CA Spiny Lobster Season Begins

Shoyrtt

Alamitos to Avalon
SILVER Sponsor
Jul 16, 2020
1,887
Alamitos Bay, CA
Boat Info
1999 450 Express Bridge, 9’ Achilles dinghy w/15hp Suzuki EFI
Engines
Caterpillar 3126TA
We took another trip out to Catalina this weekend and noticed a lot of strange looking nets both on boats in the harbor and carried by passengers on the Catalina Express. Curious, we found out that these were hoop nets, one of the options other than freehand catching of the spiny lobster in California. We were also informed the season begins in early October and ends in the middle of March. A short while later, we armed ourselves with the appropriate license, two hoop nets and gear, a measuring device, some bait, gloves and a bucket.
Lobsters are nocturnal, so we waited until after sundown and took the dinghy to the rocks at the south end of Avalon harbor. In just an hour we had caught 8 in our virgin nets, but only 3 were the legal length to keep. The tails were quickly cooked up on the Traeger and shared between friends. It just keeps getting better every trip.

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LOL... Thats great, good for you. I remember many nights taking off in the dingy around the rocks outside of Avalon with scuba gear to go get bugs. 2 divers and 2 more people in the dingy with licenses so we could get plenty for a weekend of eating lobster. Used to take me about 30 minutes to limit out, that island was great.
 
One of my better days of spiny lobster season off Jupiter (multiple 6 per person licenses on board):

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I prefer Maine lobsters. Gotta have the claw meat! If you scuba dive you can spear them super easy. I prefer to set out pots for them though. The Maine lobsters come all the way down past Delaware on the east coast.

I’m sorry but the spiny lobsters just aren’t as sweet and flavorful. I’d still eat them though:)
 
I prefer Maine lobsters. Gotta have the claw meat! If you scuba dive you can spear them super easy. I prefer to set out pots for them though. The Maine lobsters come all the way down past Delaware on the east coast.

I’m sorry but the spiny lobsters just aren’t as sweet and flavorful. I’d still eat them though:)
I disagree all day long. I prefer spiny and eat both all year.
 
Gotta agree with the way those Maine lobsters taste. Although maybe it's because they are a rare treat for me. I have a hard time buying any when we can pluck some up fresh and free. Pic from our mini season, a quick night beach dive to kick off.
Surprised to hear that you are allowed to use a spear. Forbidden down here.
And OCG, not sure if you have ever been, but the bugfest event is pretty cool - unfortunately cx'd this year.
https://www.discoverlbts.com/bugfest/
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This is the exact reason why I bought my boat lol. If any of you have some good spots let me know... I'm based out of Los Angeles. Just Paid 118 for 2 of them suckers in Chinatown. Blame it on the buffet's closing lol... If they won't come to me I have to go to them.
 
No matter how blown apart my sacred islands get, the lobsters just don't care. Good job on the free dive and a good back grab.
 
We went out this past weekend to Cherry Cove and got skunked. Lots of eels in the traps but no lobster. I also learned a rule that I wasn't following. Apparently you need your ID on the buoy along with lots of reflective and glowing material. I only put my last name on it and one small glow stick. I went back out to check the traps and one was gone. I think someone else picked it up. Not happy, but I learned a lesson.
 

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