code in order to…

The application of the United States shall give the following information: (a) The name and address of the owner. (b) The location, type, size, and height of the proposed dam and appurtenant works. (c) The storage capacity of the reservoir. (d) Such other pertinent information as…

Any net or line used to take fish that is anchored to the bottom on each end and is not free to drift with the tide or current is a set net or set line. Any net so placed that it will catch or impound fish within a bight, bay, or estuary, or against the shore upon the receding of…

(a) Set nets and set lines shall be marked at both ends with buoys displaying above their waterlines, in numerals at least 2 inches high, the fisherman’s identification number. (b) Each piece or panel of a set net shall be marked along the corkline of the net, in a manner determi…

(a) The footrope (leadline) of any set net shall have a breaking strength of at least 50 pounds less than the combined breaking strength of the headrope and corkline. (b) This section shall become operative on August 15, 1990. (Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 655, Sec. 3. Section opera…

The length of the meshes of any net shall be determined by taking at least four meshes and measuring them inside the knots or, in the case of knotless nets, inside the points at which the meshes are joined while they are simultaneously drawn closely together. (Amended by Stats. 1…

It is unlawful to use or operate or assist in using or operating any net, trap, line, spear, or appliance, other than in connection with angling, in taking fish, except as authorized by this code. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 132, Sec. 162. (AB 1760) Effective January 1, 2024.)

It is unlawful willfully to disturb or injure any net, trap, or other apparatus to take fish which is being legally used in the waters of this state. This section does not apply to employees of the department while they are engaged in the performance of their official duties. (Am…

The department or any person authorized by it may use any net or other appliance in any district for the purpose of recovering fish from overflowed areas or landlocked sloughs or ponds where they have been left isolated by receding streams or floodwaters. (Enacted by Stats. 1957,…

It is unlawful for any person possessing or operating any type of net, trap, or line that is subject to federal groundfish regulations adopted pursuant to the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C., Sec. 1801 et seq.) to possess or land any load of fish in vi…

Notwithstanding Sections 8660, 8665, 8724, and 8780, the commission may, after a public hearing, when it determines that it is in the best interests of the state’s marine resources and fisheries, adopt regulations, authorizing the use of nets not less than 75 feet from any privat…

The Legislature finds and declares that: (a) The central California nearshore gill and trammel net fisheries for California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) and white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) and the use of gill nets in these fisheries are expanding at a rapid rate. (b) T…

(a) All licenses, permits, tags, reservations, and other entitlements authorized by this code shall be prepared and issued by the department. (b) The commission shall determine the form of all licenses, permits, tags, reservations, and other entitlements and the method of carryin…

Any license, permit, tag, stamp, or other entitlement authorized pursuant to this code is not valid until it is filled out completely and accurately and the fee authorized or identified in statute or regulation for that entitlement is received and paid to the department or its ag…

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the department may issue a temporary document that allows the holder of a license, permit, license tag, license stamp, application, reservation, or other entitlement purchased through the Internet to enjoy the privileges of the en…

(a) On or before January 1, 2023, the department may provide an option to display a sport fishing license, validation, report card, or other sport fishing entitlement issued pursuant to this code or regulations adopted pursuant to this code electronically on a mobile device. (b) …

The department may accept a credit card charge as a method of payment. Any contract executed by the department with credit card issuers or draft purchasers shall be consistent with Section 6159 of the Government Code. Notwithstanding Title 1.3 (commencing with Section 1747) of Pa…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the names and addresses contained in records submitted and retained by the department for the purpose of obtaining recreational fishing and hunting licenses are confidential and are not public records. (b) Notwithstanding any othe…

(a) The department may issue collectible, commemorative licenses to any person for purposes of promoting and supporting licensed hunting, fishing, and resource conservation, subject to all of the following: (1) A commemorative license may be designed and produced as the departmen…

Licenses of each class shall be uniquely numbered. Every license shall contain its expiration date and the fee for which it is issued. If no fee is either required by this code or established by the commission pursuant to Section 1050, the license shall so indicate. (Amended by S…

It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following: (a) Transfer any license, tag, stamp, permit, application, or reservation. (b) Use or possess any license, tag, stamp, permit, application, or reservation that was not lawfully issued to the user or possessor thereof or th…

Any stamp issued pursuant to this article is not valid unless affixed to the appropriate license document. (Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 285, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 2008.)

(a) A person shall not obtain more than one license, permit, reservation, or other entitlement of the same class, or more than the number of tags authorized by statute or regulation for the same license year, except under one of the following conditions: (1) Nonresident hunting l…

Applicants for hunting licenses shall first satisfactorily complete a hunter education equivalency examination and obtain a certificate of equivalency as provided by regulations adopted by the commission, or show proof of completion of a hunter education training course, or show …

(a) It is unlawful to submit, or conspire to submit, any false, inaccurate, or otherwise misleading information on any application or other document offered or otherwise presented to the department for any purpose, including, but not limited to, obtaining a license, tag, permit, …

Every person while engaged in taking any bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, or reptile shall have on his or her person or in his or her immediate possession, or where otherwise specifically required by law to be kept, any license, tag, stamp, or permit that is required in order to ta…

The department may issue and shall collect payment for any entitlement, document, or authorization for which a fee is authorized pursuant to this code. (Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1370, Sec. 5. Effective October 27, 1992.)

(a) The department shall establish, and keep current, written policies and procedures relating to the application process and the award of hunting tags for fundraising purposes, as authorized pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 331, subdivision (d) of Section 332, Section 4334…

(a) Any person, except a commissioner, officer, or employee of the department, may submit an application to the department to be a license agent to issue licenses, permits, reservations, tags, or other entitlements. (b) A person shall only be authorized to be a license agent to i…

The department may authorize any person other than a commissioner or an officer or employee of the department to issue, as an agent of the department, annual wildlife area passes and native species stamps, and to sell promotional materials and nature study aids pursuant to, and s…

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), each license agent authorized pursuant to Section 1055.1 shall remit to the department the fees prescribed in this code or in regulations adopted pursuant to this code for all licenses, permits, reservations, tags, and other entitlements…

A license agent who fails to transmit the fees or accounting reports required by Section 1055.6 not later than 60 days following the due date as specified by the department may be required to execute, in favor of the department, a bond, payable to the department, in a sum determi…

All license, tag, permit, reservation, and other entitlement money shall be accounted for separately from other funds of a license agent, and shall at all times belong to the state. (Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 453, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2003.)

In case of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, receivership, or bankruptcy, the state shall have a preferred claim against the license agent’s assignee, receiver, or trustee for all moneys owing the state for the issuing of licenses, permits, reservations, tags, and other…

(a) The failure or refusal of any license agent to account for licenses, permits, reservations, tags, and other entitlements, or any fees received from their issuance as required by Section 1055.6 or upon demand by an authorized representative of the department is a misdemeanor. …

(a) The department may allow a person to purchase a license voucher as a gift for a licensee when the licensee’s complete and accurate personal information, as defined in regulation, is not provided by the license buyer at the time of purchase. (b) A license purchase voucher enti…

(a) A nonprofit conservation organization seeking promotion, exposure, and awareness of the organization on the Automated License Data System Online License Service Internet Web site, as feasible, through the display of the organization’s logo, or other graphics agreed upon by th…

The director may enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Food and Agriculture for the collection of an assessment on behalf of any marketing council or commission for fish or seafood organized under the Food and Agricultural Code. The agreement may authorize the department …

Section 1110 as added to this code by the initiative measure adopted at the General Election of November 8, 1938, is set forth at Section 7891 of this code. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456. Note: The provisions of Section 1110, as added November 8, 1938, by initiative Propositio…

It is unlawful to import or transport any live muskrat (genus Ondatra) into, or possess any live muskrat in, California except under permit issued by the department pursuant to Section 2118, or as otherwise provided by law. A county agricultural commissioner, fish and game deputy…

Whenever after due investigation the commission finds that game mammals, other than deer, and fur-bearing mammals and resident game birds have increased in numbers in any areas, districts, or portions thereof other than a refuge or preserve established by statute, to such an exte…