“CDFW officers enforce fish, wildlife, and environmental laws to help conserve California’s ecosystems and natural resources for future generations.  We appreciate their law enforcement work and thank them for their service.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

LONG BEACH –On June 8, 2026, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that it wildlife officers recently contacted five individuals during an illegal fishing investigation in Long Beach after observing the unlawful use of a throw net in the surf. None of the individuals possessed valid California sport fishing licenses, and officers found they had illegally taken multiple species of fish and sharks, including a striped bass, surfperch, yellowfin croaker, California corbina, brown smoothhound sharks, a round stingray, and an undersized leopard shark.

Under California regulations, throw nets are only permitted in certain ocean waters and for specific species. All five individuals were cited for multiple violations, and the illegally taken fish and fishing gear were seized as evidence.