news: Recreational Spiny Lobster Season Opens Saturday

sharkdude

sharkdude

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Department of Fish and Game

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE R4_07:002 Sept. 24, 2007

Contacts: Kristine Barsky, Marine Region, (805) 985-3114
Harry Morse, Office of Communications, (916) 322-8962

Recreational Spiny Lobster Season Opens Saturday

The sport season for California’s spiny lobster opens Saturday, Sept. 29, and continues through March 19, 2008. The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is conducting an assessment of sport lobster fishing activities this season. Samplers will interview anglers and measure their catch to collect information on the valuable fishery.

Regulations governing the sport take of spiny lobster have helped to preserve the tradition of lobster diving and hoop netting in southern California. The 2007-2008 spiny lobster season regulations include:

• Fishermen (16 years or older) must possess a valid sport fishing license.

• Spiny lobster taken must measure at least 3 1/4 inches in length, measured in a straight line on the mid-line of the back from the rear edge of the eye socket to the rear edge of the body shell.

• The daily bag limit is seven lobsters.

• Divers may take lobsters by hand only.

• Up to five baited hoop nets may be fished by a person for lobster with a maximum of 10 per vessel, regardless of how many fishermen are onboard.

The complete set of spiny lobster regulations are contained in the 2007 Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet, found online at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations and wherever fishing licenses are sold. More information about California’s spiny lobster is available on the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine.

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AND I'll do it all over again...

There wasnt any booze involved either...:) I think we were close to running aground that night...

This was before the garmin... and my depth sounder wasnt working right
 
MMMM.. lobster....
homer%20drool.gif


So how does one catch lobster?
 
http://www.saintbrendan.com/Oct06/LobsterCatching.html

How to Catch Lobster
Pacific spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) is the finest dinning experience a seafood lover can have. And venturing forth into the underwater realm to hand-catch your own lobster dinner can be one of the most fun experiences a diving enthusiast can have. It’s time to gear up lobster lovers! Lobster season is upon us.

While diving for lobster is relatively simple, it does take some knowledge for success.


First and foremost, be aware of the California Fish and Game regulations so as to not run afoul of the law. Lobster season begins for sport divers the Saturday before the first Wednesday in October. For 2006 that day is Saturday, September 30. Next, the minimum size is 3.25” in a straight line across the top of the caripace (see Fish & Game regulations for specifics). You must carry a measuring device with you in and measure them in the water. The limit is seven lobster per day and you must have a valid California fishing license. For sport divers, lobster can be taken only by hand. No spears, hooks or any other devices can be used. And finally, know and respect preserves.

THE RIGHT GEAR:
While California spiny lobster do not have claws they are, well, spiny. You’ll need good sturdy gloves. (Shown: IST gloves with Kevlar)


When night diving, go for the largest most powerful light you can find. (Shown: IST rechargeable Torch light)






And don’t forget a reliable backup light and a good diver locator light. (Shown: Aquastar LED light from Aquatec and LED Mini Light Sticks, also from Aquatec)


You’ll need a bag for all those bugs. Get one with a large mouth, fabric at the top, mess at the bottom. (Shown: Game bag from Trident)

FINDING LOBSTER
Lobsters like just about any rocky environment that gives them adequate cover in the day time. During daylight hours they will cower under ledges, in small caves and in deep crevices. Breakwaters are ideal habitats, but almost any rocky reef with boulders will do.


Primarily a temperate water species they are primarily found in Southern California. Consistently good locations for lobster hunting include Talcott Shoal at Santa Rosa Island, Santa Barbara Island, most of Catalina Island, San Nicolas Island, Cortes Bank, Palos Verdes, and Point Loma. Other more carefully guarded “secret” spots include locations off Orange County, select artificial reefs and older wrecks.


The best lobster hunters are the ones that cover as much bottom as possible in a dive. The more reef you see, the more likely you are to see lobster. Cover a lot of ground.


NIGHT DIVING
Lobster are nocturnal. They venture forth from their lairs only under the cover of darkness. While it is possible to capture lobster during the day by pulling them from the holes and overhangs, you stand the best chance of gathering several “bugs” while night diving. If you have never been night diving, not to fearâ€"it is not that difficult but does require some training. Get into a night diving course as soon as possible to maximize your success as a lobster hunter.


GO FOR THE PIN
While night diving, it is not unusual to see lobster out in the open. As you swoop down on your quarry, move as quickly as possible aiming for the mid section of the creature. Don’t go for the grab but rather go for the pin. Pin your lobster catch to the bottom, then wrap your fingers around the lobster. The fraction of a second it takes to “grab” a lobster as opposed to pinning is enough for them to flip their tail and swim away.


OUT OF THE HOLE
During the day, and often during the night, lobster will be backed into their favorite hole, usually with several friends. Getting your hands on a lobster in a hole, and then successfully extracting them from that hole is an art form in of itself.


First and foremost, don’t hesitate. Once the lobster is spotted, move in as quickly as possible. Lobsters swim backwards so their first reaction is to back deep into their hole, usually far from reach. If you get a hold of antennae you don’t have them. The antennae will simply break off in your hands. The base of the antennae, however, is a good grip although further back is preferred. At this point odds are the lobster will “lock up,” pushing its legs up so that its back will wedge into the crevice making it nearly impossible to remove. If you have a good grip, give the lobster a good shake and it will slide right out.


One point of caution: lobsters and moray eels will frequently roommate in the same hole. Before thrusting your hand in a hole after a lobster make sure you are not angering a moray.


IN THE BAG
To bag a lobster always shove it in tail first. Remember, lobsters swim backwards!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10848493#post10848493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by won digity


So how does one catch lobster? [/B]
Click to expand...

Very carfully now a days, since hoopnetting became all the rage on the internet everybody and there brother is doing it. I use to be able to hoop the MDR breakwall and be the only one out there but now there is 25 boats and 250 nets to get caught in your prop. Not so fun anymore. Not to mention all the fights ive seen about spots, some people think they own part of the ocean. The show on discovery says it all "Lobster Wars" road rage is nothing compared to some hooping/lobster rage ive seen.

And as for diving for them, that is getting scary too, somepeople will start hoopnetting right were people are diving, driving right over the top of them.
 
The first time I went hooping at MDR breakwall, one of our nets got really close the the rocks, about less than 15 feet away. We saw some diver swim up to the net with a light and swim away...the least he coulda done was pull the net farther from the wall since there were 3-5 foot swells that night :(. Ended up with only 1 bug, I'm thinking that diver took whatever was in the other nets.
 
Bug season is back.... I'm a diver and cough alots of bugs off of PV before. these bugs are smart. You can never reach in hole to grab them NEVER. only chance you have is night dive. they venture out of the hole and out in open usually top of rocks or in the sea grass. this is when you have chance to grab them only chance. I dont eat these bugs from PV all due to pollution in sea bed. also, dont dive after rain. you dont want to be in water with all unknown garbages :)
 
funny bug story...

I bought 3 in newport for dinner.. one 5 lber and 2 1.5 lbers..

Wifes family couldnt make it for dinner ... so I had a QT tank set up.. SO I put the bigs in it...for 2 days

THEY REVIVED rather well..

OK time to cook.

First 2 bugs rather easy to catch... In the pot.

BIG ONE I couldnt catch him, he sloshed out about 5 gals of water before I could get him.. Think of bug swimming in circles in 40 gal tank and me getting soaked trying to catch him...

I finally get him, after many expletives... I carry him upstairs.. He wont fit in the pot.. Locks legs... gets loose...Mother in law... the dramatic queen... sees him and starts to scream...

I start going "Get in the pot you little ######" Finally after 4 trys I get him in....MIW still acting crazy...

Guests were sad that pinchy got the pot...

But he sure did taste good...

I think the clean saltwater, flushed out any junk that was in them...

Dont underestimate the bigger ones.... :)
 
Here's a nice one I got a couple years back. Night diving off Anacapa on lobster opener. I happened upon two this size, managed at least to get one...though he took off I chased him down - hehe....to big to fit in any of the holes - all mine after that.

scan0002rx1.jpg


scanqt3.jpg


The biggest big on the boat that night. I might still hold some kind of record there.
 
this will be my 1st season and have been looking forward to it for a long time. New to diving and on my final dive for my open water cert. a few months ago at Catalina, I managed to grab 4 bugs (catch and release) just to see how difficult it would be. As always, the big one got away...

Anyone need a dive buddy and want to hop on one of the charter boats? PM me if interested. I'm in the San Diego area.
 
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