California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 1 - Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and Game › Subdivision 1 - Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles › Chapter 4 - Ocean Fishing › Article 1 - Ocean and San Francisco Bay District Fin Fish-Minimum Size Limits, Bag and Possession Limits and Seasons › Ocean Waters with Restricted Fishing › Section 27.20 - Groundfish Management Areas, Seasons, Depths, Exceptions, and Fishery Closure/Rule Change Process Described

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Regulations that follow in sections
						  27.25 through
						  27.50 define fishing seasons and
						  depth constraints that are effective within each Groundfish Management Area
						  (GMA). These sections apply to take and possession of federal groundfish
						  species as defined in Section
						  1.91 and all greenlings of the
						  genus
Hexagrammos
.
(a) Depth Restrictions: In a GMA the take,
						retention or possession of certain federal groundfish and all greenlings of the
						genus
Hexagrammos
may be authorized or prohibited in waters
						shallower than, or deeper than, the identified depth restriction depending on
						the defined areas and seasons specified in sections
						27.25 through
						27.50. "Depth" is defined by
						approximating a particular depth contour by connecting the appropriate set of
						waypoints adopted in Section
						35.00 of these regulations for the
						20-fathom boundary line, and Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C)
						for all other depth boundary lines.
(b) General Provisions.
(1) Take or possession of federal groundfish
						species or species groups and all greenlings of the genus
Hexagrammos
is authorized or prohibited as provided in
						subsections (b)(1)(A) through (b)(1)(D) below and sections
						27.25 through
						27.50 of these regulations.
(A) Anchoring, drifting, or transiting in
						closed areas: In waters where groundfish species or species groups are closed
						to take or possession but authorized for take or possession in other areas,
						those species or species groups may be possessed aboard a vessel that is
						anchored, drifting, or transiting in or through that closed area. While
						anchoring, drifting, or transiting through an area closed to take or possession
						of these groundfish species or species groups, no gear may be deployed other
						than for the take of crustaceans with hoop nets used pursuant to subsection
						29.80(b),
						Dungeness crab traps used pursuant to subsection
						29.80(c), and dip
						nets used pursuant to Section
						28.80.
(B) Federal groundfish exempt from seasons
						and depth constraints: "Other Flatfish" as defined in subsection
						1.91(a)(10),
						petrale sole, starry flounder, California scorpionfish, leopard shark, and the
						federal groundfish species listed in Section
						28.49 may be taken or possessed in
						all GMAs and depths year-round except as described in subsections
						28.49(a) and
						28.56(a).
(C) Shore Based Angling: When angling from
						shore (includes beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other
						man-made structures connected to the shore), all species, except those listed
						in subsection
						28.55(b)(1), may
						be taken or possessed year-round. No vessel or watercraft (motorized or
						non-motorized) may be used to assist in the take, transport or possession of
						these species under this provision.
(D) Diving or Spearfishing: When diving or
						spearfishing, as authorized in Section
						28.90, all species, except those
						listed in subsection
						28.55(b)(1), may
						be taken or possessed year-round. When boat-based groundfish fishing is closed,
						all types of fishing gear, except spearfishing gear, are prohibited to be
						aboard the vessel or watercraft (motorized or non-motorized) when taking or
						possessing these species under this provision.