ARTICLE 1. Traps [9000. - 9024.]

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC 1.
in effect

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9000. Section 9000.

(a) Except as expressly authorized in this article, no person shall use a trap to take any finfish, mollusk, or crustacean in the waters of this state for commercial purposes. (b) Traps may be used to take finfish in ocean waters only as authorized by this article. (c) Freshwater baitfish traps that are used as provided in Section 8463 are not subject to this article.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9000.5. Section 9000.5.

For the purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings: (a) “Bucket trap” means a plastic bucket of five gallons or less in capacity. (b) “Deeper nearshore species” means those finfish identified as deeper nearshore species in regulations adopted by the commission pursuant to Section 8587.1. (c) “General trap permit” means a valid permit to take fish for commercial purposes issued pursuant to Section 9001 that has not been suspended or revoked. (d) “Korean trap” means a molded plastic cylinder that does not exceed 6 inches in diameter and does not exceed 24 inches in length. (e) “Nearshore species” means those finfish identified as such in regulations adopted by the commission pursuant to Section 8587.1. (f) “Popup” means a mechanism capable of releasing a submerged buoy at a predetermined time.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9001. Section 9001.

(a) Finfish, mollusks, or crustaceans shall not be taken by a person with traps for commercial purposes in ocean waters except under a valid general trap permit issued to that person that has not been suspended or revoked. (b) Any person who operates or assists in operating any trap to take finfish, mollusks, or crustaceans, other than lobster or Dungeness crabs, as defined in Section 8275, or who possesses or transports finfish, mollusks, or crustaceans on any boat, barge, or vessel when any trap is aboard, shall have a general trap permit issued to that person that has not been revoked or suspended while engaged in the activity. (c) The fee for the general trap permit shall be thirty-five dollars ($35). (d) This section does not apply to the taking of lobster under Section 9010 or to the taking of Dungeness crab under Section 9011.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9001.6. Section 9001.6.

Hagfish may be taken under a general trap permit, if all of the following criteria are met: (a) Korean traps and bucket traps may be used to take only hagfish under this article. (b) No more than a total of 500 Korean traps or a total of 200 bucket traps may be possessed aboard a vessel or in the water or combination thereof. (c) No permittee may possess both Korean traps or bucket traps and other types of traps aboard a vessel at the same time. When Korean traps or bucket traps are being used or possessed aboard a vessel, no species of finfish other than hagfish shall be taken, possessed aboard, or sold for commercial purposes. (d) Popups shall not be used on buoy lines attached to Korean traps or bucket traps, and shall not be possessed by a commercial fisherman aboard a vessel when taking hagfish.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9001.7. Section 9001.7.

Finfish, other than sablefish and hagfish, may be taken under a general trap permit if all of the following criteria are also met: (a) Every person aboard the vessel possesses a valid general trap permit that has not been suspended or revoked. (b) If nearshore species are present, at least one person aboard the vessel possesses a valid nearshore fishery permit and a nearshore fishery trap endorsement that has not been suspended or revoked. (c) If deeper nearshore species are present, at least one person aboard the vessel possesses a valid deeper nearshore species fishery permit that has not been suspended or revoked. (d) During the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, finfish traps that are left in the water shall be unbaited with the door secured open. If, for reasons beyond the control of the permittee, all trap doors cannot be secured open prior to one hour after sunset, the permittee shall immediately notify the department. (e) Popups shall not be used on buoy lines attached to finfish traps, and shall not be possessed aboard a vessel when taking finfish under a general trap permit. (f) Trap destruction devices used on finfish traps shall conform to the current regulatory requirements for those devices pursuant to Section 9003 and as adopted by the commission. (g) No finfish traps shall be set within 750 feet of any pier, breakwall, or jetty in District 6, 7, 17, 18, 19, 19A, 19B, 20, 20A, or 21. (h) No more than 50 finfish traps may be used in state waters along the mainland shore. (i) The mesh of any finfish trap used pursuant to this section shall measure not less than two inches by two inches. (j) The following fish shall not be used as bait in finfish traps: (1) Lobster. (2) Crabs of the genus cancer, except rock crab, yellow crab, and red crab, as identified in Section 8282, which may be used as bait under the authority of a rock crab trap permit issued pursuant to Section 8282. (3) Any other finfish or invertebrate to which a minimum size limit applies that is used or possessed in a condition so that its size can not be determined. (k) Lobster may be possessed aboard or landed from any vessel on which finfish are also present, if every person aboard the vessel has a valid lobster permit that has not been suspended or revoked and complies with Article 5 (commencing with Section 8250) of Chapter 2, this article, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9001.8. Section 9001.8.

Sablefish may be taken under a general trap permit in ocean waters between a line extending due west true from Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County and the United States-Mexico international boundary line, if all of the following criteria are also met: (a) The trap shall be six feet or less in its greatest dimension. (b) The mesh of any trap used for sablefish pursuant to this section shall measure not less than two inches by two inches. (c) The traps may be used only in waters 200 fathoms or deeper. (d) No permittee may possess aboard a vessel at the same time, sablefish traps and any other commercial fishing gear, except that spot prawn traps may be possessed during spot prawn trap open fishing periods as established by the commission and if the permittee has a valid spot prawn trap vessel permit that has not been suspended or revoked.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9002. Section 9002.

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d), it is unlawful to willfully or recklessly disturb, move, or damage any trap that belongs to another person and that is marked with a buoy identification number pursuant to Section 9006. (b) A person, who has been issued a general trap permit under Section 9001 and has it in his or her possession, may pull or raise a trap marked with a buoy, if the buoy is marked with a buoy identification number pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 9006. A person pulling or raising a trap marked with a buoy identification number, other than his or her own buoy identification number, shall have written permission in his or her possession from the other person who holds the buoy identification number that is marked on the buoy. (c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to employees of the department while engaged in the performance of official duties. (d) (1) Subdivision (a) does not apply to publicly employed safety personnel, including, but not limited to, lifeguards, marine safety officers, harbor patrol officers, and peace officers, who, while engaged in the performance of their official duties, may remove a trap, buoy, or line located in or near breaking surf or adjacent to a public beach if they believe that the trap poses a public safety hazard. If any of those persons remove a trap, a buoy, or a trap or buoy line, any captured marine life shall be immediately returned to the ocean. (2) Any person described in this subdivision who removes a trap and any attachments thereto identified by a buoy identification number shall make an attempt to contact the person whose permit or license number is marked on the buoy by personal contact, by telephone, by recorded message left on a telephone answering machine, by regular United States Postal Service, or by other means, advising where the property is located. Those persons shall have no responsibility to secure the trap or attachments against loss or damage. (3) Employees of the department may disclose the name, address, and buoy identification numbers of currently permitted or licensed persons to representatives of public safety agencies described in this subdivision to assist in the return of traps and attachments to their proper owners or operators. (4) If the person whose permit or license number is marked on the buoy has been notified pursuant to this subdivision but has not retrieved the trap within seven days of notification, or if that person cannot be identified within seven days after the trap has been removed, the trap may be discarded. (5) This subdivision does not create any duty on any state or local agency to remove or move a trap, line, or buoy that may endanger the public safety and does not create any liability pursuant to Part 2 (commencing with Section 814) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9002.5. Section 9002.5.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 9002, the department, in consultation with the Dungeness crab task force, shall establish a retrieval program to provide for the retrieval of lost or abandoned commercial Dungeness crab traps by June 30, 2019. (b) The retrieval program developed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be consistent with all of the following: (1) (A) The department shall establish a retrieval permit that grants a person who obtains a retrieval permit the authority to retrieve Dungeness crab traps located in ocean waters belonging to another person without written permission from that person during both of the following periods of time: (i) The closed season of the Dungeness crab commercial fishery, as described in Section 8276. (ii) A period of time other than the time period described in clause (i) in which the director restricts the take of Dungeness crab pursuant to Section 8276.1 or regulations adopted pursuant to that section, if the director authorizes retrieval permitholders to retrieve traps during that time period. (B) The department may establish any qualifications it deems necessary for a person to obtain a retrieval permit. (C) The department shall require a permit fee in an amount necessary to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs to the department of the retrieval program. (2) Notwithstanding Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 2080) of Title 6 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code or any other law, any Dungeness crab trap retrieved under the authority of a retrieval permit shall become the property of the retrieval permitholder. (3) The department shall require a retrieval permitholder to notify the former trap owner of the retrieval of a Dungeness crab trap and to offer to sell the trap to the former owner for a reasonable recovery fee, as determined by the retrieval permitholder, based on the cost of trap retrieval and storage of the trap. The department shall impose per-trap fees on any former trap owner who refuses to pay the recovery fee to the retrieval permitholder. The department shall set the rate of these per-trap fees at a level sufficient to recover any costs to the department from handling noncompliance with the gear retrieval program and to reimburse the retrieval permitholder for the reasonable cost of trap retrieval, storage, and disposal of crab traps belonging to a former owner who refuses to pay the recovery fees for those traps and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall use the proceeds of the per-trap fees for these purposes. The department shall annually adjust the per-trap fees pursuant to Section 713. (4) Notwithstanding Section 8022, the department may release contact information to a retrieval permitholder for purposes of the retrieval program under terms and conditions as the department deems necessary to preserve the confidentiality of the information released. Any release of information pursuant to this section does not constitute a waiver of any applicable exemptions from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code). (5) The department may deny an application for renewal or transfer of a Dungeness crab vessel permit until the applicant pays any fees imposed pursuant to paragraph (3). (6) The department shall submit the proposed retrieval program developed pursuant to this section to the Dungeness crab task force for review, and shall not implement the retrieval program until the task force has had 60 days or more to review the proposed retrieval program and recommend any proposed changes. The director may implement the retrieval program earlier than 60 days after it is submitted to the Dungeness crab task force for review, if recommended by the task force. (c) This section shall become inoperative on April 1, 2029, and, as of January 1, 2030, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2030, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9003. Section 9003.

Every trap shall have at least one destruction device which meets specifications approved by the department. In order to minimize the adverse effects on living marine resources, the specifications for destruction devices shall provide for a device that destructs rapidly enough to facilitate escape of a substantial proportion of all species confined in the trap from any trap that cannot be raised.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9004. Section 9004.

Every trap shall be raised, cleaned, serviced, and emptied at intervals, not to exceed 96 hours, weather conditions at sea permitting, and no trap shall be abandoned in the waters of this state.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9005. Section 9005.

Every trap or string of traps shall be marked with a buoy. The department shall implement regulations by January 1, 2020, requiring standardized gear marking for those fisheries in which the department determines it is appropriate. As part of the regulations, the department shall establish a fee for each fishery requiring standardized gear marking pursuant to this section and shall set and adjust each fee in an amount to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the department relating to the standardized gear marking requirement.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9006. Section 9006.

Every trap used to take finfish or crustaceans shall be marked with a buoy. Each buoy shall be marked to identify the operator as follows: (a) For a trap used to take lobster the commercial fishing license identification number followed by the letter “P.” (b) For a trap used to take Dungeness crab or hagfish, the commercial fishing license identification number only. (c) For a trap used to take finfish other than sablefish or hagfish, the commercial fishing license identification number followed by the letter “Z.” (d) For a trap used to take sablefish, the commercial fishing license identification number followed by the letter “B.”

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9007. Section 9007.

Any trap used without a buoy, or with a buoy which is not marked pursuant to Section 9006, is a public nuisance and shall be removed from the waters of this state by any person authorized to enforce this code.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9008. Section 9008.

Any trap used in violation of this code, or any regulations adopted pursuant thereto, is a public nuisance and, except as provided in Section 9007, shall be seized pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 8630) of Chapter 3.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9010. Section 9010.

(a) Subject to Article 5 (commencing with Section 8250) of Chapter 2, spiny lobster may be taken with lobster traps under a lobster permit issued pursuant to Section 8254. (b) Notwithstanding Sections 8660 and 8665, lobster traps may be used in any area of the state not otherwise closed to the taking of lobsters up to, but not closer than, 75 feet of any private pier, wharf, jetty, breakwater, or dock. (c) A wire lobster trap shall be built of rectangular wire mesh with inside mesh measurement not less than 1 1 2 inches by 3 1 2 inches, the 3 1 2 -inch measurement to be parallel to the floor of the trap. A wire lobster trap shall be fitted with at least one rigid rectangular escape gap with an inside vertical measurement not less than 2 3 8 inches at all points and an inside horizontal measurement of not less than 11 1 2 inches at all points. The horizontal sides of the escape gap shall be located parallel to, and the escape gap within 2 3 8 inches of the floor on any outside wall of, the rearmost chamber of the lobster trap and shall be clearly accessible to the lobsters. (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), wire may be used to hold the escape gap in place that reduces the inside vertical or horizontal measurement of the escape gap specified in subdivision (c), but only if all of the following requirements are met: (1) The overall diameter of the wire, including any coating on the wire, shall measure less than 0.176 inches in diameter (the diameter of 7 SWG gauge wire using the Standard Wire Gauge (SWG) standard of measurement). (2) A maximum of one wire wrap shall be located on each vertical side of the escape gap. (3) A maximum of two wire wraps shall be located on the bottom horizontal side of the escape gap. (4) Wire shall not be used on the top horizontal side of the escape gap. (5) Each wire shall be tightly wrapped against the inside surface of the escape gap and shall not pass over the inside surface more than once. As used in this paragraph, “tightly wrapped” means no space exists at any point between the wire and the inside surface of the escape gap. (e) A lobster trap constructed of lath or other material shall have an opening to allow a means of escape along the full length of one side of the rearmost chamber. The escape opening shall be of a spacing of not less than 2 3 8 inches, and the spacing shall be located parallel to, and within 2 3 8 inches of, the floor of the lobster trap.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9011. Section 9011.

(a) (1) Subject to Article 6 (commencing with Section 8275) of Chapter 2, Dungeness crab, as defined in Section 8275, may be taken with Dungeness crab traps. (2) A Dungeness crab trap may have any number of openings of any size. However, every Dungeness crab trap shall have at least two rigid circular openings of not less than 4 1 4 inches, inside diameter, on the top or side of the trap. If both of the openings are located on the side of the trap, at least one of the openings shall be located so that at least one-half of the opening is in the upper half of the trap. (3) Subject to Article 6 (commencing with Section 8275) of Chapter 2, rock crab may be taken incidentally with a Dungeness crab trap used pursuant to this subdivision to take Dungeness crab, provided that the incidental taking occurs only during the season when it is lawful to take both species. A rock crab, taken incidentally with a Dungeness crab trap, that does not comply with Article 6 (commencing with Section 8275) of Chapter 2, shall be immediately returned to the waters from which it was taken. (b) (1) Subject to Article 6 (commencing with Section 8275) of Chapter 2, rock crab, as defined in Section 8275, may be taken with rock crab traps. (2) A rock crab trap may have any number of openings of any size. However, a rock crab trap constructed of wire mesh with an inside mesh measurement of not less than 1 7 8 inches by 3 7 8 inches, with the 3 7 8 inch measurement parallel to the floor, shall have at least one rigid circular opening of not less than 3 1 4 inches, inside diameter, located on any outside wall of the rearmost chamber of the crab trap and shall be located so that at least one-half of the opening is in the upper half of the trap. Rock crab traps constructed of other material shall have at least two rigid circular openings of not less than 3 1 4 inches, inside diameter, on the top or side of the rearmost chamber of the trap. If both of the openings are located on the side of the trap, at least one of the openings shall be located so that at least one-half of the opening is in the upper half of the trap. No rigid circular opening, as required, shall extend more than 1 2 inch beyond the plane of the wall side or top of the trap in which it is located, and it shall be clearly accessible to any crab which may be in the trap. (3) Subject to Article 6 (commencing with Section 8275) of Chapter 2, Dungeness crab may be taken incidentally with a rock crab trap used pursuant to this subdivision to take rock crab, provided that the incidental taking occurs only during the season when it is lawful to take both species. A Dungeness crab, taken incidentally with a rock crab trap, that does not comply with Article 6 (commencing with Section 8275) of Chapter 2, shall be immediately returned to the waters from which it was taken. (4) A person shall not possess any lobster aboard a vessel while the vessel is being used pursuant to this subdivision to take rock crab.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9012. Section 9012.

(a) No vessel may be used to take and land crab for both commercial and sport purposes in the same day. (b) In Districts 6, 7, 8, and 9, no trap shall be used to take Dungeness crab if that trap is attached to another trap or other traps by a common line.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9015. Section 9015.

(a) Subject to Article 18 (commencing with Section 8590) of Chapter 2, prawns or shrimp, as defined in Section 8590, may be taken with prawn traps or shrimp traps under a general trap permit issued pursuant to Section 9001. (b) A prawn trap or a shrimp trap shall be six feet or less in its greatest dimension. Every opening from the exterior to the interior of a prawn trap or a shrimp trap shall be five inches or less in any dimension.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9020. Section 9020.

(a) Subject to Section 8400, California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis), mudsuckers (Gillichthys mirabilis), yellowfin gobies (Acanthogobius flavimanus), shiner perch (Cymatogaster aggregata), and staghorn sculpin (Leptocottus armatus) may be taken with baitfish traps under a general trap permit issued pursuant to Section 9001. (b) A baitfish trap shall not exceed 12 inches in width, 12 inches in height, and 36 inches in greatest length with entrance at small ends of funnels or fykes not to exceed 2 inches in diameter.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9022. Section 9022.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 9000, traps used to take fin fish may not be used in Districts 10, 11, and 12, except for bait fish traps as provided for in Sections 8400 and 9020. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a), all marine species of fin fish subject to Section 8403 may be taken with one or more fin fish traps as prescribed by the commission under a general trap permit issued pursuant to Section 9001.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9023. Section 9023.

(a) Traps may be used throughout the year to take carp in any district under the restrictions set forth in subdivision (b). (b) Traps shall not exceed six feet in greatest dimension. They shall be made of cotton or nylon twine. Meshes shall not be less than three and one-half inches in length, except that fyke and bait bags may be any size mesh. Traps shall have only a single vertical fyke opening at the top of the trap. They shall be baited only with grain or grain products. Fish other than carp taken in traps subject to this section shall be immediately returned to the water.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 9024. Section 9024.

Crayfish traps may be used at any time in any district to take crayfish only. Traps shall not exceed three feet in greatest dimension. Any other species taken with crayfish traps shall be returned to the water immediately. The commission may prohibit the use of crayfish traps which will injure fish or which will entrap unnecessarily large numbers of fish other than crayfish.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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