The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) today announced that starting Sept. 1 depth regulations for ocean sport fishing regulations will change. Fishing areas affected by the regulatory changes include waters from Point Conception south to the Mexico border.

"We want to ensure that the California recreational groundfish harvest stays within the annual limits set by the federal government, while at the same time providing for a longer fishing season," said Marija Vojkovich, DFG's Offshore Ecosystem Coordinator. "These depth restrictions are necessary to reduce the catches of restricted deep water rockfishes."

During September and October anglers are prohibited from fishing in waters greater than 180 feet (30 fathoms) when taking rockfish, cabezon, greenlings, lingcod, California sheephead, ocean whitefish, California scorpionfish and other federally managed groundfish. Exceptions are made when an angler is aboard a vessel in transit and without fishing gear in the water. Beginning Nov.1 and continuing through the end of the year, anglers may again take bottomfish in waters out to 360 feet (60 fathoms).

In April, in-season changes to the 2005 sport fishing regulations lengthened the bottomfishing season in several regions of the state. These changes gave saltwater anglers more opportunities for bottomfish. The adjustments were made after careful review of new fisheries data generated by the California Recreational Fisheries Survey.

Saltwater recreational anglers can get the latest sport fishing regulations information by visiting DFG's California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations Map at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/fishing_map. Information may also be obtained by calling the Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Hotline at (831) 649-2801.

Contacts:
Ed Roberts, Marine Region (562) 342-7199
Carrie Wilson, DFG Office of Communications (831)649-7191