Rockcod season gets underway

Beginning May 1, the popular sport fishery for rockfish and other groundfish will open to boat-based anglers in two large areas of the state. Those areas are from the Oregon border to near Cape Mendocino (40°10’ N. latitude) and from near Pigeon Point (37°11’ N. latitude) to Point Conception (34°27’ N. latitude).
Ocean waters between Cape Mendocino and Pigeon Point will not open until June 1, and all waters south of Point Conception to the U.S.-Mexico border opened on March 1.
Sport anglers are allowed daily bag and possession limits of 10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings, in combination. Sublimits exist for bocaccio, cabezon and greenlings; cowcod, yelloweye and canary rockfishes may not be retained at any time.
Current groundfish management areas and fishing depths for boat-based anglers off California include:
• Northern Management Area (California/Oregon border to near Cape Mendocino): Open May 1 through December from 0-30 fathoms (0-180 feet).
• North-Central Management Area (Near Cape Mendocino to Pigeon Point - currently closed) Open June 1 through November from 0-30 fathoms (0-180 feet).
• Monterey South-Central Management Area (Pigeon Point to near Lopez Point): Open May 1 through November from 0-40 fathoms (0-240 feet).
• Morro Bay South-Central Management Area (near Lopez Point to Point Conception): Open May 1 through November from 0-40 fathoms (0-240 feet).
• Southern Management Area (Point Conception to U.S.-Mexico border): Open March 1 through December from 0-60 fathoms (0-360 feet.)
• Cowcod Conservation Area (west of San Diego): Open March 1 through December from 0-20 fathoms (0-120 feet).
For up-to-date information on groundfish regulations and possible in-season regulation changes, see www.dfg.ca.gov/marine