Due to a delay in the federal rulemaking process, the California Fish and Game Commission was unable to conform state recreational groundfish regulations in a timely manner. New federal regulations now result in a conflict between state and federal regulations for recreational groundfish fishing, so that some rules differ for state (0 to 3 nautical miles from shore) and federal waters (3-200 nautical miles from shore) off the California coast beginning Wednesday, May 11, 2011.

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the Fish and Game Commission are working to amend the state regulations to align them with the 2011 federal regulations by early June 2011. Until then, DFG reminds California anglers to follow existing state regulations.

Immediate actual conflict with State Title 14 regulations beginning May 11, 2011: 1. Lingcod size limit and the allowable alternate fillet length (statewide) - State regulations continue to specify that the limit is two fish at 24 inches with a 16-inch fillet size limit.
2. Cabezon (statewide) - State regulations will continue to allow only a two-fish sub-bag limit on cabezon.
3. Cabezon and greenling gears (statewide) - State regulations will continue to follow the general gear provisions only.

New actual conflict arises on Saturday, May 14, 2011:
4. Season opening date in the Northern and Mendocino Groundfish Management Areas (from the California/Oregon border south to Pt. Arena) - State regulations will continue to be in effect, opening the fishery in these areas on Sunday, May 15.

New actual conflict arises on Wednesday, June 1, 2011:
5. Season opening date in the San Francisco Area (from Pt. Arena to Pigeon Pt.) - State regulations will continue to be in effect, opening the fishery in these areas on June 13.

DFG will provide information to the public on its website as soon as the Commission takes action and new state groundfish fishing regulations become effective.