Saltwater · Northern
Greenling - White Spotted
Ocean regulations can change in-season. Confirm with the 2026 Ocean Sport Fishing Guide and CDFW before you fish.
Species group
ROCKFISH
Season
Open: Apr 1–Dec 31 Closed: Jan 1–Mar 31
Season notes
Boat-based anglers. Shore anglers and spear divers are largely exempt from groundfish season/depth limits (except no-retention species). Regulations can change in-season — verify with CDFW.
Depth limit
Open at all depths during the open season (Apr 1–Dec 31). Jan 1–Mar 31: Closed — unlawful to possess in all waters (boat-based). Descending device required when taking/possessing federal groundfish from a boat. Always confirm current CDFW Groundfish Management Area rules before fishing.
Daily bag limit
10 fish in combination per person within the RCG complex (rockfish, cabezon, greenling), subject to species sub-bags (e.g. copper, vermilion/sunset, canary).
Minimum size
12 inches total length
Gear restrictions
Method of take: When angling, gear is restricted to not more than two hooks and one line. A hook is a single hook, or a double or treble hook with multiple points connected to a common shank. Descending device required aboard when taking/possessing federal groundfish.
Identification
A female kelp greenling is freckled all over with small, reddish brown to golden spots on a gray to brownish background. The fins are mostly yellowish orange. Males tend to be gray to brownish olive, with irregular blue spots on the front half to two-thirds of their bodies. These spots are surrounded by a ring of small, reddish brown spots. The inside of the mouth is yellowish in both sexes. There is often an ocellus (an eyelike, pigmented spot) at the end of the soft dorsal fin, just in front of the tail. They have five lateral lines and two fleshy cirri, one above the eye and one small one midway between the eye and the dorsal fin. The anal fin usually has one weak spine.