Change in Lobster Laws!
Ok, this is new for this season. Since I haven't been out yet, I haven't blown it. As far as I can tell, the only change is the new reporting requirement, and the fee for the report card.
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Spiny Lobster Reporting Requirements
The purpose of the new reporting requirement is to monitor recreational catch and effort and the gear used in the recreational lobster fishery. Regulations require that prior to beginning fishing activity, the cardholder must record the month, day, location and gear code on the first available line on the report card. When the cardholder moves to another location or finishes fishing for the day, he or she must immediately record on the card the number of lobsters kept from that location.
Spiny Lobster Reminders….
• The 2008 spiny lobster season opens Saturday, September 27, 2008 and extends through Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Beginning September 27, 2008, every person attempting to take spiny lobster must have a Spiny Lobster Report Card. This includes persons who are not required to have a Sport Fishing License and Ocean Enhancement Stamp, such as: children under the age of 16, persons fishing from a public pier, and persons fishing on free fishing days.
• A California Sport Fishing License with Ocean Enhancement Stamp is required to take lobster south of Point Arguello (Santa Barbara County). Persons fishing under the authority of a One or Two-Day Sport Fishing License are exempt from the Ocean Enhancement Stamp requirement.
• Spiny Lobster Report Cards must be carried by hoop netters, and divers must keep it with their fishing license. If a lobster fisherman fills up a card before the year ends, the card can be returned and a new one purchased. The Spiny Lobster Report Card must be returned to the Department of Fish and Game no later than January 31 of the following year.
• No equipment other than hoop nets may be used to take lobster. Divers may only use their bare or gloved hands to take lobster. Both lobster divers and hoop netters must possess a lobster gauge when taking lobsters.
• The lobster daily bag and possession limit is seven lobsters. A maximum of five hoop nets may be fished by an individual. No more than 10 hoop nets may be fished on a vessel, regardless of how many licensed anglers are aboard. On piers, jetties, and other shore-based structures, each angler is limited to two hoop nets.
• For complete spiny lobster regulations, refer to the 2008-2009 Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations Booklet or visit
www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/index.html.