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 27.80 - Salmon

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 27.80

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

(a) Methods of take:

(1) General Provisions. Only by angling as defined in Section 1.05. No sinkers or weights exceeding four pounds may be used, except that a fishing line may be attached to a sinker or weight of any size if such sinker or weight is suspended by a separate line and the fishing line is released automatically by a mechanical device from the sinker or weight when any fish is hooked. See sections 28.65 and 28.70.

(2) Barbless Hooks. No more than two (2) single point, single shank barbless hooks shall be used in the ocean north of Point Conception (34°27'00" N. lat.) when salmon fishing or fishing from any boat or floating device with salmon on board.

(3) Other Hook Restrictions. When fishing with bait in the ocean between 40°10'00" N. lat. (near Cape Mendocino) and Point Conception, if angling by any means other than trolling, then no more than two (2) single point, single shank, barbless circle hooks shall be used. The distance between the two hooks must not exceed five inches when measured from the top of the eye of the top hook to the inner base of the curve of the lower hook, and both hooks must be permanently tied in place (hard tied). A circle hook is defined as a hook with a generally circular shape, and a point which turns inwards, pointing directly to the shank at a 90 degree angle. Trolling is defined as angling from a boat or floating device that is making way by means of a source of power, other than drifting by means of the prevailing water current or weather conditions. See Section 28.65(g).

(4) One Rod Restriction north of Point Conception. Salmon may be taken by angling with no more than one rod in ocean waters north of Point Conception. See Section 28.65(e).

(b) Statewide Coho (silver) Salmon Restrictions: No coho (silver) salmon may be retained.

(c) Open Fishing Days, Daily Bag Limits, and Minimum Size in effect on or after May 16, 2023.

(1) North of 40°10'00" N. lat. (near Cape Mendocino) and in Humboldt Bay.
(A) Closed.

(2) Between 40°10'00" N. lat. and Point Arena (38°57'30" N. lat.).
(A) Closed.

(3) Between Point Arena and Pigeon Point (37°11'00" N. lat.).
(A) Closed.

(4) Between Pigeon Point and Point Sur (36°18'00" N. lat.).
(A) Closed.

(5) South of Point Sur.
(A) Closed.

(d) Open Fishing Days, Daily Bag Limits, and Minimum Size in effect on or after April 1, 2024. Public notification of any in-season change to state salmon regulations to conform to in-season changes to federal regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825.

(1) North of 40°10'00" N. lat. (near Cape Mendocino) and in Humboldt Bay.
(A) Open to salmon fishing beginning May 1, 2024. Fishing is authorized 7 days per week. This opening could be modified following Pacific Fishery Management Council review at its March or April 2024 meetings. Anglers are advised to call the ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825 before fishing.

(B) Daily Bag Limit: 2 salmon per day. Bag limits may be modified in season. Anglers are advised to call the ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825 before fishing. See subsection (b) above and subsection (e) below.

(C) Minimum Size: 20 inches total length.

(2) Between 40°10'00" N. lat. and Point Arena (38°57'30" N. lat.).
(A) Open to salmon fishing beginning April 6, 2024. Fishing is authorized 7 days per week. This opening could be modified following Pacific Fishery Management Council review at its March or April 2024 meetings. Anglers are advised to call the ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825 before fishing.

(B) Daily Bag Limit: 2 salmon per day. Bag limits may be modified in season. Anglers are advised to call the ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825 before fishing. See subsection (b) above and subsection (e) below.

(C) Minimum Size: 20 inches total length.

(3) Between Point Arena and Pigeon Point (37°11'00" N. lat.).
(A) Open to salmon fishing beginning April 6, 2024. Fishing is authorized 7 days per week. This opening could be modified following Pacific Fishery Management Council review at its March or April 2024 meetings. Anglers are advised to call the ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825 before fishing.

(B) Daily Bag Limit: 2 salmon per day. Bag limits may be modified in season. Anglers are advised to call the ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825 before fishing. See subsection (b) above and subsection (e) below.

(C) Minimum Size: 24 inches total length.

(4) Between Pigeon Point and Point Sur (36°18'00" N. lat.).
(A) Open to salmon fishing beginning April 6, 2024. Fishing is authorized 7 days per week. This opening could be modified following Pacific Fishery Management Council review at its March or April 2024 meetings. Anglers are advised to call the ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825 before fishing.

(B) Daily Bag Limit: 2 salmon per day. Bag limits may be modified in season. Anglers are advised to call the ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825 before fishing. See subsection (b) above and subsection (e) below.

(C) Minimum Size: 24 inches total length.

(5) South of Point Sur.
(A) Open to salmon fishing beginning April 6, 2024. Fishing is authorized 7 days per week. This opening could be modified following Pacific Fishery Management Council review at its March or April 2024 meetings. Anglers are advised to call the ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825 before fishing.

(B) Daily Bag Limit: 2 salmon per day. Bag limits may be modified in season. Anglers are advised to call the ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825 before fishing. See subsection (b) above and subsection (e) below.

(C) Minimum Size: 24 inches total length.

(e) Ocean salmon possession limit: No more than two daily bag limits may be possessed when on land. On a vessel in ocean waters, no person shall possess or bring ashore more than one daily bag limit. See Section 1.17 and 27.60(c) of these regulations.

1. Amendment of subsection (c)(1), new subsection (e) and relettering of former subsection (e) to subsection (f) filed 3-1-90; operative 3-1-90 (Register 90, No. 10). For prior history, see Register 89, No. 19.
2. Amendment of subsections (b) and (c) filed 5-31-90; operative 5-31-90 pursuant to Government Code section 11346.2(d) (Register 90, No. 29).
3. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (a), (b) and (e) filed 2-22-91 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 91, No. 13).
4. Amendment of subsections (b), (c) and (e) filed 5-1-91 as an emergency; operative 5-1-91 (Register 91, No. 25). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-29-91 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
5. Amendment of subsections (b) and (e) filed 7-24-91 as an emergency; operative 7-24-91 (Register 91, No. 47). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 11-12-91 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
6. Amendment of subsections (b) and (c) filed 8-2-91 as an emergency; operative 8-2-91 (Register 92, No. 4). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL 12-2-91 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
7. Amendment filed 5-4-92 as an emergency; operative 5-4-92 (Register 92, No. 19). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL 9-1-92 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
8. Amendment filed 11-24-92; operative 11-24-92 pursuant to Government Code section 11346.2(d) (Register 92, No. 48).
9. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 5-4-93; operative 5-4-93 (Register 93, No. 19).
10. Amendment of subsection (b)(3) and (d) EXCEPTION filed 7-6-93 as an emergency; operative 7-6-93 (Register 93, No. 28). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 11-3-93 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
11. Amendment filed 4-29-94; operative 4-29-94 (Register 94, No. 17).
12. Order filed 7-6-93 repealed by operation of Government Code section 11349.6(d) (Register 94, No. 21).
13. Amendment filed 4-24-95; operative 4-24-95 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 95, No. 17).
14. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 4-9-96 as an emergency; operative 4-9-96 (Register 96, No. 15). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-8-96 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
15. Amendment of section and Certificate of Compliance as to 4-9-96 order including amendment transmitted to OAL 4-26-96 and filed 4-30-96; operative 4-30-96 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 (Register 96, No. 18).
16. Amendment of subsections (a)(2), (a)(3), (b)(1) and (d)(3) filed 6-28-96; operative 6-28-96 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215. (Register 96, No. 26).
17. Amendment filed 5-13-97; operative 5-13-97 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 97, No. 20).
18. Amendment of subsections (a)(3), (b)(1)-(4), (c)(2) and (d)(2) filed 4-27-98; operative 4-27-98 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) and Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 98, No. 18).
19. Amendment of subsections (a)(3), (a)(4) and (c)(2) filed 5-14-98 as an emergency; operative 5-14-98 (Register 98, No. 20). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 9-11-98 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
20. Certificate of Compliance as to 5-14-98 order transmitted to OAL 9-9-98 and filed 10-20-98 (Register 98, No. 43).
21. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(4), (c)(2) and (d)(2) filed 4-28-99; operative 4-28-99 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 99, No. 18).
22. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(b)(4), (c)(2) and (d)(2) filed 2-29-2000; operative 2-29-2000 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2000, No. 9).
23. Amendment filed 4-27-2000; operative 4-27-2000 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2000, No. 17).
24. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(4), (c)(1) and (d)(2) and new subsection (d)(3) filed 4-23-2001; operative 5-1-2001 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2001, No. 17).
25. Amendment filed 4-29-2002; operative 5-1-2002 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2002, No. 18).
26. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(4), (c)(1) and (d)(2) filed 5-1-2003; operative 5-1-2003 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and 215 (Register 2003, No. 18).
27. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(4) and (c)(1), repealer of subsection (c)(2), subsection renumbering and amendment of subsection (d)(2) filed 5-13-2004; operative 5-15-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 20).
28. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(4) and (d)(1)-(2) filed 6-8-2005; operative 6-8-2005 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2005, No. 23). Because the season in the region described in subsection (b)(4) had not previously been set in regulation in 2005 and began prior to the effective date of this regulation, the minimum size of salmon that may be taken under this section in the region North of Horse Mountain is 20 inches from May 21, 2005 to June 9, 2005.
29. Repealer of subsections (b)(1)-(4), new subsections (b)(1)-(5) and amendment of subsection (d)(2) and NOTE filed 5-11-2006 as an emergency; operative 5-11-2006 (Register 2006, No. 19). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 9-8-2006 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
30. Certificate of Compliance as to 5-11-2006 order, including new EXCEPTION to subsection (b)(3), transmitted to OAL 7-28-2006 and filed 8-31-2006 (Register 2006, No. 35).
31. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(3), repealer of subsection (b)(4), subsection renumbering and amendment of newly designated subsection (b)(4) filed 5-10-2007; operative 5-10-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2007, No. 19).
32. Amendment of subsections (b)(2)-(4) filed 4-4-2008 as an emergency pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 240; operative 4-4-2008 (Register 2008, No. 14). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 10-1-2008 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
33. Amendment superseding 4-4-2008 emergency action filed 7-1-2008 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 220, subdivision (a); operative 7-31-2008 (Register 2008, No. 27).
34. Amendment of subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2), repealer and new subsection (b)(3), new subsections (b)(4)-(5) and repealer of subsection (d)(2) filed 6-15-2009; operative 7-15-2009 (Register 2009, No. 25).
35. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(5) and new subsection (d)(2) filed 2-9-2010; operative 3-1-2010 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2010, No. 7).
36. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(5) and (d)(2) filed 4-30-2010; operative 5-1-2010 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2010, No. 18).
37. Amendment of subsections (b)(2)-(b)(5) and (d)(1) and repealer of subsection (d)(2) filed 4-1-2011 as an emergency; operative 4-2-2011 (Register 2011, No. 13). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 9-29-2011 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
38. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(5) and (d)(1) and new subsection (d)(2) filed 5-11-2011; operative 5-11-2011 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2011, No. 19).
39. Repealer of subsections (b)-(d)(2) and new subsections (b)-(c)(5)(C) filed 3-22-2012; operative 3-22-2012 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2012, No. 12).
40. New subsections (d)-(d)(5)(C) filed 5-1-2012; operative 5-1-2012 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2012, No. 18).
41. Amendment of subsections (c), (c)(1)(A), (c)(2)(A), (c)(3)(A), (c)(4)(A) and (c)(5)(A) filed 3-25-2013; operative 4-6-2013 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4) (Register 2013, No. 13).
42. Amendment of subsections (d), (d)(1)(A), (d)(2)(A), (d)(3)(A), (d)(3)(C), (d)(4)(A), (d)(4)(C), (d)(5)(A) and (d)(5)(C) filed 4-29-2013; operative 5-1-2013 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4) (Register 2013, No. 18).
43. Amendment of subsections (c), (c)(2)(A)-(B), (c)(3)(A)-(B), (c)(4)(A)-(B) and (c)(5)(A)-(B) and new subsection (e) filed 4-1-2014; operative 4-4-2014 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4) (Register 2014, No. 14).
44. Amendment of subsections (d), (d)(1)(A)-(C), (d)(2)(A)-(B), (d)(3)(A)-(3), (d)(4)(A)-(B) and (d)(5)(A)-(B) filed 4-30-2014; operative 5-1-2014 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4) (Register 2014, No. 18).
45. Amendment of subsections (c), (c)(2)(A), (c)(3)(A), (c)(4)(A) and (c)(5)(A) filed 4-1-2015; operative 4-1-2015 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4) (Register 2015, No. 14).
46. Amendment of subsections (d), (d)(1)(A), (d)(1)(C), (d)(2)(A), (d)(3)(A), (d)(3)(C), (d)(4)(A), (d)(4)(C), (d)(5)(A) and (d)(5)(C) filed 5-1-2015; operative 5-1-2015 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4) (Register 2015, No. 18).
47. Amendment of subsections (c), (c)(2)(A), (c)(3)(A), (c)(4)(A) and (c)(5)(A) filed 3-29-2016; operative 4-1-2016 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4) (Register 2016, No. 14).
48. Amendment of subsections (d), (d)(1)(A), (d)(2)(A), (d)(3)(A), (d)(3)(C), (d)(4)(A), (d)(4)(C), (d)(5)(A) and (d)(5)(C) filed 4-27-2016; operative 5-1-2016 pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 202 and Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4) (Register 2016, No. 18).
49. Amendment of subsections (c), (c)(2)(A), (c)(3)(A), (c)(4)(A) and (c)(5)(A) and amendment of NOTE filed 3-27-2017; operative 3-27-2017 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2017, No. 13).
50. Amendment of subsection (d), repealer and new subsection (d)(1)(A), repealer of subsections (d)(1)(B)-(C), amendment of subsections (d)(2)(A), (d)(3)(A), (d)(4)(A) and (d)(5)(A) and amendment of NOTE filed 5-1-2017; operative 5-1-2017 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4) and Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2017, No. 18).
51. Amendment of subsections (c), (c)(2)(A), (c)(3)(A), (c)(4)(A) and (c)(5)(A), repealer of subsections (c)(2)(B)-(C) and (c)(3)(B)-(C) and amendment of NOTE filed 2-22-2018; operative 4-6-2018 pursuant to section 1.95(c), title 14, California Code of Regulations. Submitted to OAL for printing only (Register 2018, No. 13).
52. Amendment of subsection (d), repealer and new subsection (d)(1)(A), new subsections (d)(1)(B) and (d)(1)(C) and amendment of subsections (d)(2)(A), (d)(3)(A), (d)(4)(A) and (d)(5)(A) filed 4-24-2018; operative 5-1-2018 and submitted for printing only pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 7110 and section 1.95, title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (Register 2018, No. 18).
53. Amendment of subsections (c) and (c)(2)(A), new subsections (c)(2)(B)-(C), amendment of subsection (c)(3)(A) and new subsections (c)(3)(B)-(C) and amendment of subsections (c)(4)(A) and (c)(5)(A) filed 5-9-2018; operative 5-1-2018. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 7110 and section 1.95, title 14, California Code of Regulations (Register 2018, No. 20).
54. Amendment of subsections (d), (d)(1)(A), (d)(2)(A), (d)(3)(A), (d)(4)(A) and (d)(5)(A) filed 5-28-2019; operative 5-6-2019. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 7110 and section 1.95, title 14, California Code of Regulations (Register 2019, No. 23).
55. Amendment of subsections (c), (c)(2)(A), (c)(3)(A), (c)(4)(A) and (c)(5)(A) filed 5-28-2019; operative 5-6-2019. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 7110 and section 1.95, title 14, California Code of Regulations (Register 2019, No. 23).
56. Amendment of subsections (c), (c)(2)(A), (c)(3)(A), (c)(4)(A) and (c)(5)(A) filed 6-11-2020; operative 5-6-2020 pursuant to 14 CCR section 1.95(c) (Register 2020, No. 24).
57. Amendment of subsections (d), (d)(1)(A), (d)(2)(A), (d)(3)(A), (d)(4)(A) and (d)(5)(A) filed 6-11-2020; operative 5-6-2020 pursuant to 14 CCR section 1.95(c) (Register 2020, No. 24).
58. Amendment filed 7-1-2021; operative 5-16-2021. Submitted to OAL for filing and printing only pursuant to 14 CCR section 1.95(c) (Register 2021, No. 27).
59. Amendment of subsections (c), (c)(1)(A), (c)(2)(A), (c)(3)(A), (c)(4)(A), (c)(5)(A), (d), (d)(1)(A), (d)(2)(A), (d)(3)(A), (d)(4)(A) and (d)(5)(A) filed 6-22-2022; operative 5-16-2022 pursuant to section 1.95(c), title 14, California Code of Regulations. Submitted to OAL for courtesy filing and for printing only pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 7110 and section 1.95, title 14, California Code of Regulations (Register 2022, No. 25).
60. Amendment of subsections within subsections (c) and (d) filed 5-19-2023; operative 5-16-2023 pursuant to section 1.95(c), title 14, California Code of Regulations. Submitted to OAL for filing and printing only pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 7110 and section 1.95(c), title 14, California Code of Regulations (Register 2023, No. 23).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 205, 265, 316.5, 399, 2084 and 7110, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 200, 205, 265, 316.5, 2084 and 7110, Fish and Game Code.

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