Saltwater · Central
Shark - Spiny Dogfish
Ocean regulations can change in-season. Confirm with the 2026 Ocean Sport Fishing Guide and CDFW before you fish.
Species group
SHARK
Season
-Open: April 1 - December 31 -Closed: January 1 through March 31
Depth limit
NA
Daily bag limit
-10 per person -The general bag limit of not more than 20 finfish in combination of all species with not more than 10 of any one species applies to Dover sole, English sole, arrow- tooth flounder, spiny dogfish, all skates, ratfish, all grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, longspine thornyhead and shortspine thornyhead.
Minimum size
NA
Gear restrictions
Fish may be taken only on hook-and-line or by hand. Any number of hooks and lines may be used in all
Identification
The body of the spiny dogfish is elongate and slender. The head is pointed. The color is slate gray to brownish on top, sometimes with white spots, becoming white below. This species and the horn shark are the only sharks along the California coast with spines at the beginning of both dorsal fins. These spines may be mildly poisonous and provide a defense for the spiny dogfish.