A Win for the Fishing Community: Fish and Game Commission Finalizes New Sand Bass Regulations

SACRAMENTO — In a year marked by passionate debate and growing concern over the future of a beloved fishery, the California Fish and Game Commission has finalized new regulations for barred sand bass that strike a compromise between conservation and access. Following a public hearing on April 17, 2025, the Commission voted to adopt the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) recommendation: a four-fish sub-bag limit for barred sand bass within the existing five-fish combined bass limit, effective for three years and subject to review after one. Dana Wharf Sportfishing image The decision, which closely followed the earlier discussions covered by The Log in February, represents a hard-fought balance between preserving a fishery that’s iconic to Southern California and responding to scientific uncertainty about the species’ population dynamics. Commissioner Eric Sklar, attending despite a painful ankle injury, cast the deciding vote, ensuring a quorum in a meeting that nearly didn’t happen due to multiple absences on the five-member panel. For many, barred sand bass are more than just a species — they are a rite of passage. “Anyone who has grown up in Southern California or just started fishing in our area has a love for catching sand...