Flag Rockfish in California
California rules, records and waters for flag rockfish.
- 10 a daydaily bag
California flag rockfish at a glance
CDFW covers Flag rockfish (Sebastes rubrivinctus) among its rockfish species, found on salt water. CDFW sets a Northern Groundfish Management Area bag of 10 a day and a size rule of none.
The Marine Species Portal lists the north, central and south regions.
How CDFW describes flag rockfish
“Flag rockfish range from Stonewall Bank, Oregon to Bahía do Sebastián Vizcaíno, Baja California, Mexico. They are most common between central California and Bahía San Quintin, Baja California, Mexico.”
“Flag rockfish can be found in waters ranging from 30 to 431 meters (100 to 1,414 feet) deep and live on rocky reefs.”
- SizeFlag rockfish can grow up to 44 centimeters (17.2 inches) long and weigh 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds).
- SeasonRecreational and commercial fishing seasons and other regulations for flag rockfish vary by fishing sector, geographic area, and time of year, and are subject to changes inseason in response to recent stock and catch information. For curren
- GearLegal recreational gears for flag rockfish include hook-and-line and spear gears. Legal commercial gears for flag rockfish vary by sector and may include a variety of hook and line gears as well as gill nets, trawls, and traps.
- Where fishedAllowed statewide, but closures by depth, geographic area, and time of year may exist.
- Other namesrocote bandera, flagpole, barber pole
Quoted from CDFW, checked October 2026.
How many flag rockfish you may keep
| Where | Daily bag | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Groundfish Management Area | 10 a day | none | April 1 – December 31: open all depths |
| Mendocino Groundfish Management Area | 10 a day | none | April 1 – December 31: open all depths |
| San Francisco Groundfish Management Area | 10 a day | none | April 1 – December 31: open all depths |
| Central Groundfish Management Area | 10 a day | none | April 1 – December 31: open all depths |
| Southern Groundfish Management Area | 10 a day | none | Apr. 1 – Jun. 30: open all depths; Jul. 1 – Sep. 30: 50 fathom – inshore only; Oct. 1 – Dec. 31: 50 fathom – offshore only (take prohibited shoreward of the 50 |
CDFW 2026 Freshwater and Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations. All California limits.
If you like flag rockfish
- Black RockfishRockfish
- Black-and-Yellow RockfishRockfish
- Blue RockfishRockfish
- Bocaccio RockfishRockfish
- Brown RockfishRockfish
- Calico RockfishRockfish
- Canary RockfishRockfish
- Chilipepper RockfishRockfish
- China RockfishRockfish
- Copper RockfishRockfish
- CowcodRockfish
- Gopher RockfishRockfish
Things to know about flag rockfish
What is the California bag limit on flag rockfish?
10 a day (Northern Groundfish Management Area), size none.
Where was the record flag rockfish caught?
CDFW lists no record for it.
Which California waters hold flag rockfish?
Allowed statewide, but closures by depth, geographic area, and time of year may exist.
Is flag rockfish part of the stocking plan?
Not in the 2026 trout and inland salmon plan.
How do I identify flag rockfish?
Flag rockfish can grow up to 44 centimeters (17.2 inches) long and weigh 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds).
Does California close the season on flag rockfish?
April 1 – December 31: open all depths
Which California license covers flag rockfish?
A license from age 16 at $64.54; check the card rules for salmon and sturgeon.
Which landings report flag rockfish?
None list it in their counts; see the guides page.
Plan a flag rockfish trip
Choose a water from the lists on this page.