2018 lobster regulations.

[Mahigeer]

29.90. Spiny Lobsters.
(a) Open season: From 6:00 a.m. on the Saturday preceding the first Wednesday in October through the first Wednesday after the 15th of March.
(b) Limit: Seven.
(c) Minimum size: 3 and 1/4 inches measured in a straight line on the mid-line of the back from the rear edge of the eye socket to the rear edge of the body shell. All lobsters shall be measured immediately and any undersize lobster shall be released immediately into the water. Divers shall measure lobsters while in the water and shall not remove undersize lobsters from the water. Hoop netters may measure lobsters out of the water, but no undersize lobster may be placed in any type of receiver, kept on the person or retained in any person’s possession or under his or her direct control.
(d) Report Card Required: Any person fishing for or taking spiny lobster shall have in their possession a non-transferable Spiny Lobster Report Card issued by the department and shall adhere to all reporting requirements for lobster defined in Sections 1.74 and 29.91, Title 14, CCR.
(e) Spiny lobsters shall be kept in a whole, measurable condition, until being prepared for immediate consumption.
New California Spiny Lobster Regulations
New recreational California spiny lobster regulations are in effect as of April 1, 2017. Changes include a new opening time of 6:00 a.m. on the first day of the season, and clarification of measuring procedures and rules regarding possession of spearfishing gear while diving for crustaceans. Also, hoop nets used to take crustaceans south of Point Arguello must be marked with a surface buoy, and the surface buoy must have the operator’s GO ID number on it. Hoop nets deployed from shore or piers are not required to be marked with a surface buoy.
29.91. Spiny Lobster Report Card Requirements for Ocean Waters.
(a) Spiny Lobster Report Card Required. All individuals must have a Spiny Lobster Report Card in their possession while fishing for or taking lobster. In the case of a person diving from a boat, the report card may be kept in the boat, or in the case of a person diving from the shore, the report card may be kept within 500 yards from the point of entry. Individuals must complete and return the card pursuant to regulations in this Section and in Section 1.74.
(b) 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.
(c) When the cardholder moves to another location code, or finishes fishing for the day, he or she must immediately record on the card the number of lobster kept from that location.
(d) In the event an individual fills in all lines and returns a Spiny Lobster Report Card, an additional card may be purchased. See Section 1.74.
(e) The annual fee for the Spiny Lobster Report Card is specified in Section 701, Title 14, CCR.

Spiny Lobster Report Card
$21.60 Non-Return Fee
Any person fishing for or taking spiny lobster must have a Spiny Lobster Report Card (including children, those who are fishing from a public pier, and those who are fishing on Free Fishing Days). All Spiny Lobster Report Cards must be returned, either by mail to the address printed on the card, or reported online at wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/online-sales, by April 30 following the end of the spiny lobster season.
Important: If you report your catch online, retain the confirmation number generated by a successful online report as proof of submittal. If you do not receive a confirmation number, it means that the report was not successfully recorded in the database; please try resubmitting the report. Successfully submitted reports will display in your reporting history on the main harvest reporting list page.
You must report even if no lobster were taken. If a card was purchased but not used, report it online or write ‘Did Not Lobster Fish’ across the card and return it by mail. If you report online you are not required to return your card by mail.
A $21.60 non-return fee will be charged when purchasing a Spiny Lobster Report Card if the previous year’s report card is not returned or reported by the April 30 deadline. To avoid the fee, you may either return or report your card by the deadline, or skip one lobster fishing season. After skipping one season, you can purchase a spiny lobster report card the following season at no extra cost.