Statutes, codes, and regulations
California Code Of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural ResourcesDivision 1 - Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and GameSubdivision 1 - Fish, Amphibians and ReptilesChapter 2 - Statewide Regulations for Fishing and Frogging in Inland Waters
Article 4 - Species Regulations
Section 5.80 - White Sturgeon

Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14 § 5.80

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Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 49, December 6, 2024
Section 5.80 - White Sturgeon

See sections 5.78 and 27.93 for white sturgeon fishing regulations during California Endangered Species Act Candidacy.

(a) Open season:
(1) All year: from the west Carquinez Bridge east to the Hwy 50 bridge on the Sacramento River and the I-5 bridge on the San Joaquin River.
(2) From June 1 through December 31: above the Hwy 50 bridge on the Sacramento River and the I-5 bridge on the San Joaquin River, including all tributaries of both rivers. From January 1 through May 31: it is unlawful to take White Sturgeon.
(b) Daily limit: One fish per day. After harvesting a White Sturgeon, anglers shall not continue to catch and release White Sturgeon on the same day. Anglers that have retained and tagged a fish are permitted to fish catch and release for White Sturgeon starting on the day after the tag was used.
(c) Annual bag limit: One fish per calendar year statewide.
(d) Daily vessel maximum harvest: All persons aboard a vessel may be cited for violation of a daily vessel maximum harvest limit. No more than two White Sturgeon may be harvested per day on a vessel, regardless of the number of anglers on board. Anglers must have in their possession a report card with a valid tag in order to retain a White Sturgeon. When the daily vessel maximum harvest is reached, only anglers that have not tagged a White Sturgeon that day may continue to fish catch and release for White Sturgeon.
(e) Size limit: No fish less than 42 inches fork length or greater than 48 inches fork length may be taken or possessed.
(f) Methods of take: Only one single point, single shank, barbless hook may be used on a line when taking sturgeon. The sturgeon must voluntarily take the bait or lure inside its mouth. No sturgeon may be taken by trolling, snagging or by the use of firearms. Sturgeon may not be gaffed, nor shall any person use any type of firearm or snare to take any sturgeon.

For the purposes of this section, a snare is a flexible loop made from any material that can be tightened like a noose around any part of the fish.

(g) Removal from water. Any sturgeon greater than 68 inches fork length may not be removed from the water and shall be released immediately.
(h) Report card required: Any person fishing for or taking sturgeon shall have in their possession a nontransferable Sturgeon Fishing Report Card issued by the department and shall adhere to all reporting and tagging requirements for sturgeon defined in Sections 1.74 and 5.79, Title 14, CCR.
(i) Special North Coast District Sturgeon Closure (Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and Siskiyou cos.). It is unlawful to take any sturgeon in the North Coast District at any time.
(j) For regulations on take and possession of sturgeon in ocean waters as defined in Section 27.00, see Sections 27.90, 27.91, and 27.95.
(k) Special Sierra and Valley District Sturgeon Closure from January 1 to December 31 (Shasta, Tehama, Butte and Glenn cos.).
(1) Sacramento River from Keswick Dam to the Highway 162 Bridge.
(A) It is unlawful to take any sturgeon.
(B) It is unlawful to use wire leaders.
(C) It is unlawful to use lamprey or any type of shrimp as bait.
(l) Special Yolo Bypass Flood Control System Sturgeon Closure. It is unlawful to take any sturgeon in the Yolo Bypass, Toe Drain Canal, and Tule Canal upstream of Lisbon Weir at any time.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 5.80

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 205, 265, 275 and 399, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 110, 200 and 205, Fish and Game Code.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 205, 265 and 275, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 110, 200 and 205, Fish and Game Code.

1. Amendment of subsections (b)-(d) filed 3-1-90; operative 3-1-90 (Register 90, No. 10).
2. Amendment of subsection (c) and Note filed 3-12-92; operative 3-12-92 (Register 92, No. 20).
3. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 12-22-92; operative 12-22-92 pursuant to sections 202 and 215, Fish and Game Code (Register 92, No. 52).
4. Amendment of subsection (b) 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 section heading and subsection (c), new subsection (f) and amendment of 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.
6. 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).
7. Amendment of section heading and subsections (b) and (c) and new subsections (e)-(h) filed 2-28-2007; operative 2-28-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2007, No. 9).
8. Amendment of subsection (e), repealer of subsections (e)(1)-(f)(2) and subsection relettering filed 3-14-2008; operative 4-1-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2008, No. 11).
9. New subsections (h)-(h)(3) filed 2-9-2010; operative 3-1-2010 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2010, No. 7).
10. Amendment filed 12-27-2012; operative 1-1-2013 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(Register 2012, No. 52).
11. Amendment of subsections (d) and (i) filed 2-23-2015; operative 2/23/2015 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2015, No. 9).
12. Amendment of subsection (d) and new subsection (j) filed 2-29-2016; operative 3/2/2016 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2016, No. 10).
13. Change without regulatory effect amending Note filed 8-8-2019 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2019, No. 32).
14. Amendment of section and Note filed 11-16-2023 as an emergency; operative 11/16/2023 (Register 2023, No. 46). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 5-14-2024 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
15. Amendment of section and NOTE refiled 5-15-2024 as an emergency; operative 5/15/2024 (Register 2024, No. 20). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-13-2024 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
16. Amendment of section and NOTE refiled 7-26-2024 as an emergency; operative 8/14/2024 (Register 2024, No. 30). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 11-12-2024 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
17. New first paragraph filed 9-6-2024 as an emergency; operative 9/6/2024 (Register 2024, No. 36). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 3-5-2025 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.