A yellowtail rockfish is photographed in California. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (MPG) - Through the end of 2024, boat-based fishing for groundfish and lingcod will be offshore, statewide and in waters seaward of the 50-fathom Rockfish Conservation Area line.

During this offshore, only fishery, shelf rockfish, slope rockfish and lingcod can be taken, while take and possession of nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenling are prohibited during the offshore only fishery. The season will be closed to boat-based fishing, beginning Jan. 1.

These boat-based regulations do not apply to divers and shore-based anglers, who will continue to be exempt from boat-based season restrictions affecting rockfish and other federally managed groundfish. As a reminder, in waters where groundfish species or species groups are closed, such as the RCAs, boat-based anglers may possess groundfish to anchor, drift or transit in or through that closed area.

Additionally, while anchoring, drifting or transiting through a closed area with groundfish aboard, anglers can only deploy gear specific to the take of crustaceans, including hoop nets and Dungeness crab traps; dip nets can also be used for bait.

For the latest groundfish regulations, refer to the groundfish summary tables at https://wildlife.ca.gov/.../Regulations/Groundfish-Summary.

For species lists of nearshore, slope and shelf rockfish, visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/.../Gro.../Nearshore-Shelf-And-Slope.