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Angler ‘retires’ a winner from youth fishing circuit
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Spiny lobster season opens Oct. 3
2015 season is second to last before state’s fishery manage- ment plan takes effect.
By Parimal M. Rohit
STATEWIDE — Recreational spiny lob- ster hunters can dive back into the water in search of their favorite marine crustacean beginning Oct. 3. The season, as usual, begins at mid- night and will remain open through March 16, 2016.
The 2015-2016 spiny lobster season will be slightly shorter than the 2014- 2015 season, which ran from Sept. 27, 2014 to March 18.
All lobster hunters must obtain a
sport fishing license from the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). Licenses can be purchased for the entire season or in one-, two- and 10-day increments. Divers must also obtain an Ocean Enhancement Stamp in addition to the license.
Lobster hunters must also obtain
and carry a Spiny Lobster Report Card. The card must be in possession at all times; divers must keep the card within 500 yards of the port of entry. Visit
wildlife.ca.gov for information about costs. Anyone diving or hunting for lob-
ster in California are currently prohib- ited from using short hooked poles, snares, spears, tickle sticks or other similar tool. State law requires divers and hunters to capture a spiny lobster only by hand or hoop net. Any lobster incidentally caught on a hook and line while fishing must immediately be returned to sea.
An individual can use up to five baited hoop nets, while no more than 10 hoop nets are allowed on a vessel, no matter the number of people aboard. California also requires recreation- al divers and hunters to keep lobsters whole until consumption. The daily limit of lobsters to be taken home is seven lobsters in one bag. All seven lobsters must be con-
Thomas Orozco, 15, of Union City, California, finished his International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Young Anglers Tournament career with a first place finish at the IGFA Young Anglers Tournament held at Shelter Island Pier in San Diego, Aug. 8, and a 37-inch gui- tarfish catch at the IGFA Marin Rod & Gun Club Pier Tournament in San Rafael. The 15-year-old has had 15 first place finishes in 10 years.
The Log • Aug. 28 - Sept. 10, 2015 • 27
Southern California fishing news
California’s recreational spiny lobster season begins Oct. 3 this year and will continue through March 16, 2016. Hunters must have on or near them a Spiny Lobster Report Card at all times.
sumed or disposed of before a diver or hunter can return to sea to hunt for another batch. Divers can file a declaration for a multi-day dive for lobster, allowing him or her to bring home three daily bags. The declaration must be filed with the state at least 48 hours prior to when the boat is scheduled to head out to sea.
This will be the second to final sea-
son for current spiny lobster regula- tions. The Fish and Game Commission anticipates enacting a Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan in time for the 2017-2018 season. If adopted, the FMP could require recreational divers to clip the tails of their lobster catches and move the Saturday morning sea- son opener start time six hours ahead from midnight to 6 a.m., among other new regulations.
Fish and Game Commission seeks to increase MPA enforcement
Commissioners campaign for more game wardens.
By Parimal M. Rohit
FORTUNA — A new law, originally authored by an Assembly member from San Diego to strengthen enforce- ment measures for the state’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), has members of the Fish and Game Commission campaigning for more game wardens. Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez
The signing of AB 298 has some requesting the state provide more wardens to monitor Marine Protected Areas, including Anacapa Island.
(D-San Diego) introduced Assembly Bill 298 (AB 298) earlier this year to crack down on MPA violators. The bill,
which was signed into law June 30, proposed to improve enforcement of illegal fishing and trapping in the state’s 124 MPAs. Specifically, the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) would have the power to issue citations to anyone who illegally fishes or otherwise intrudes into a protected area. Fish and Game Commission
President Jack Baylis worried how the state would better enforce MPAs with limited resources but hoped the com- mission could find a way to add more game wardens. “We don’t have enough wardens,” Baylis said at a Fish and Game
Commission meeting in Fortuna, California, on Aug. 4. “They’re not compensated enough and it’s an ongo- ing issue. The equipment is limited.” Commission staff acknowledged additional assistance and improved technology measures would be wel- comed but pointed out the depart- ment is more equipped to manage MPAs now than ever. Still, Fish and Game Vice President
Jim Kellogg said DFW needs to contin- ue to urge the state legislator and gov- ernor to provide more funds for game wardens so the department could properly enforce MPAs up and down
See MPA page 29
NOAA photo
Photo by Gilbert D. Orozco California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife photo
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