Central Coast Fishing Heritage Mapping Project
Commercial Fishing Grounds from Point Sur to Point Conception, California
Extent of chart 18700 shown in blue
Project Scope
The maps and supporting data are limited to the boundaries of NOAA nautical chart (18700), as drawn and provided by commercial fishermen with knowledge and experience specific to the chart area.
For more information about this project and the data, click the Background Information tab at the top of this page.
Explanation of Descriptive Fields
- Common Name(s): Includes commonly used name(s) of the species mapped.
- Scientific Name(s): Genus and species.
- Gear: Types of gear used to fish commercially for the species named. Each gear type typically represents multiple specific gear types and/or configurations.
- Habitat: Seafloor bottom type on or over which commercial fishing occurs; note that not all fisheries occur on the bottom.
- Depth Range: The range of water depths, in fathoms (fm), where commercial fishing occurs.
- Vessel Size: The length of vessels that typically participate in the fishery..
- Crew Size: The number of people that typically work on a vessel involved in the fishery.
- Trip Length: The number of days that a fishing trip typically lasts.
- Season: Months when the commercial fishery is active based on when the species is available and regulations allow.
- Time of Day Fishing: When (daytime, night, anytime) fishing occurs. Fishermen also transit, drift or anchor (e.g., while resting) at times during a fishing trip.
- Homeports: The port(s) where fishing operations are based. Note that the port(s) that fishermen depart from and/or unload their catch at may differ from their homeport.
- Notes: Selected environmental, regulatory and practical factors affecting the fished species and where, when and how fishing is done.
These descriptive fields are included as attributes in the data that can be viewed in the web application.
How to Use this Story Map
- Scroll down to view different maps.
- Use the navigation links at the top of this page to go directly to a fisheries map.
- Click and drag within the map pages to change the extent of the view shown.
- Double-click anywhere on the map to zoom in or out, or use the zoom in/out (+/-) buttons on the bottom right of each map.
- Click on map shapes or buttons to view pop-ups with more information.
- The Web Application can be accessed from the tab on the top of the page. It features all the data in the story map. It can be used to show multiple fisheries maps layered on top of one another and query (search) by species, gear or month.
Federal and State Waters
Within this Story Map, state waters (0-3 nm) are shown in light blue and federal waters (3-200 nm) are shown in darker blue. The 12 nm US territorial sea boundary (solid line) is included for further spatial reference.
Management Considerations
Central Coast commercial fisheries are subject to a range of state and federal management measures that affect where, when and how fishing can and does occur. Thus, although the fishing grounds mapped are extensive, fishermen’s access and ability to fish them are considerably more limited. Year-round management designations that affect Central Coast commercial fisheries include but are not limited to:
The boundaries of these areas are subject to change. While the full range of management measures is too numerous and complex to depict here, fishermen possess this knowledge and can speak to how they affect fisheries space use and outcomes - individually and cumulatively, within and across fisheries.
Blackcod/Sablefish & Thornyhead
- Scientific Names: Anoplopoma fimbria, Sebastolobus alascanus
- Gear: Trap, Hook & Line
- Habitat: Mud, Canyons, Sand
- Depth Range: Blackcod/Sablefish: 150-700 fm, Thornyhead: 350-450 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 25-80 ft
- Crew Size: 1-5
- Trip Length: 1-5 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Anytime
- Homeports: Morro Bay, Moss Landing, Port San Luis, Santa Barbara
- Notes: Higher quotas in this area (south of 36°N) attract boats from ports to the north. Most catch sold fresh whole, some sold live. Smaller fish for high-value live market targeted in shallower waters; larger fish targeted in deeper waters for fresh market. Local markets limited.
Deeper & Shallow Nearshore Rockfish
Deeper Nearshore Rockfish
- Common Names: Aurora, blackgill, blue, bocaccio, brown, canary, copper, flag, olive, speckled, starry, treefish, vermilion, widow and yellowtail rockfish
- Scientific Names: Sebastes: aurora, melanostomus, mystinus, paucispinis, auriculatus, pinniger, caurinus, rubrivinctus, serranoides, ovalis, constellatus, serriceps, miniatus, entomelas, flavidus
- Gear: Trap, Hook & Line
- Habitat: Rock, Hard Bottom, Kelp Beds
- Depth Range: 0-20 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 12-40 ft
- Crew Size: 1-3
- Trip Length: 1-4 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Daytime
- Homeports: Monterey, Morro Bay, Moss Landing, Port San Luis, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz; Oregon, Washington
Shallow Nearshore Rockfish
- Common Names: Black-and-yellow, China, gopher, grass, kelp and vermilion rockfish; cabezon, sheephead
- Scientific Names: Sebastes: chrysomelas, nebulosus, carnatus, rastrelliger, atrovirens, miniatus; Scorpaenichthys marmoratus, Semicossyphus pulcher
- Gear: Trap, Hook & Line
- Habitat: Rock, Hard Bottom, Kelp Beds
- Depth Range: 0-12 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 12-40 ft
- Crew Size: 1-3
- Trip Length: 1-4 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Daytime
- Homeports: Morro Bay, Monterey, Moss Landing, Port San Luis, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz; Oregon, Washington
- Notes: Shallow nearshore fishery limited to South-Central permittees (all based in-state), targets fish for live market. Kayaks, skiffs and other small boats launch from the beach. Some rockfish species (e.g. calico (S. dalli), yelloweye (S. ruberrimus)) caught but not landed due to regulations.
Groundfish Trawl
- Common Names: Blackcod/Sablefish, Bocaccio, Canary, Chilipepper
- Scientific Names: Anoplopoma fimbria, Sebastes: paucispinis, pinniger, goodei
- Gear: Trawl
- Habitat: Mud, Sand, Gravel, Hard Bottom
- Depth Range: 10-800 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 50-90 ft
- Crew Size: 2-4
- Trip Length: 1-5 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Anytime
- Homeports: Monterey, Morro Bay, Port San Luis*
- Notes: Trawling in most state waters (0-3 nm) prohibited since 1953. Specific substrate fished depends on gear configuration. *No groundfish trawlers currently operate out of Morro Bay or Port San Luis.
Pink (Ocean) Shrimp
- Scientific Name: Pandalus jordani
- Gear: Trawl
- Habitat: Mud, Soft Bottom
- Depth Range: 40-150 fm
- Season: April-October
- Vessel Size: 45-90 ft
- Crew Size: 2-4
- Trip Length: 1-5 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Daytime
- Homeports: Oregon, Washington
- Notes: Trawling in most state waters (0-3 nm) prohibited since 1953.
California Halibut & White Seabass
- Scientific Names: Paralichthys californicus, Atractoscion nobilis
- Gear Groups: Hook & Line
- Habitat: Sand, Rock
- Depth Range: 8-30 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 26-45 ft
- Crew Size: 1-2
- Trip Length: 1 day
- Time of Day Fishing: Daytime
- Homeports: Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura
- Notes: Some set gillnet fishing for these species as well although prohibited in state waters, i.e., most areas where practical to fish.
California Halibut Trawl
- Scientific Names: Paralichthys californicus
- Gear: Trawl
- Habitat: Sand
- Depth Range: 10-33 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 30-90 ft
- Crew Size: 1-3
- Trip Length: 1-5 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Daytime
- Homeports: Monterey, Port San Luis, Santa Barbara, Ventura
- Notes: Fishermen typically make shorter tows using smaller trawl gear. Trawling prohibited in state waters (0-3 nm) since 1953 except for designated California Halibut Trawl Grounds, which are located south of Pt. Conception.
Market Squid
- Scientific Name: Doryteuthis (Loligo) opalescens
- Gear: Roundhaul (Purse Seine, Drum Seine, Lampara), Brail
- Habitat: Sand, Rock, Mud
- Depth Range: 6-25 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 58-90 ft
- Crew Size: Roundhaul: 3-7, Brail: 2-3, Lightboat: 1-2
- Trip Length: Seining, Brailing: 1 day, Lighting: 1-21 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Anytime
- Homeports: Ventura, San Pedro, Monterey
- Notes: Fishing happens primarily at night, with light boats drifting or anchoring at any time. Fishery closed weekends (Sunday noon - Friday noon). Some seining may occur in waters up to 35-40 fm. Lightboats assist in locating and attracting squid to the surface so seiners can set gear.
Coastal Pelagic Species
- Common Names: Northern anchovy Pacific mackerel, Jack mackerel, Pacific sardine
- Scientific Names: Engraulis mordax, Scomber japonicus, Trachurus symmetricus, Sardinops sagax
- Gear Groups: Roundhaul, Brail
- Habitat: Sand
- Depth Range: 6-80 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 58-90 ft
- Crew Size: 5-7
- Trip Length: 1 day
- Time of Day Fishing: Anytime
- Homeports: Monterey, Moss Landing, San Diego, San Pedro, Ventura
- Notes: No local fish buyer for roundhaul catches.
Dungeness Crab
- Scientific Name: Metacarcinus magister
- Gear: Trap
- Habitat: Hard Bottom, Sand, Green Mud (not in the rocks)
- Depth Range: 3-100 fm
- Season: November-June
- Vessel Size: 30-70 ft
- Crew Size: 2-4
- Trip Length: 1-3 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Anytime
- Homeports: Monterey, Morro Bay, Port San Luis, Santa Barbara
- Notes: Crab landed live.
Rock Crab
- Common Names: Red, Yellow and Brown Crab
- Scientific Names: Cancer productus, Metacarcinus anthonyi, Romaleon antennarium
- Gear: Trap
- Habitat: Hard Bottom Reef, Hard Bottom Mix, Rock-Mud
- Depth Range: 3-50 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 20-50 ft
- Crew Size: 1-3
- Trip Length: 1-3 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Daytime
- Homeports: Monterey, Morro Bay, Moss Landing, Port San Luis
- Notes: Landed live, sold live or fresh cooked, whole or claws. Separate permits required to fish north or south of Lopez Point (36°N).
Slime Eel/Hagfish
- Scientific Name: Eptatretus stoutii
- Gear: Buckets
- Habitat: Mud, Green Mud, Clay
- Depth Range: 30-150 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 26-55 ft
- Crew Size: 1-4
- Trip Length: 1-2 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Anytime
- Homeports: Morro Bay, Port San Luis, Santa Barbara, Ventura
- Notes: Live fishery.
Surf Perch
- Scientific Name: Embiotocidae
- Gear: Rod & Reel
- Habitat: Sand, Rock
- Depth Range: From beach
- Season: October-May
- Vessel Size: NA
- Crew Size: 1
- Trip Length: 1 day
- Time of Day Fishing: Daytime
- Homeports: Morro Bay, Port San Luis
Red Sea Urchin
- Scientific Name: Mesocentrotus franciscanus
- Gear (method): Dive
- Habitat: Kelp, Rock
- Depth Range: 0-20 fm
- Season: Year-Round
- Vessel Size: 24-45 ft
- Crew Size: 1-4
- Trip Length: 1-3 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Daytime
- Homeports: Channel Islands Harbor, Santa Barbara, Ventura
- Notes: Live fishery. No (local) fish buyer at Morro Bay or Port San Luis.
Salmon
- Common Name: King/Chinook Salmon
- Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
- Gear: Troll
- Habitat: Water Column
- Depth Range: 10-300 fm
- Season: May-September
- Vessel Size: 20-70 ft
- Crew Size: 1-3
- Trip Length: 3-5 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Daytime
- Homeports: West Coast ports
- Notes: Fishing may occur out to 25 miles offshore. Fishermen typically land catch at nearby ports then head back out to fish. Primarily a fresh product market.
Spot Prawn
- Scientific Name: Pandalus platyceros
- Gear: Trap
- Habitat: Rocky, Canyon Edge, Mixed Bottom
- Depth Range: 70-180 fm
- Season: August-April
- Vessel Size: 30-50 ft
- Crew Size: 2-4
- Trip Length: 2-3 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Anytime
- Homeports: Morro Bay, Port San Luis, Santa Barbara, Ventura
- Notes: Buyers send trucks to pick up the catch at local ports. Live fishery.
Highly Migratory Species
Swordfish, Louvar, Opah, Albacore Tuna
- Scientific Names: Xiphias Gladius, Luvarus imperialis, Lampris spp., Thunnus alalunga
- Gear: Drift Gillnet (Albacore, Louvar, Opah, Swordfish), Troll, Pole & line (Albacore)
- Habitat: Water Column
- Depth Range: 100-2000 fm
- Season: August-January
- Vessel Size: 40-70 ft
- Crew Size: 1-5
- Trip Length: 3-10 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Night
- Homeports: San Diego, Santa Barbara, West Coast ports (Albacore Tuna)
- Notes: Albacore may be found as close as a half mile from shore. Drift gillnet gear, only allowed to operate outside 12 nm from shore, is being phased out, in some cases replaced by deep-set buoy gear. Swordfish and Louvar are high-value (price-per-pound) fish.
Bluefin Tuna
- Scientific Name: Alopias vulpinus pelagicus
- Gear: Drift Gillnet, Troll, Purse Seine
- Habitat: Water Column
- Depth Range: >15 fm
- Season: August-January
- Vessel Size: 40-70 ft
- Crew Size: Drift Gillnet, Troll: 2-3, Purse Seine: 5-7
- Trip Length: 3-10 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Drift Gillnet, Troll: Daytime; Purse Seine: Night
- Homeports: Drift Gillnet: San Diego, Santa Barbara; Purse Seine: San Pedro; Troll: Morro Bay, Port San Luis
- Notes: Drift Gillnet gear is only allowed to operate outside 12 nm from shore.
Thresher Shark
- Scientifc Name: Alopias vulpinus pelagicus
- Gear: Drift Gillnet
- Habitat: Water Column
- Depth Range: 100-2000 fm
- Season: August-January
- Vessel Size: 40-70 ft
- Crew Size: 2-5
- Trip Length: 3-10 days
- Time of Day Fishing: Night
- Homeports: San Diego, Santa Barbara
- Notes: Most fishermen typically avoid the nursery areas identified because they are breeding areas and sharks are smaller. Drift gillnet gear is only allowed to operate outside 12 nm from shore.
Distances from Ports
Each arc represents 1 hour or 7 nautical miles of travel from a port
- Click the arcs on this map to see the distance and approximate travel time from ports within the chart area. Distances from ports outside the chart area not shown.
Anchorages that fishermen use to rest (typically overnight), escape weather and/or minimize interaction with other ocean users are identified.
More information
The button below will take you to a page with more information about the Central Coast Fishing Heritage Mapping Project.
Commercial fishing grounds of California’s North Coast were mapped in a separate project