Hark, Ye Anglers!
Gather ’round the binnacle, mates. Here be the rules of the catch for California & Hawaii: sizes, bags, seasons and tallies, each one checked against the official charts. Choose a creature and the log shall open.
Get Yer License
Square yer papers afore ye wet a line. Straight to the official state offices, no middlemen.
California Sport Fishing License
Buy sport fishing licenses, validations and report cards (spiny lobster, sturgeon and more) through CDFW Online License Sales. Also sold at CDFW license offices, license agents and by phone at (800) 565-1458.
Buy at wildlife.ca.gov ↗Hawaii Fishing Licenses & Permits
Residents: no recreational saltwater license is required (other rules still apply). Nonresidents age 15+ need a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License to fish the ocean (active-duty military and their minor children are exempt). Freshwater: a Freshwater Game Fishing License is required for introduced freshwater sport fish. Selling any catch requires a Commercial Marine License.
Details at dlnr.hawaii.gov ↗Cap’n Salty: “Fish it right an’ the sea fishes back, sprat! Papers in yer pocket, little ones back in the brine, an’ ye’ll be haulin’ smiles off this reef long after I’m pickled. That’s the sweetest catch there is!”
Checked against CDFW and Hawaii DAR: Oct 29, 2026.
The Ship’s Manifest
Pick yer quarry, matey. Tap a card to open its full log.
No creature answers to that call, matey.
Endangered & Threatened: Hands Off, Sailor!
These species are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. You may not take them. The list comes from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service ECOS (listed fish, crustaceans, clams and snails whose current range includes CA or HI). Some entries are freshwater or land species. Marine species managed by NOAA, such as salmon runs and Hawaii’s protected marine life, are on NOAA’s ESA directory, NOAA’s West Coast table and NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands list.
Cap’n Salty: “Not today, sprat. Rules is rules, an’ I follers ’em, an’ that’s what makes me a cap’n an’ not a pirate!”
| Species | Scientific name | Kind | Waters | ESA status |
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Mind the Charts: Regulations change, sometimes in the middle of a season and by emergency rule. This page is a friendly summary, not legal advice. Before you fish or harvest, always check the official source linked on each species (CDFW, Hawaii DAR, NOAA or CDPH). Counts are official published estimates, not live tallies. Illustrations: Surfing Fukcs Crew.