Cast nets are effectively illegal in California. The state’s fishing rules default to hook-and-line or hand harvesting for finfish, and the regulations don’t recognize “cast nets” as a legal gear category at all. The only close cousin allowed is the Hawaiian-type throw net, and only north of Point Conception, and only for a short list of baitfish and invertebrates. Everywhere else, and for every other species, throwing a net to catch fish can cost you the gear, a fine, and potentially a misdemeanor conviction.
Why Cast Nets Are Banned by Default
California’s baseline ocean rule is blunt: finfish may be taken only on hook and line or by hand.1Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 28.65 – General Every legal net method is a specific exception carved out of that prohibition. If a regulation doesn’t expressly authorize a particular net for a particular species in a particular place, using it breaks the law.
Inland waters are stricter still. Fish and Game Code Section 8603 makes it unlawful to use any net, trap, spear, or similar gear to take fish unless the code specifically authorizes it.2California Legislative Information. California Fish and Game Code Section 8603 That language sweeps in cast nets, throw nets, and gill nets. Recreational net fishing in California’s rivers, lakes, and reservoirs is off the table.
The One Narrow Exception: Hawaiian-Type Throw Nets
The closest thing to a legal cast net in California is the Hawaiian-type throw net, authorized under Title 14, Section 28.80 of the California Code of Regulations. That regulation permits Hawaiian-type throw nets north of Point Conception to take herring, Pacific staghorn sculpin, shiner perch, true smelt, topsmelt, anchovies, shrimp, and squid.3Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 28.80 – Dip Nets and Hawaiian Type Throw Nets
Note what the regulation does not do. It does not define or even mention “cast nets.” It does not set a maximum radius or diameter for throw nets. And the approved species list does not include sardines or shad, despite what some fishing guides claim.
The gear distinction matters. Traditional Hawaiian throw nets are thrown flat and gathered by hand. Most commercial cast nets use a drawstring or purse line to close the bottom. California authorizes only the Hawaiian type, so an angler using a drawstring cast net can be cited even when targeting the right species in the right place.
Where a Throw Net Can Legally Be Used
The geographic rule is a single line on the map. Hawaiian-type throw nets are legal only in ocean waters north of Point Conception, which sits at roughly 34°27′ N latitude on the Santa Barbara County coast.3Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 28.80 – Dip Nets and Hawaiian Type Throw Nets South of that line, including the heavily fished waters off Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, throw nets are not authorized for taking finfish.
A separate regulation allows the same Hawaiian-type throw nets north of Point Conception for taking shrimp specifically.4California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Recreational Ocean Fishing Regulations – Invertebrate Fishing Regs
Freshwater Is Off Limits Entirely
Throw nets and cast nets are not authorized in any California freshwater body. Section 8603 prohibits nets in inland waters absent a specific exception, and no exception covers recreational cast netting in rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.2California Legislative Information. California Fish and Game Code Section 8603 The common mistake is assuming that because throw nets are legal for baitfish in some ocean waters, they can also be used in a lake or river. They cannot.
Marine Protected Areas Add Another Layer
Even within the authorized zone north of Point Conception, California’s network of marine protected areas can further restrict or bar net use. Before setting out, check the CDFW’s interactive MPA map to confirm your spot isn’t inside a restricted area.5California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California Marine Protected Areas
Species You Can Legally Target
The approved species list under Section 28.80 is short and closed:3Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 28.80 – Dip Nets and Hawaiian Type Throw Nets
- Herring
- Pacific staghorn sculpin
- Shiner perch
- True smelt
- Topsmelt
- Anchovies
- Shrimp
- Squid
That’s the whole list. Game fish including bass, trout, salmon, and halibut cannot be taken with any net by recreational anglers. Some California species carry additional protections under federal and state endangered species laws, including steelhead trout and certain sturgeon populations, and even accidental capture in a net can trigger consequences well beyond a standard fishing citation. Sardines and shad are frequently listed as legal cast-net targets in online guides. They are not on the regulation’s list.
License Requirements
Anyone 16 or older needs a valid California sport fishing license to use a throw net, the same as with any other fishing method. The requirement applies to any person attempting to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians, or reptiles in California waters.6CA.gov. Get a Fishing or Hunting License
For 2026, a resident sport fishing license costs $64.54 and a nonresident license costs $174.14.7California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Sport Fishing Licenses and Report Cards Short-term licenses are available for visitors.
Penalties for Illegal Net Use
Violations of California’s throw net and cast net regulations fall under Fish and Game Code Section 12000. Violations of Title 14 CCR Sections 27.56 through 30.10, the range that includes Section 28.80, can be charged as either an infraction or a misdemeanor at the prosecutor’s discretion.8California Legislative Information. California Code Fish and Game Code 12000 – General Provisions
As an infraction, the fine runs from $100 to $1,000. As a misdemeanor, more likely for repeat offenders or egregious violations, the penalty rises to a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both.9California Legislative Information. California Code – Fish and Game Code Division 9 Anyone who fails to appear in court or pay an imposed fine faces automatic suspension of their fishing license and all related permits until the matter is resolved.
CDFW officers enforce these rules through waterside patrols, inspections, and gear confiscation. The public can report violations through the CalTIP program by calling 1-888-334-2258, texting “CALTIP” followed by details to 847411, or using the free CalTIP smartphone app.10California Department of Fish and Wildlife. CALTIP – Californians Turn in Poachers and Polluters Tips leading to an arrest can pay up to $3,500.
Narrow Exemptions
A few exemptions sit outside the standard recreational rules. Licensed researchers conducting fish population studies or habitat assessments may obtain scientific collecting permits that authorize net use in otherwise restricted areas, subject to strict reporting. Emergency exemptions can be issued during environmental crises such as drought fish rescues or habitat restoration projects, on a case-by-case basis. None of these are available to recreational anglers.
Federally recognized Native American tribes may exercise fishing rights under treaty agreements that predate state regulation. The scope of any tribal exemption depends on the specific treaty, the species, and the body of water. There is no blanket statewide exemption.