This messiage is to notify California's saltwater recreational anglers of upcoming regulation changes, including seasonal openings and closures, bag and size limit changes, depth and gear restriction changes, etc.

ROCKFISH, CABEZON, GREENLINGS, LINGCOD, AND OTHER FEDERAL GROUNDFISH

The recreational fisheries for rockfish, cabezon, greenlings and other federal groundfish will be open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through December 31, 2005 , in the North-Central and Monterey South-Central Management Areas (40 degrees 10 minutes North latitude, near Cape Mendocino in Humboldt county, to 36 degrees 0 minutes North latitude, near Lopez Point in Monterey county). The recreational fisheries for these species are open year-round to divers and shore-based anglers. The recreational fishery for lingcod will be open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through November 30, 2005 in both of these Management Areas; the fishery is open from April through November 30, 2005 to divers and shore-based anglers.

These species may only be taken or possessed in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep in both of these Management Areas.

The following regulations apply:

• The daily bag and possession limit for rockfish is 10 fish within the RCG Complex (includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenlings) in combination of all species per person, with a sub-limit on bocaccio (2 per person in the Northern Management Area, 1 per person everywhere else, minimum size limit of 10 inches total length, also included in the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit). Yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish and cowcod may not be retained (bag limit: zero).
• The daily bag and possession limit for cabezon is 1 fish within the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit, with a minimum size limit of 15 inches total length.
• The daily bag and possession limit for greenlings is 1 fish within the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit, with a minimum size limit of 12 inches total length. · The daily bag and possession limit for lingcod is 2 fish, with a minimum size limit of 24 inches total length.
• Refer to the 2005 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations for bag and possession limit information for individual federal groundfish species, as well as area-specific depth restriction exceptions for this species group.

Get the latest recreational groundfish fishing regulations information by telephone. Call (831) 649-2801 from your touch-tone telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

ABALONE

The recreational fishery for red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) north of the mouth of San Francisco Bay is closed from July 1 through July 31, 2005, and will reopen August 1, 2005 . The recreational fishery for all species of abalone is closed year-round south of the mouth of San Francisco Bay.

DUNGENESS CRAB

The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) will be closed from the Mendocino-Sonoma county line to the California-Mexico border from July 1 through November 4 , and will reopen on November 5, 2005.

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Californians Turn In Poachers. Call (888) DFG-CALTIP (334-2258) to report illegal poaching and polluting, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remain anonymous, collect a reward.

Are you a saltwater angler? Do your part to help manage California's marine resources - participate in the California Recreational Fisheries Survey.

Regulations that are not referenced above remain unchanged from the previous month. For complete regulations, check the 2005 Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/sportfishing_regs2005.html.

Want a quick way to check fishing regulations in your area, online? Go to the California Sport Fishing Regulations Map at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/fishing_map.html. Simply click on the map where you want to fish, and get a printable set of up-to-date regulations for that area.