SoCal boat groundfish goes offshore-only Oct. 1 seaward of 50 fathoms

Starting Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, boat-based recreational groundfish in California’s Southern Groundfish Management Area (Point Conception to the U.S.–Mexico border) is offshore-only. Anglers may fish only seaward of the 50-fathom Rockfish Conservation Area line.

Only shelf and slope rockfish and lingcod may be retained. Take and possession of nearshore rockfish, cabezon, and greenling are prohibited for boat anglers in that period. That is the inverse of the July 1–Sept. 30 inshore-only window that kept boats inside 50 fathoms.

Shore anglers and spear divers remain exempt from the boat-based season and depth rules under CDFW regulations, but federal no-retention species (including cowcod, yelloweye, quillback, and bronzespotted rockfish) stay off-limits for everyone. Descending devices remain required on boats. CDFW’s Oct. 2026 calendar flagged the switch; check the groundfish summary and interactive ocean map before leaving the dock.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife — October 2026 calendar (posted Sept. 29, 2026). Also: CDFW groundfish summary.