Creel Quick answer: Leopard Shark is open in all 6 California regions where CDFW regulates it, with a 36-inch minimum. The bag limit is the same in every region it applies to. Read on September 7, 2026; seasons change in-season with days of notice.
How to identify Leopard Shark
A slender, bottom-dwelling houndshark with silvery-bronze skin marked by dark ovals in a neat row across the back and sides. The markings are the whole identification: no other shark in California carries that saddle pattern.
Size, range and where it lives
| Size | 4 to 7 feet, and females grow larger than males. |
|---|---|
| Range | Oregon south to Mazatlan, Mexico, including the Gulf of California. |
| Habitat | Shallow water in bays and estuaries, usually close to the bottom, and sometimes along the edge of a kelp forest. It is rarely found deeper than 65 feet, though individuals have been recorded to 300. |
Leopard Shark by region
| Region | Status | Bag limit | Size limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern | Open | 3 fish daily | 36-inch minimum |
| Mendocino | Open | 3 fish daily | 36-inch minimum |
| San Francisco | Open | 3 fish daily | 36-inch minimum |
| SF Bay | Open | 3 fish daily | 36-inch minimum |
| Central | Open | 3 fish daily | 36-inch minimum |
| Southern | Open | 3 fish daily | 36-inch minimum |
Season dates
- open year-round, at all depths
Depth restrictions
- at all depths
What it costs to get it wrong
An undersize fish or one over the bag limit runs roughly $430 to $485 in total bail as an infraction, plus a further $71 to $82 for every individual fish over the line. Charged as a misdemeanor the base part is about $958 to $1,095, with the same per-fish amount on top. The range is real: two of the assessments are set county by county.
How California fishing fines are actually calculated →
This page is a snapshot taken on September 7, 2026. Creel re-reads every CDFW regional page daily and shows current status for your region, offline. Always confirm with CDFW before fishing.