California Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater LegalFreshwater Permitted

Spearfishing is legal and popular in California's ocean waters with a California sport fishing license, and, unusually, California explicitly permits SCUBA and other underwater breathing devices while spearfishing fin fish.

License

Required: California Sport Fishing License (with Ocean Enhancement Validation where applicable)

Resident: Annual (365-day from purchase) resident sport fishing license $64.54; one-day $21.09; two-day $32.40. Ocean Enhancement Validation $7.30 (required south of Point Arguello; not required with a one- or two-day license). Costs are 2026 CDFW figures and are adjusted annually.

Non-resident: Annual nonresident sport fishing license $174.14; ten-day nonresident $64.54; one-day $21.09; two-day $32.40. Ocean Enhancement Validation $7.30 where applicable.

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Allowed for lawful fin fish. California regulations define spearfishing generically (taking fish by spear or hand while in the water.
• Pole spears: Allowed for lawful fin fish under the same general spearfishing definition; pole spears are not individually named in the regulations.
• On scuba: Yes, explicitly. Section 1.76 defines spearfishing as taking fish by spear or hand by persons in the water who 'may be using underwater.
• Spearfishing gear may not be possessed or used within 100 yards of the mouth of any stream in ocean waters north of Ventura County (§28.90)
• Spiny lobster may be taken by hand only, no spears, snares, or hooked/mechanical devices
• When spearfishing for federal groundfish species or greenlings (genus Hexagrammos) during a closed season/area, no fishing gear except.
• Spears and harpoons may not be possessed or used aboard a vessel on any day or trip when broadbill swordfish or marlin have been taken.

Do not spear

• Giant
• Garibaldi, may not be taken by spearfishing
• Gulf grouper, may not be taken by spearfishing
• Broomtail grouper, may not be taken by spearfishing
• Trout, may not be taken by spearfishing
• Salmon, may not be taken by spearfishing
• Broadbill swordfish, may not be taken by spearfishing
• White shark, may not be taken
• Spiny lobster, may not be taken by spear at all; hand-only
• Abalone

Area restrictions

• No spearfishing gear within 100 yards of the mouth of any stream in ocean waters north of Ventura County (§28.90).
• State Marine Reserves (SMRs): no take of any kind, all fishing, collecting and spearfishing are prohibited.
• State Marine Conservation Areas (SMCAs) and other Marine Protected Areas: take rules vary by site and many prohibit or restrict spearfishing; always.
• Groundfish/greenling closed-area and closed-season rules restrict what may be aboard the vessel while spearfishing (§28.90).

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW): https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Sport-Fishing/General-Ocean-Fishing-Regs