Proposed Amendments to Recreational Fishing Regulations for Rockfish, Cabezon, Greenling (RCG) and Lingcod, Title 14, California Code of Regulations

The proposed regulations would continue to restore access to fishing depths that have been closed since 2023 to recreational fishing for RCG and lingcod to avoid encounters with quillback rockfish. To maintain catch of certain species within federally set allowable take levels, a sub-bag limit for canary rockfish, and inclusion of the cryptic-species sunset rockfish continue to be necessary to limit conservation risk. The Commission routinely adopts regulations for recreational RCG and lingcod for consistency with federal regulations, including those designed to keep catches within harvest limits. The purpose of the proposed project is to restore access to fishing grounds based upon updated scientific stock assessment information for the quillback rockfish stock off California. The current unwarranted restrictions highly constrain and concentrate recreational fishing access and efforts to a limited area of the state’s waters. The proposed regulations would continue to remove these unneeded constraints, thereby alleviating this risk of redirection of recreational fishing efforts and pressure on RCG and lingcod stock in both federal and state waters. Additionally, adoption of scientifically based seasons, depth constraints, and other management measures provides for the protection of quillback rockfish and other RCG species and lingcod to ensure their continued existence. The proposed certificate of compliance action will also continue to implement a sub-bag limit for canary rockfish and maintain sunset rockfish limits which also serve to protect these rockfish species.