California Fish and Game Commission Reviews Barred Sand Bass Regulations: Meeting Recap

SACRAMENTO — The California Fish and Game Commission convened on February 13, 2025, to discuss proposed amendments to the regulations governing the recreational take of barred sand bass. Among the key issues addressed was a potential modification to the existing bag and possession limits for the species, a measure aimed at conservation while maintaining recreational fishing opportunities. Currently, the legal regulations for barred sand bass in California include a minimum size limit of 14 inches total length or 10 inches alternate length, with anglers allowed a combined daily bag limit of five fish across kelp bass, barred sand bass, and spotted sand bass. These rules, in place since April 2013, were implemented to address declining bass populations by increasing the minimum size limit from 12 to 14 inches and reducing the bag limit from ten to five fish. Barred sand bass typically reach sexual maturity at around 10 inches in length, but California regulations require them to be at least 14 inches to keep. Since they grow at an average rate of about two inches per year, this regulation ensures that fish have at least two additional spawning seasons before they can be legally harvested. This approach helps sustain the population...