California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 1 - Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and Game
Subdivision 1 - Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles
Chapter 4 - Ocean Fishing
Article 1 - Ocean and San Francisco Bay District
Fin Fish-Minimum Size Limits, Bag and Possession Limits and Seasons
Section 27.60 - Limit

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 27.60

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) General. No more than 20 finfish in combination of all species with not more than 10 of any one species, may be taken or possessed by any one person except as otherwise provided or as defined in subsection (c) below or in Section 195. See sections 27.70 through 28.62 for special bag limits, minimum size limits and poundage restrictions for certain species that apply in addition to the general bag limit.

(b) There is no limit on the following species: anchovy, jacksmelt, topsmelt, Pacific butterfish (pompano), queenfish, sanddabs, skipjack, jack mackerel, Pacific mackerel, Pacific staghorn sculpin, round herring, Pacific sardine, petrale sole and starry flounder.

(c) Boat limit. When two or more persons that are licensed or otherwise authorized to sport fish in ocean waters off California or in the San Francisco Bay District, defined in Section 27.00, are angling for finfish aboard a vessel in these waters, fishing by all authorized persons aboard may continue until boat limits of finfish are taken and possessed aboard the vessel as authorized under this section or Section 195, Title 14, CCR.

(1) The authorization for boat limits aboard a vessel does not apply to fishing trips originating in California where fish are taken in other jurisdictions.

(2) A boat limit for a species or species group is the number of persons aboard a vessel that are licensed or otherwise authorized to sport fish in ocean waters off California, or in waters of the San Francisco Bay District, (see special conditions of Section 195, Title 14, CCR, applicable to operator and crew members of vessels licensed pursuant to Fish and Game Code 7920) multiplied by the individual daily bag limit authorized for a species or species group in those waters. With the exception of species listed in subsection (b) above, the total fish aboard a boat may not exceed the aggregate per-person daily bag limit of 20-finfish in combination of all species times the number of anglers licensed or otherwise authorized to sport fish aboard the vessel. It is unlawful to exceed the boat limit at any time.

(3) All persons aboard a vessel may be cited where violations involving boat limits are found, including, but not limited to the following violations:

(A) Over limits

(B) Possession of prohibited species

(D) Fish taken out of season or in closed areas.

(4) Upon completion of a fishing trip aboard a vessel, each licensed angler or person otherwise authorized to sport fish may not possess more than the individual daily bag and possession limits. For purposes of this section, a trip is completed at the time a person disembarks from a vessel and individual possession limits apply. Special boat limit provisions apply to persons fishing aboard commercial passenger fishing vessels reporting pursuant to Section 195, Title 14, CCR.

(5) Species for which no daily bag limit exists are not counted as part of a boat limit.

(6) Boat limits are not authorized for sturgeon fishing and shall not apply to the take, possession or retention of sturgeon.

1. Amendment filed 2-21-84; designated effective 3-1-84 (Register 84, No. 8).
2. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 1-26-88; operative 3-1-88 (Register 88, No. 6).
3. Amendment of subsections (b) and (c) and NOTE filed 3-12-92; operative 3-12-92 (Register 92, No. 20).
4. Amendment of subsection (b) and NOTE filed 3-7-94; operative 3-7-94 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 94, No. 10).
5. Amendment of subsections (b) and (c) and NOTE filed 2-5-98; operative 3-1-98 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 98, No. 6).
6. Editorial correction of subsection (b) (Register 98, No. 52).
7. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 12-22-98; operative 12-22-98 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 98, No. 52).
8. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b) filed 7-13-99 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 99, No. 29).
9. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 12-30-99; operative 12-30-99 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 99, No. 53).
10. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 3-5-2001; operative 3-5-2001 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2001, No. 10).
11. Amendment filed 1-10-2002; operative 1-1-2002 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2002, No. 2).
12. Amendment of subsection (b) and new subsections (b)(1)-(b)(3) filed 1-3-2003; operative 1-3-2003 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2003, No. 1).
13. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(3) filed 1-23-2004; operative 1-23-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 4).
14. Amendment of subsection (a), new subsections (e)-(e)(5) and amendment of NOTE filed 2-24-2004; operative 3-1-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 9).
15. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(2) and NOTE filed 3-30-2004 as an emergency; operative 4-1-2004 (Register 2004, No. 14). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 7-30-2004 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
16. Amendment of subsection (b)(1) filed 4-29-2004 as an emergency; operative 5-1-2004 (Register 2004, No. 18). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-30-2004 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
17. Repealer of subsections (b)-(b)(3), new subsections (b)-(b)(2) and amendment of table filed 4-28-2004; operative 5-1-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 19).
18. Certificate of Compliance as to 3-30-2004 order transmitted to OAL 7-28-2004 and filed 9-9-2004 (Register 2004, No. 37).
19. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 12-27-2004; operative 1-1-2005 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 53).
20. Amendment of subsection (b)(2) and NOTE filed 3-20-2006 as an emergency; operative 3-20-2006 (Register 2006, No. 12). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 7-18-2006 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
21. Amendment of subsection (b)(2), repealer and new subsection (c) and new subsection (c)(1) filed 4-21-2006; operative 5-21-2006 (Register 2006, No. 16).
22. Reinstatement of section as it existed prior to 3-20-2006 amendment by operation of Government Code section 11346.1(f) (Register 2006, No. 33).
23. Amendment of subsections (a) and (b)(1)(A)-(b)(2) filed 1-18-2007; operative 1-18-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(c) (Register 2007, No. 3).
24. Amendment of subsection (b)(2) and new subsection (e)(6) filed 2-28-2007; operative 2-28-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2007, No. 9).
25. Amendment filed 10-16-2007; operative 11-15-2007 (Register 2007, No. 42).
26. Amendment of subsection (b) and amendment of NOTE filed 2-27-2020; operative 3-1-2020 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) and Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2020, No. 9).
27. Amendment of subsection (b) and NOTE filed 5-11-2022; operative 6-1-2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2022, No. 19).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 205, 265, 7071 and 8587.1, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 205, 255, 265, 7071, 7120 and 8587.1, Fish and Game Code.

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