Fishing in California
Credit: CDFW

August 1, 2021 - All calendar items are subject to change as we navigate the changing conditions and guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please continue to adhere to all safety protocols including physical distancing, wearing masks and frequent hand washing. For information on how to get vaccinated in California, please visit myturn.ca.gov(opens in new tab).

Wildlife areas, ecological reserves and other properties may be closed due to wildfires or wildfire damage. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are strongly encouraged to check for closures before leaving on any recreational trip.

Various Days — Bat Talk and Walk Events, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 County Road 32B, Davis (95618). Did you know that a colony of migratory bats lives under the Yolo Causeway during the summer? Join Yolo Basin Foundation for a summertime Bat Talk and Walk to learn all about these amazing and beneficial mammals and watch the “flyout” of the largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats in California! These events are held on various dates from June to September. For more information and to register, please visit www.yolobasin.org/bats2021(opens in new tab).

Various Days — Ecological Reserve Tours at Elkhorn Slough, 10 a.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (95076). Volunteers lead walks highlighting the natural history of the Elkhorn Slough every Saturday and Sunday. Capacity is limited due to physical distancing requirements and individuals must sign up on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups of six or more should call ahead at (831) 728-2822 to reserve a tour. For more information, please visit www.elkhornslough.org/esnerr/tours(opens in new tab). 

Various Days — Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Access Permit Application Deadlines for Multiple Hunting Opportunities. Wild pig, deer, bear, turkey, dove and quail hunts are available through the SHARE program. A $11.50 non-refundable application fee (plus handling fees) is charged for each hunt choice. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/share.

1 — Last Day of Recreational Ocean Salmon Season from the Oregon/California State Line to the 40°10’ Line. Recreational ocean salmon fishing remains open between 40°10’ latitude and the U.S/Mexico border. For more information, please visit the ocean salmon webpage at wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/ocean/regulations/salmon or call either the CDFW Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429 or the National Marine Fisheries Service Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (800) 662-9825.

1 — Recreational Surfperch Season Opens in San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. For current ocean recreational fishing regulations, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/regulations.

1 — Commercial Spot Prawn Trapping Season Opens North of Point Arguello. For more information, please visit marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/spot-prawn/true.

6 — Art Under the Oaks, 9:30 to 11 a.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (95076). Get in touch with nature through art! Participants will learn about the intricate ecological relationships found in an oak woodland and then dive into the basics of painting with a guided watercolor painting session. Basic materials (paint brushes, paints, sketch pads) will be provided. Capacity is limited and registration is required. For more details and to register, please visit www.elkhornslough.org/calendar(opens in new tab).

7 — Archery and Falconry-Only Tree Squirrel Season Opens (extending through Sept. 10). For archery and falconry tree squirrel seasons, limits and zone maps, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/small-game.

12 — Exploring Scaled Management for the California Halibut Fishery Webinar Series – Recreational Fishery, 4 to 6 p.m. This is the first of three webinars being offered by CDFW to learn about and discuss California halibut, which has been identified by CDFW as a high-priority fishery for scaled management attention. Visit the CDFW California Halibut(opens in new tab) and Marine Management News(opens in new tab) webpages for additional information about California halibut and the scaled management process, including this webinar series. Agendas and materials will be shared and posted in advance of webinars. To help us prepare for the webinar discussions, please RSVP for the first webinar by Thursday, August 5 by emailing mlmafisheriesmgmt@wildlife.ca.gov.

14 — General Deer Hunting Season Opens. California’s 2021 general deer season will open in Zone A on Saturday, Aug. 14, and in Zone B-4 on Saturday, Aug. 28. The opener for zones B1-B3, B5, B6, C1-C4, D6 and D7 is Saturday, Sept. 18. More information about general deer season opener dates, end dates and additional hunts is available at wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/deer. Please remember to report your deer tags! All deer tags you purchase, whether you hunt or not, must be reported. Successful hunters must report their tags within 30 days of their successful hunt or by Jan. 31, 2022, whichever is first. Hunters who are unsuccessful or who do not hunt are required to report by Jan. 31, 2022. Hunters are reminded that as of July 1, 2019, nonlead ammunition is required when taking any wildlife for any purpose in California.

14 — First General Season for Black Bears Opens in Deer Hunting Zone A. General black bear season will open concurrently with the general deer hunting season in deer zones A, B, C, D, X8, X9A, X9B, X10 and X12 and extend through Dec. 26. Please note these deer zones have varying opening season dates. General season for black bears opens in deer hunting zones X-1 through X-7b on Oct. 19 and extends through Dec. 26. CDFW shall close the season earlier if 1,700 bears have been reported taken. For daily updates on reported bear harvest, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/bear or call toll-free (888) 277-6398. Please visit fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs(opens in new tab) for a description of the current mammal hunting regulations.

14 — Art Under the Oaks, 9:30 to 11 a.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (95076). Get in touch with nature through art! Participants will learn about the intricate ecological relationships found in an oak woodland and then dive into the basics of painting with a guided watercolor painting session. Basic materials (paint brushes, paints, sketch pads) will be provided. Capacity is limited and registration is required. For more details and to register, please visit www.elkhornslough.org/calendar(opens in new tab).

15 — Spiny Lobster Report Cards Go on Sale. Sport lobster divers and hoopnetters can purchase a Spiny Lobster Report Card for the 2021-2022 lobster season on CDFW’s Online License Sales site at wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/online-sales or, if open for business, at CDFW license counters, sporting goods stores and tackle shops. Please note that CDFW license counters are currently closed due to COVID-19 concerns. Before heading to a CDFW facility, please contact the regional headquarters office to determine if that facility has reopened.

17 — California Fish and Game Commission Tribal Committee Meeting, time to be determined. The meeting is to be held via webinar/teleconference due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19. For more information, please visit fgc.ca.gov(opens in new tab).

18 — California Fish and Game Commission Meeting, scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. The meeting is to be held via webinar/teleconference due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19. For more information, please visit fgc.ca.gov(opens in new tab).

21 — Archery Season for Black Bears Opens. Bear may be taken with bow and arrow beginning Aug. 21 in those areas defined in 365(a) as the Northern California, Central California, Southern Sierra, Southern California and Southeastern Sierra areas and shall close on Sept. 12. For daily updates on reported bear harvest, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/bear or call toll-free (888) 277-6398. Please visit fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/mammalregs(opens in new tab) for a description of the current mammal hunting regulations and American black bear hunt zone boundary descriptions. The bag and possession limit for either archery or general season is one adult bear per hunting license year. Cubs and females accompanied by cubs may not be taken.

21 — Falconry Season for Pheasant, Quail, Chukar, Ptarmigan and Sooty (Blue)/Ruffed Grouse Opens (extending through Feb. 28, 2022). For zone maps and other upland game season information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

21 — Archery-Only Quail, Chukar and Sooty (Blue)/Ruffed Grouse Seasons Open (extending through Sept. 10). For zone maps and other upland game season information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.

21 — Garden Days at Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 9:30 a.m. to noon, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (95076). Learn about native plant gardening and help the reserve maintain its new demonstration gardens! Participants will spend time exploring topics in native plant gardening and then spend time working in the gardens. Work changes with the season and may involve weeding, planting or collecting native seeds. All ages and abilities are welcome, but everyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more details and to register, please visit www.elkhornslough.org/events/garden-days-210821(opens in new tab).

25 — Public Outreach Meeting on Bay Delta Region Type A Wildlife Areas, 5 to 7 p.m., via Teams. CDFW will take comments and recommendations and provide updates on habitat conditions, availability of water for wetlands and possible impacts to hunter access on public lands. State wildlife areas to be discussed are the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area and the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area Complex. To register and receive a link to the meeting, please contact Joe Hobbs at Joe.Hobbs@wildlilfe.ca.gov or (530) 757-2431.

26 — California Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, 1 p.m., via Zoom. The public is welcome. For more information, please visit wcb.ca.gov(opens in new tab).

28 — Bat House Building Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 County Road 32B, Davis (95618). In conjunction with International Bat Night, this will be a day to learn about inviting bats to your yard or farm. The event will include an opportunity to build a bat house and view several of our native species of bats. We provide the supplies and instruction, and you supply the people power. Registration is by bat house and is limited to 20 groups. Each group can have up to four people building a bat house together. This is a fun activity for small groups or families! To register, please visit www.yolobasin.org/bats2021(opens in new tab).
Source: CDFW