Red Sea Urchin in California
red sea urchin: California limits and records.
- n/adaily bag
red sea urchin, the California picture
On salt water, Red sea urchin (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) belongs to the invertebrates group in CDFW references. No limit row exists for it in the CDFW summary.
The north, central and south coast holds it, per the portal.
What CDFW writes about red sea urchin
“Red sea urchin range from southern Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.”
“Red sea urchin are found in shallow coastal waters from 0 to 300 feet (91 meters) on hard substrate and rocky reef.”
- SizeThe maximum size for red sea urchin is about 7 inches (18 centimeters) test diameter. Weight is highly dependent on gonad development, but a typical commercial-size sea urchin in the north at 3.5 inches test diameter (8.9 centimeters) will
- SeasonCommercial take is open year-round, except that it is closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from June through October north of the Monterey-San Luis Obispo County line, and Saturday and Sunday from June through October south of the Monterey-S
- GearThe red sea urchin commercial fishery is exclusively a diver-based fishery. Sea urchin are harvested by hand using an urchin rake or similar device, making it a highly selective fishery. Most divers use “hookah”, which is a surface-supplied
- Where fishedRed sea urchin landings occur in southern California and north of San Francisco. Most of the landings in southern California come from the mainland coast of San Diego north to Santa Barbara and all offshore islands, especially San Clemente,
Quoted from CDFW, checked October 2026.
More in the group with red sea urchin
- California MusselInvertebrates
- California Spiny LobsterInvertebrates
- California Two-Spot OctopusInvertebrates
- Dungeness CrabInvertebrates
- Kellet’s WhelkInvertebrates
- Pacific Gaper Clam and Fat Gaper ClamInvertebrates
- Pacific Geoduck ClamInvertebrates
- Pacific Razor ClamInvertebrates
- Pismo ClamInvertebrates
- Rock CrabsInvertebrates
- Sheep CrabInvertebrates
- Slender CrabInvertebrates
red sea urchin questions, answered briefly
What daily bag applies to red sea urchin in California?
No species row is listed; check the full CDFW booklet.
How big is the state record red sea urchin?
None on the CDFW list.
Where are red sea urchin found?
Red sea urchin landings occur in southern California and north of San Francisco. Most of the landings in southern California come from the mainland coast of San Diego north to Santa Barbara and all offshore islands, espe
Are red sea urchin planted in California?
The 2026 plan does not include it.
What is red sea urchin also called?
The maximum size for red sea urchin is about 7 inches (18 centimeters) test diameter. Weight is highly dependent on gonad development, but a typical commercial-size sea urchin in the north at 3.5 inches test diameter (8.
Can I fish for red sea urchin all year?
Commercial take is open year-round, except that it is closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from June through October north of the Monterey-San Luis Obispo County line, and Saturday and Sunday from June through October sou
Is a validation needed for red sea urchin?
A California sport fishing license ($64.54 resident) from age 16; report cards apply to steelhead, sturgeon, North Coast salmon and lobster.
Who guides for red sea urchin?
No charter lists it.