From the Boathouse: Lobster season is upon us
Ahoy, and once again, let the bug hunting begin.
October is here, which signifies the start of local lobster season and soon the end of the hurricane season, thus boater insurance rates will decrease for travel south of the border.
Just south of us in the Pacific Ocean along Baja California is tropical storm Marty. This late-season storm had sustained winds of 50 knots (60 mph) earlier in the week. Marty is moving east-southeast at only 3 knots, and NOAA estimates that Marty will be no threat or develop into a hurricane.
The exciting news is the opening of recreational spiny lobster season Saturday. Most people know the saying, “From the Saturday preceding the first Wednesday in October through the first Wednesday after the 15th of March.”
I cannot wait again to taste the local lobster off our coastline and what I have heard from my sources this should be a good year. If you lobster fishermen know otherwise please let me know. Tell me how your season is progressing with your catches versus the last few years, plus the taste.
You have a limit of seven, and there is minimum size for any bug. Do not forget to complete the spiny lobster report card, and stay out of any marine-protected zones. You can view a map at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MPAs/Network/Southern-California.
All boaters need to be alert when at Newport Harbor’s jetty entrance as the lobster pots will extend out from both the east and west jetties. Each pot has a floating buoy attached by a line, and there is the potential of getting your prop wrapped in it.
My suggestion, especially in the dark and fog, is to take a straight course between the line of demarcation at the tips of the jetty and the offshore red and white vertically stripped “NWP” buoy.
While you are hunting lobster this season, remember to take only what you will consume, and know the regulations. Lobster hunting is regulated by California state law, and you can view online all the fishing regulations and purchase your license at wildlife.ca.gov or stop in a local tackle store.
Keep in mind that when hunting, you are required to carry a lobster gauge or you can be fined. Additionally, one can only catch the bugs by hand or with a hoop net, so don’t use any devices.
Your catch must be at least 3¼ inches measured in a straight line on the midline of the back from the rear edge of the eye socket to the rear edge of the body shell.
Those fishermen who will be hoop netting can only use five baited hoop nets per person and no more than 10-baited hoop nets off of any boat. So, you cannot have five of your buddies dropping five nets apiece from your boat all at once.
If you are fishing from a public pier then only two hoop nets may be used per person. The daily bag and possession is seven lobsters per person, and this means seven total — including what you might have at home in your freezer.
A recent NOAA article reported a 95% chance of El Niño this winter, and that means warmer than usual ocean water temperatures. We can currently see the effects of the warmer waters with yellowtail, yellowfin tuna, and skipjack tuna being caught just offshore. The warmer waters should create a better than average lobster season.
The original boating program, “Boathouse TV & Radio Shows,” has stretched from coast to coast for more than two decades. See the details at boathousetv.com, facebook.com/boathouseradio and twitter.com/boathouseradio.
MIKE WHITEHEAD is a boating columnist for the Daily Pilot. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to mike@boathouse.com or go to boathousetv.com.