California Spiny Lobsters are back!

‍Available from October–March, these special lobsters are an all-time favorite for seafood lovers.

The Spiny Lobster has a sweeter flavor profile than its counterpart, the Maine Lobster. It also has more meat — generally around 25% more per pound. And unlike Maine Lobsters, they don’t have claws, and instead use their spine and tail as their sources of defense.  These unique lobsters are nighttime scavengers, which means they search for their food after dark. They eat sea life like urchins, snails, smaller fish, clams, and mussels.  At this time, there’s no specific quota for catching these lobsters during the season, but the California Department of Fish & Wildlife has stricter, daily regulations and enforces what sizes of lobsters can be caught. Spiny Lobsters can reach up to 20 pounds in weight, but usually fall within the 1.25–2-pound range.

All Catch must be of Legal Size

Whenever a lobster is captured in the net, it is your responsibility to measure the carapace of the lobster to insure that it is of a legal size. It is a good idea to bring a lobster measure with you. You can obtain one at any fishing store. There will also be some on the boat, and in the hands of the deckhands, but it is always a good idea to have one, they are only 2 bucks. Once you are on board the Captain will give a brief lecture on how to do it, and during the trip our crew will assist you.

Spiny Lobster Report Card

Everyone on board fishing for spiny lobsters are required to have a valid form of ID (Driver’s License, Military ID, or Passport) and a Spiny Lobster Report Card. Even those who are under 16 years old. The cards are valid for the entire season. Luckily they are super easy to get online.

You can get one online click here. 

Please note, you must register and be logged in (not as a guest) in order to purchase your card. Once registered, go to “purchase licenses” and scroll down to “report cards” and select “instructions to add Spiny Lobster Report Card” and follow the instructions.