Rules & Regulations
Cast net laws in California
Legal north of Point Conception onlyInformational only — this is not legal advice
Fishing regulations change, sometimes with little notice, and can vary further by county, water body, or season within a state. This page is a starting point for research, not a substitute for the law. Always verify current rules directly with your state's fish & wildlife agency or TakeMeFishing.org before you fish. BasicGear is not responsible for citations, fines, or gear seizures resulting from reliance on this page.
Last verified: 2026-07-08 — regulations are re-checked periodically; see the date above before assuming this is current.
Summary
Hawaiian-type throw nets are legal only in the ocean north of Point Conception, for a defined bait-species list. South of Point Conception — most of the state's coastline and population — cast nets are not a legal fishing method at all.
Size, mesh & licensing
- Max size
- No size limit where legal
- Mesh
- No mesh size specified
- Water type
- Saltwater only
- License
- Yes — California sport fishing license
Recommended BasicGear net
Cast Net — Basic Series — No size cap applies in the legal zone, so any BasicGear cast net works — but confirm you're north of Point Conception first. It isn't a legal method anywhere south of it.
Official source
Last verified: 2026-07-08
See all 50 states, or shop the cast net lineup for California.