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Department of Fish and Game
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03:055 June 20, 2003
Contacts: Chamois Andersen, Information Officer, (916) 657-4132
Carrie Wilson, Marine Region, (831) 238-2044
Ed Roberts, Marine Region, (562) 342-7199
California's Ocean Sport Fisheries for Rockfish Open July 1
Beginning July 1, California's sport fisheries for rockfish, cabezon, greenlings, scorpionfish (sculpin), ocean whitefish and lingcod will open for recreational anglers in nearshore waters south of Cape Mendocino. Sport fishing opportunities in northern California (north of Cape Mendocino to the Oregon border) remain open year-round.
The six-month sport fishing season will last until Dec. 31, or until annual harvest limits have been reached. Fish may only be taken in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) and bag and possession limits allow for up to 10 fish in combination.
The following are the regulation details for bottomfish sport fisheries south of Cape Mendocino:RCG Complex:
Includes all species of rockfish, cabezon and greenlings
as defined in Section 1.91 of the sport fishing regulations booklet; open July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in waters less than 120 feet; bag and possession limit is 10 fish in combination of RCG species; see sub-limits for shallow nearshore rockfish, cabezon, and greenlings. Shallow nearshore rockfish: As defined in Section 1.90, includes black-and-yellow, China, grass, gopher and kelp rockfishes); open July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in waters less than 120 feet; only two shallow nearshore rockfishes may be taken; included in the 10 fish RCG complex bag limit
Cabezon: Open July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in less than 120 feet; bag and possession limit is three fish, also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG complex bag limit, 15 inches total length.
Kelp and rock greenlings: Open July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in less than 120 feet; two fish in combination; also included in the 10 fish RCG complex bag limit; 12 inches total length.
Cowcod, bocaccio, yelloweye and canary rockfishes: NO RETENTION/NO TAKE.
Lingcod: Open July 1- Dec. 31; may only be taken in less than 120 feet; two per person; 24 inches total length.
California scorpionfish (sculpin): Open Jan 1-Feb. 30, July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in less than 120 feet, except California scorpionfish may be taken in less than 300 feet in the months of July and August and only in the area of Huntington Flats as defined in Section 27.82 (d); five per person 10 inches total length.
Ocean whitefish: Open July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in less than 120 feet; 10 per person.
California sheephead: Open all year; no depth restrictions, except that California sheephead may not be taken in waters greater than 120 feet in depth inside the Cowcod Conservation Areas; five per person; 12 inches total length.
* See regulations for information on gear restrictions and fillet lengths For additional information and a clickable map of the regulations, log on to DFG's Web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd.
The federal Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) is charged with managing groundfish fisheries along the West Coast. In September of 2002, the PFMC reduced annual harvest limits for California's groundfish fisheries for 2003 in an effort to help restore depleted rockfish species that are managed under federal rebuilding plans. Other fisheries (both sport and commercial) were impacted by the restrictions on bottom-fishing because many ocean fish species inhabit the same area. For 2003, the sport-fishing season (in central and southern California) was shortened (from eight) to six months, depth restrictions were established, and bag and possession limits were reduced for many species.
In 2002, the PFMC closed the shelf to fishing on July 1 when the annual harvest limit for bocaccio, an "overfished" rockfish, was reached earlier than anticipated.
This week, the PFMC met in Foster City to begin its process of establishing 2004's annual harvest limits for West Coast sport and commercial groundfish fisheries. There is optimism among fishermen that additional sport and commercial fishing opportunities may result in 2004 after new science was examined showing an increase in California's bocaccio population.
On Thursday, the PFMC approved an in-season management recommendation to move the sport-fishing line from 20 fathoms (120 feet) to 30 fathoms (180 feet) in waters south of Point Conception, effective Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. This does not, however, include the 4,300-square-mile Cowcod Conservation Area off California. This ruling is also subject to review and approval by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the California Fish and Game Commission will also need to change state regulations to comply with this regulation change.
DFG biologists presented the PFMC with catch-per-unit of fishing effort data that showed (historically) moving the line would not account for a significant increase in the incidental take of bocaccio, or other depleted rockfishes such as canary, which also inhabit these ocean areas.
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03:055 June 20, 2003
Contacts: Chamois Andersen, Information Officer, (916) 657-4132
Carrie Wilson, Marine Region, (831) 238-2044
Ed Roberts, Marine Region, (562) 342-7199
California's Ocean Sport Fisheries for Rockfish Open July 1
Beginning July 1, California's sport fisheries for rockfish, cabezon, greenlings, scorpionfish (sculpin), ocean whitefish and lingcod will open for recreational anglers in nearshore waters south of Cape Mendocino. Sport fishing opportunities in northern California (north of Cape Mendocino to the Oregon border) remain open year-round.
The six-month sport fishing season will last until Dec. 31, or until annual harvest limits have been reached. Fish may only be taken in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) and bag and possession limits allow for up to 10 fish in combination.
The following are the regulation details for bottomfish sport fisheries south of Cape Mendocino:RCG Complex:
Includes all species of rockfish, cabezon and greenlings
as defined in Section 1.91 of the sport fishing regulations booklet; open July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in waters less than 120 feet; bag and possession limit is 10 fish in combination of RCG species; see sub-limits for shallow nearshore rockfish, cabezon, and greenlings. Shallow nearshore rockfish: As defined in Section 1.90, includes black-and-yellow, China, grass, gopher and kelp rockfishes); open July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in waters less than 120 feet; only two shallow nearshore rockfishes may be taken; included in the 10 fish RCG complex bag limit
Cabezon: Open July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in less than 120 feet; bag and possession limit is three fish, also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG complex bag limit, 15 inches total length.
Kelp and rock greenlings: Open July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in less than 120 feet; two fish in combination; also included in the 10 fish RCG complex bag limit; 12 inches total length.
Cowcod, bocaccio, yelloweye and canary rockfishes: NO RETENTION/NO TAKE.
Lingcod: Open July 1- Dec. 31; may only be taken in less than 120 feet; two per person; 24 inches total length.
California scorpionfish (sculpin): Open Jan 1-Feb. 30, July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in less than 120 feet, except California scorpionfish may be taken in less than 300 feet in the months of July and August and only in the area of Huntington Flats as defined in Section 27.82 (d); five per person 10 inches total length.
Ocean whitefish: Open July 1-Dec. 31; may only be taken in less than 120 feet; 10 per person.
California sheephead: Open all year; no depth restrictions, except that California sheephead may not be taken in waters greater than 120 feet in depth inside the Cowcod Conservation Areas; five per person; 12 inches total length.
* See regulations for information on gear restrictions and fillet lengths For additional information and a clickable map of the regulations, log on to DFG's Web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd.
The federal Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) is charged with managing groundfish fisheries along the West Coast. In September of 2002, the PFMC reduced annual harvest limits for California's groundfish fisheries for 2003 in an effort to help restore depleted rockfish species that are managed under federal rebuilding plans. Other fisheries (both sport and commercial) were impacted by the restrictions on bottom-fishing because many ocean fish species inhabit the same area. For 2003, the sport-fishing season (in central and southern California) was shortened (from eight) to six months, depth restrictions were established, and bag and possession limits were reduced for many species.
In 2002, the PFMC closed the shelf to fishing on July 1 when the annual harvest limit for bocaccio, an "overfished" rockfish, was reached earlier than anticipated.
This week, the PFMC met in Foster City to begin its process of establishing 2004's annual harvest limits for West Coast sport and commercial groundfish fisheries. There is optimism among fishermen that additional sport and commercial fishing opportunities may result in 2004 after new science was examined showing an increase in California's bocaccio population.
On Thursday, the PFMC approved an in-season management recommendation to move the sport-fishing line from 20 fathoms (120 feet) to 30 fathoms (180 feet) in waters south of Point Conception, effective Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. This does not, however, include the 4,300-square-mile Cowcod Conservation Area off California. This ruling is also subject to review and approval by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the California Fish and Game Commission will also need to change state regulations to comply with this regulation change.
DFG biologists presented the PFMC with catch-per-unit of fishing effort data that showed (historically) moving the line would not account for a significant increase in the incidental take of bocaccio, or other depleted rockfishes such as canary, which also inhabit these ocean areas.
