NEW ROCKFISH REGULATIONS NOT YET IN EFFECT!!

Today I talked with DFG in Sacramento, and at the present time the new rockfish regulations that would have closed the entire rockfish fishery have not been approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL), so last years' regulations are still in effect! This means that nearshore rockfish, including sculpin, can be taken in waters less than 20 fathoms until the OAL approves and files the new closure regulations and files those regulations with the Secretary of States' office.

I am trying to get an idea from DFG as to when OAL may approve and file the regulations, and as soon as I have better info I will send out an update. But until then;

NEARSHORE ROCKFISH, INCLUDING SCULPIN, CAN BE TAKEN IN WATERS LESS THAN 20 FATHOMS. SCULPIN STILL HAVE A 10-INCH MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT, AND YOU ARE STILL LIMITED TO 10 FISH.

North of Point Conception, a full rockfish fishery is allowed, the same as last year, but with several differences: THE LING COD MIN. SIZE REMAINS AT 26 INCHES, INSTEAD OF 24 INCHES. THE 24-INCH MIN. SIZE LIMIT ON LING COD WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL THE OAL APPROVES THE NEW REGULATIONS! ALSO, THE NEW LIMIT ON YELLOW EYE ROCKFISH IS ONE PER PASSENGER PER DAY AND NO MORE THAN TWO PER BOAT, BUT THIS NEW REG. IS ALSO NOT IN EFFECT AT PRESENT.

STAY TUNED………