DFG Lobster Info

[Saba Slayer]

I'm not sure if you guys have seen this yet...thought I'd share it.
Lots of good info (especially the Creel Survey and Hoop Net Comparison study) and the links are good too, check them out.
Jim / Saba Slayer

DFG Improves Recreational Spiny Lobster Fishery Monitoring and Outreach

by Travis Buck, Marine Biologist
Each year, a mysterious phenomenon appears in late September or early October along the coastline of southern California. Thousands of lights dot the nighttime waters with glowing colors, hovering on the surface and emitting ghostly hues in the depths.
Actually, the lights are not all that mysterious. They belong to the thousands of recreational hoopnetters and divers on the hunt for California spiny lobster during the season opener.
Although the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has gathered considerable information about the spiny lobster commercial fishery from landing receipts and logbooks, there is little information about the magnitude of recreational lobster catch and fishing effort.
In 2007, DFG hired additional staff to implement a number of new programs and studies that will monitor recreational lobster gear, catch, and fishing effort. The new information will help determine how many recreational fishermen pursue spiny lobster each season and how successful they are, both essential pieces of information for fishery management.
DFG biologists conducted a pre-season hoop net study in 2007 to compare the efficiency of two types of popular hoop nets and quantify their success rates. A creel survey, where fishermen are interviewed at their hoopnetting or diving locations, was also implemented during the 2007-2008 recreational lobster fishing season to determine the number of lobster fishermen in southern California. DFG samplers collected information about the total catch, catch locations, gear types and the success rates of the various gear types.
New for the 2008-2009 season, spiny lobster report cards were introduced to expand data collection efforts. DFG also redoubled efforts to provide information to the public about spiny lobster fishing regulations and life history with assistance from California Sea Grant.

Hoop Net Comparison Study
In August and September 2007, DFG marine biologists Doug Neilson and Travis Buck conducted a night-time hoop net study near the entrance of San Diego Bay to test the efficiency of two types of hoop nets commonly used in the recreational lobster fishery. Traditional hoop nets are basket-shaped, but lay flat on the bottom during deployment. The other net, more recently developed, maintains its rigid, conical shape during both deployment and recovery. A total of 96 nets (48 of each type) were deployed at Zuniga Jetty over seven nights. The study showed that the rigid hoop nets caught 57 percent more spiny lobster than the traditional hoop nets. A scientific paper that describes the hoop net study results is set for publication in California Fish and Game, a peer-reviewed, quarterly journal.
The new net design increases fishing success by requiring less skill on the part of the user. The increased efficiency of the popular, new net type and easy access to spiny lobster, along with an increased interest in spiny lobster fishing and aggressive marketing of hoop nets, may foreshadow an increase in the recreational catch. However, without knowing the extent of the rigid net's use by fishermen and thus its full impact on the recreational take, and without a full scientific assessment of the spiny lobster stock, it is difficult to determine how the modified gear might affect the sustainability of the spiny lobster population and fishery. Future data from this ongoing study may help to determine the rigid hoop net's impact.

Spiny Lobster Creel Survey
The 2007-2008 spiny lobster season marked the first time the DFG has conducted a spiny lobster creel survey since 1992. Samplers worked in pairs sampling piers, launch ramps, and shore entry sites from Santa Barbara County south to the U.S.-Mexico border.
One of the creel survey's main goals was to quantify the impact of catch and effort. Samplers recorded primary access points for the fishery, and the amount of effort and catch at these points. Samplers also recorded actual fishing locations and gathered spiny lobster biological data such as weight, sex, and shell (carapace) length. A related goal of the survey was to estimate the relative contribution of each gear type to the effort expended to catch lobster, and the resultant catch.
Samplers visited 416 sites and interviewed nearly 2,900 recreational lobster fishermen. Sampling during the first two months of the season produced important information that will be used to manage the fishery, including where, when, and how fishermen pursue spiny lobster and the biological characteristics of the catch.
Private boats appear to be the most popular transportation method to reach good southern California spiny lobster fishing grounds. Despite the popularity of some piers, they do not appear to be the place to go for a successful night of lobster fishing, since they yielded the lowest catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) of any fishing mode observed. Scuba divers had a relatively high CPUE; however, based on the fishermen encountered during the survey, hoop netters appear to catch more lobster overall by virtue of greatly outnumbering divers.
Fishermen using traditional hoop nets outnumbered fishermen using rigid hoop nets 3 to 1, with 74 percent of the hoop net catch coming from traditional hoop nets. The length of lobster fishing trips did not usually differ by the type of net used, except in San Diego County where the average trip for rigid net users was a bit longer than other net users. On average, hoop nets caught 82 percent of the total spiny lobster catch during the survey.
Despite the large number of fishermen interviewed, few had caught their daily bag limit of seven spiny lobsters. Of the 2,883 lobster fishermen interviewed, only 24 (0.8 percent) had caught their limit; 61 percent came home empty handed. "Short" or sub-legal sized lobster (under 3¼ in. carapace length) were encountered in all counties; in Orange County short lobsters comprised a surprising 28 percent of the county's total spiny lobster take. Lobster fishermen should take care to ensure they do not retain short lobster, as this could lead to big fines and harm the lobster breeding population. The median number of short lobster per county was 2.9 percent. San Diego County claimed the title for the most kept lobster, while the largest spiny lobsters came from Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Future Spiny Lobster Research
In the future, these studies and projects will incorporate additional survey data from daytime California Recreational Fisheries Survey spiny lobster sampling, and from the ongoing DFG hoop net study at Zuniga Jetty in San Diego County. The data will also be compared to recent phone surveys as well as the 1992 creel survey. DFG plans to use 2007-2008 commercial log book and commercial landings data along with the recreational data to begin fully assessing the health of the California spiny lobster resource.

Spiny Lobster Report Card – New for 2008
In 2007, the Fish and Game Commission approved the use of a spiny lobster report card to provide information on recreational catch. The report card is now required for all recreational lobster fishermen, and will help DFG to determine the number of fishermen, fishing effort, catch locations, and gear used in the recreational spiny lobster fishery.

New Spiny Lobster Publication and FAQ

A new DFG/Sea Grant brochure that contains information about California spiny lobster life history and the sport fishery is available at southern California DFG offices, on the DFG Web site (www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/lobsterbrochure.pdf) and at many tackle shops, dive shops, and sporting goods stores in southern California. The spiny lobster "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) section on the DFG Marine Region Web site has been updated with questions and answers about spiny lobster regulations. To read the FAQ, simply click on the "Frequently Asked Questions" link in the gray left-hand navigation bar on the Marine Region home page. The FAQ is located at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/faqindx.asp#spinylobster.

 

[talltale]

Good stuff. Thanks for the post.

 

[cksea]

"in Orange County short lobsters comprised a surprising 28 percent of the county's total spiny lobster take."

 

[Blackfish]

"in Orange County short lobsters comprised a surprising 28 percent of the county's total spiny lobster take."

I read that also. How did they obtain this number...DFG citations, or survey "confession".

Either way, looks like were in for some changes next season.

Make sure you mail in the cards.

 

[UnReel]

"Of the 2,883 lobster fishermen interviewed, only 24 (0.8 percent) had caught their limit; 61 percent came home empty handed."

 

[rdrrm8e]

Another interesting item:

February 7-8, 2008 Meeting Summary


Meeting of
February 7, 2008 (Thursday)
10:00 a.m. ** Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute
Shedd Auditorium
2595 Ingrahm Street
San Diego


DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Commission reelected Commissioner Rogers as President and Commissioner Gustafson as Vice President.

2. PUBLIC FORUM.

Pete Dupuy discussed an experimental long-line fishery that is before the Pacific Fishery Management Council and requested that the Commission support this fishery, and have an open mind when voting on long-line issues.

John Collar provided a handout to the Commission and requested a change in the recreational spiny lobster fishing regulations concerning the use of hoop nets. He indicated that recreational fishermen use hoop nets and other methods of fishing, which will cause the decline of the fishery.
Deputy Director Mastrup indicated that lobster report cards were established to monitor the activity regarding recreational harvest and would go into effect this fall.

Elaine Jobin discussed the impacts and hazards fishing nets left on the ocean bottom have on diving sites and wrecks for recreational scuba divers, and requested that the Commission decrease nets to commercial fishermen to ensure that California’s marine resources continue for everyone to enjoy.

Peter Halmay discussed the Sea Urchin fishery and requested that the Commission give consideration to self-organized fishing units managed by fishermen and overseen by government, as the present system of managing fisheries is not working.

Josh Goldman submitted written comments and proposed conditions to the Commission under which a barramundi exemption may occur. He indicated that all states with prohibition of live fish have also established conditions for exemption, under which importation may occur when based for commercial or scientific purposes, and requested that the Commission exempt barramundi in California based on these facts.

President Rogers responded that barramundi is a non-native species and that it had just been discovered in the live animal markets of California.

Gary Burke requested that the Commission weigh the facts when making a decision regarding Halibut Trawl fisheries as livelihoods would be affected by their decision.

Jim Martin gave an update on wave energy to the Commission and requested that Deputy Attorney General Cunningham answer his question on how, once permits were issued, they would interact with the ability to site MPA’s in the application areas, and how this would affect the MPA process.

Deputy Attorney General Cunningham responded that this would be an issue that would have to be examined and that there were no definitive answers at this time, but to proceed with the process.

Paul Weakland stated that the Commission still had not responded to his questions regarding the listing of black abalone as an endangered species and also indicated that the proper utilization of our resources was not being accomplished. He also requested the immediate opening of several bay area counties for the harvest of abalone

 

[Bottom Line]

Good info - the DFG has my bug card.

 

[Josh D]

Wondered where JC was going to pop up next, what a nut.

 

[rdrrm8e]

Yeah...I guess if he can't play...nobody else can

 

[captaindorado]

were the address to send in the report card? wish you could just drop it off were you picked it up.

 

[Bottom Line]

were the address to send in the report card? wish you could just drop it off were you picked it up.

Address is at the bottom of the card.

 

[ISLAND BOUND]

IMO the lobster card will be a BUST. I bet over 50% of them never get returned, heck I found 2 on my boat from friends that went once or twice and left them in the cabin.

The fishery is very sustainable as long as people are'nt poaching shorts or taking more than they need. Short bugs being released are way less likely to be harmed than most fish in the ocean.

DFG needs money ,the lobster card is a hastle and will probably end up costing them more than the 8.00 they collected.
I would much rather pay say 20.00 for a lobster STAMP on my license , or even a simple punch card than having to worry about a ticket for forgetting to fill it out when i start and stop fishing for lobster.

Sounds like the DFG already has the dope on the gear by thier own research.
yes conicals catch more bugs but the flat ones work just fine also.

I guess its just wait and see till sept to see if they implement any mid season changes,hopefully they will just leave it as is.

 

[Sherm]

Haven't you got off this kick yet? You remind me of the people who move to a new city and now that they are there they don't want anyone else to move in. I know you can't stand anyone enjoying the same things you do. Maybe the new regs should be that smuggler is the only person allowed to hoop net.

 

[Sherm]

IMO the lobster card will be a BUST. I bet over 50% of them never get returned, heck I found 2 on my boat from friends that went once or twice and left them in the cabin.

The fishery is very sustainable as long as people are'nt poaching shorts or taking more than they need. Short bugs being released are way less likely to be harmed than most fish in the ocean.

DFG needs money ,the lobster card is a hastle and will probably end up costing them more than the 8.00 they collected.
I would much rather pay say 20.00 for a lobster STAMP on my license , or even a simple punch card than having to worry about a ticket for forgetting to fill it out when i start and stop fishing for lobster.

Sounds like the DFG already has the dope on the gear by thier own research.
yes conicals catch more bugs but the flat ones work just fine also.

I guess its just wait and see till sept to see if they implement any mid season changes,hopefully they will just leave it as is.

From my experience the conical nets catch more but the standard nets seem to have the bigger bugs in them. I wish they would just inforce the current regs more. The fishery seems ok to me. My last trip of 08 I got the most legals of the season so far. From a spot I have been hooping fairly regularly. Just play by the rules and the fishery should be fine.

 

[Phat Boat]

In the article the statistics point to little or no impact from recreational fishing of lobster. 68% came home skunked-0.8% limited. I cannot see any leg for anyone to stand on that recreational fishing of lobstrers has any effect on the long term population dynamics. The interviews the F&G made were at the beginning of the season, when it was good, and so few lobsters were taken-I really don't see how anyone can argue for any changes.

 

[ISLAND BOUND]

In the article the statistics point to little or no impact from recreational fishing of lobster. 68% came home skunked-0.8% limited. I cannot see any leg for anyone to stand on that recreational fishing of lobstrers has any effect on the long term population dynamics. The interviews the F&G made were at the beginning of the season, when it was good, and so few lobsters were taken-I really don't see how anyone can argue for any changes.

They probable got thier info mostly from pier fisherman, those stats sound about right for a pier. And yes with those stats they may argue for a change stating that it is fished out. IMO the hooping gets better and better as the season goes.

 

[tuna taxi]

From my experience the conical nets catch more but the standard nets seem to have the bigger bugs in them.

I would have to agree, 3 of my four largest catches came out of the standrard nets. I hoopnet with 3 standard and 7 conical nets when we have a team of 2 or more on board. One (my last big bug) wasn't even in the net, it's legs were wrapped around the netting. As soon as I pulled the net onto the boat the lobster came off and hit the deck.

 

[Tues]

Wow, That Just Happened....

 

[Sherm]

[



I'm Sorry You Have Low Self Esteem and have to use the internet to Get Attention



Now that's funny. Pot calling the kettle black comes to mind.


Not going to bite on the rest.

 

[Sherm]

I would have to agree, 3 of my four largest catches came out of the standrard nets. I hoopnet with 3 standard and 7 conical nets when we have a team of 2 or more on board. One (my last big bug) wasn't even in the net, it's legs were wrapped around the netting. As soon as I pulled the net onto the boat the lobster came off and hit the deck.

My largest bug of the season came the same way. Mine was tangled tightly in the netting though. The only good thing I can say about the conicals is the bugs stay in the hoop when the dogs come by.

 

[Bigfish69]

IMO the lobster card will be a BUST. I bet over 50% of them never get returned, heck I found 2 on my boat from friends that went once or twice and left them in the cabin.

The fishery is very sustainable as long as people are'nt poaching shorts or taking more than they need. Short bugs being released are way less likely to be harmed than most fish in the ocean.

DFG needs money ,the lobster card is a hastle and will probably end up costing them more than the 8.00 they collected.
I would much rather pay say 20.00 for a lobster STAMP on my license , or even a simple punch card than having to worry about a ticket for forgetting to fill it out when i start and stop fishing for lobster.

Sounds like the DFG already has the dope on the gear by thier own research.
yes conicals catch more bugs but the flat ones work just fine also.

I guess its just wait and see till sept to see if they implement any mid season changes,hopefully they will just leave it as is.

Well put , I am all for the lobster stamp!

 

[gonzo25]

well i am totally confused about the issue. if there is an issue about someone making money at it, i can understand how you would feel, i may or may not feel that way but it is an issue of business not of sport. if it is an issue that you hate any one new to the sport and you wouldn't pass along anything you know to help any of them, well that is your choice. the choices we make and the code we live by is what makes us the man that we are, good or not so good.(something you earn, money can't buy it) i don't think anyone here is stupid enough to think that with more people doing it, it isn't going to have some impact at some point on how you may do... but think about this. no matter what there are going to be a lot of new people getting into it, and if you think that it is easy then either you haven't done it or your so good at it and have been for so long that you have forgotten what it was like when you started. personally i like to be able to pass along some of the things that others have passed along to me, along with something that mommy didn't... how to act. you know stupid shit like not dropping your nets next to someone else or whatever your personal pet peve may be. BUT no matter what info you give them, they are going to use it as they may, if they have their shit together they will take it, go put in their dues to learn it, and stay with it and catch some. but the vast majority of them either aren't going to listen, won't ask, won't follow the direction given, and when the bugs don't just jump in the boat and they come back after four or five trips with nothing... the interest will fade and they will be gone. but be a man and share what others have shared with you to those who will use it and appreciated it. just remember, even the smallest piece of advice can mean a lot to someone else, and if nothing else you are reminding yourself so you won't forget. and that is the "sport" side of the issue no one is born with the knowledge. we all learned it from someone else. believe it or not, there was a time when you didn't know what an incoming tide was, or what a slack tide was until someone told you, and you listened... for some it was five years old and for others it may be fifty, but you didn't know at birth. ya folla?
okay that was my opinion, and i could be wrong, i was wrong once before.

 

[gonzo25]

well smug i will have to agree, i hate seeing more regs.... enforce the ones we have now, and the fishing community should help... get in someone's shit if need be.... protect the future of the game and don't create a need for more agents. i hate the idea of having to pay more, i know so many people who struggle to pay for a fishing lic. now and i can see how a lot of them will be pushed right out of it. i can also see the effects of things from what it was when i grew up here in san diego. back in the day there were no half day/3/4 day boats... the boats took you out to a barge at the kelp beds and catching a sack full of 20-25# bonita was not only normal but you were bummed because you couldn't get through the bonita to the yellowtail, one of those would be the jack pot today. i don't think we need more regs. to protect what we have now, we need less fuckheads taking more than they should on good nights and not taking shorts which will make up the catch of tomorrow. that is one of my pet peves and what i make sure those i am sharing my info with hear and hopefully understand... here is some info for ya, use it but don't abuse it. your right, we need to look out for the common man, or as i call him... joe shit the rag man from clairemonte
just my opinion and i could be wrong, i was wrong once before.

 

[ISLAND BOUND]

Nice reply George. My main issue is 'New' DFG regulations that affect the average Joe. I only hooped a couple times this season and can count my bugs on one hand so this issue I have should concern the average guy.

Lobster Card, Closed Breakwalls, Crowded Spots, Divers vs Hoopers, More Taxes Needed for more agents, MLPA Closed Fishing areas.

I read they need $50 million for more agents.

Does Shem want to pay more taxes?
When I see salesmen helping the Feds bring more Fishing Regs and OUR Taxes will be GOING UP due to the need of more Policeing on the water so some dickhead can pad his wallet, I had to speak up.

I am all for new regs that don't affect a average Hooper like a season limit.
Who really needs triple digits of Lobster per season. What a joke.
'I got 285 lobster this season'

Even My Shit Smells and Look's Like Lobster I Eat So Much Of It.

Nowadays the learning process is made VERY EASY by the WWW.
Gone are the days of trial and error.
Almost everything has been tried and refined.
A high school kid won't and can't chnge his own oil.
Junior can't build a hoop net puller or fix a flat.

BloodyDeckers Bitching about Lobster Cards, Closed Breakwalls. WHY?

How can any of you ever complain when you are Kissing the Ass of the Enemy.
A guy goes out of his way to Inlist A Army of Hoopers by sucking
up, constant post's, limits 'Look At Me' 'You can be sucessfull Like Me'

What Next? Lobster Infomercials? ' Success at Hoopin Deep '
Buy my book and 'new' electric puller and YOU TOO will be sucessfull at HOOPING DEEP like ME Look at these pics of Deep Limits.

You guys are Fucking Yourselfs and won't realize it till later. Wake Up.

This is about YOUR BAG LIMIT more than mine.

Sheep Follow the Leader, not me.
Smug

Damm smug when you calm down a little you actually start making sense!

Good post

 

[UnReel]

I’ll never believe putting successful fisherman into hiding is going to be good for the sport as all you’re going to be left with is posts and reports from guys who are catching nothing. You talk about fuel for the enemy (the real enemy not Jim), can you imagine peta pulling up post after post of reports from guys who went out to catch lobster (or anything else for that matter) and got nothing. Instead of adjusting size limits or take limits they’ll just close down lobster fishing all together and then pull out all those reports/posts and then say that there are no lobsters being caught so they must be over fished. Is that your master plan?? if so that’s brilliant forest. Also, the more people that go out and have fun on the water while respecting the resources and enjoying the resources the more people where’re going to have on our side to fight to keep the ocean open to all of us. Why should people fight to keep something open that they are not aware even exists??
As long as guys follow the rules and regs and they don’t break any other laws there shouldn’t be a problem. As for the # of lobsters certain guys take, you don’t know the anglers or the size of their families or anything else for that matter, you’re just assuming they are taking more than they need. Your innocent until proven guilty in this country remember. Another thing, at least Jim doesn’t hide or shy away from who he works for and he is willing to post a bio as well as reports and pics with him in them so others can see who he is and either praise or bash him, not like others who hide behind a user name with no bio or work history ( to see if who they worked for has helped or hurt the enviorment) and then slam others. Very easy to throw rocks in a glass house when your anonymous. One more thing, the state is in a huge financial mess and weather or not we post pics of fish or lobsters they’re going to try and raise fee’s/taxes on everything. No way your going to tell me that if we stopped posting reports and pics a year or more ago that the state wasn’t going to try and raise fee’s/ taxes this year or next year anyway. Just my .02