Southern California
27 state marine protected areas across 3 regions, mapped from CDFW’s own boundary data, each with its regulation quoted in full and a straight answer to the only question that matters in the water: can you take anything here.
Three regions
18 of the 27 are no-take for a breath-hold diver. Several of those are conservation areas, not reserves — the designation reads like permission and is not. That distinction is why this site exists.
9 protected areas
Nine protected areas ring the island, and they are not the same as each other. One is a plain conservation area where the only legal take is hook-and-line from a single pier — read as permission, it is the kind of mistake that ends in a citation.
22 miles off the Los Angeles coast. Boat or ferry from Long Beach, San Pedro or Dana Point.
14 protected areas
Fourteen state areas across four islands, plus eight federal sanctuary areas that overlay them with different boundaries. Ten are reserves where nothing may be taken. Two are closures that restrict boats rather than fishing — San Miguel holds you 300 yards off its west end.
20 to 40 miles off Ventura and Santa Barbara. Boat only.
4 protected areas
Four protected areas cover the one stretch of coast everybody dives. Two are reserves. The other two permit some fish by hook-and-line only, which for a breath-hold diver is the same answer: you cannot spear anything in any of the four.
Shore entry from La Jolla Shores and the Cove. No boat needed.
Boundaries come from CDFW’s statewide MPA layer (ds582). Regulations are quoted from CDFW’s page for each area, with the section of CCR Title 14 §632(b) and the date it was read. Dive-site positions are USGS place names, good to about 100 m — a reference for the spot, not a drop point.
Rules change and this is not legal advice. Check CDFW before you take anything.
Orange County, the Malibu coast, Santa Barbara, San Clemente and the rest of San Diego are still to read. Leave an email and you’ll hear when they are up — and if the boat ever happens, that too. No schedule, no newsletter.