The recreational groundfish season will open on April 1, 2023 in the Southern Management Area, where for the first time in over two decades anglers can enjoy fishing for groundfish in all water depths from the opening date until September 15 of this year. New in 2023, this portion of the season is referred to as the ‘all depth fishery’ and will allow access to nearshore rockfish, cabezon, and greenling along with deeper shelf and slope rockfish species and lingcod.

However, the authorization to fish for groundfish in “all depths” does not supersede state and federal marine protected areas or other special area closures, such as Cowcod Conservation Areas or Cordell Bank, where special closures still apply.

All recreational Groundfish Management Areas in California are scheduled for up to five and a half months of all-depth fishing time in 2023. Additionally, in some areas of the state during specified months, a new “offshore-only” fishery will be in effect seaward (away from land) of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) boundary line. This will provide access to healthy deeper water rockfish species and lingcod while prohibiting take of nearshore rockfish species, cabezon, and greenlings. Take of bronzespotted rockfish, cowcod, and yelloweye rockfish continues to be prohibited year-round at all depths.

For more detailed information on the new 2023 recreational groundfish regulations visit CDFW’s 2023 Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations web page. For information on groundfish fishery science and management, please visit CDFW’s Marine Region Groundfish web page.

The 2023 fishing seasons for the Groundfish Management Areas are:

Divers and shore-based anglers will continue to be exempt from boat-based season restrictions affecting rockfish and other federally managed groundfish, which allows for year-round diving and shore-based angling, in line with current regulations.