Two Weeks to the Lobster Opener: A Diver's Prep Checklist
California's spiny lobster season opens in early October - and for a lot of us that's the highlight of the fall. With the opener now about two weeks out - it opens Friday, October 2 at 6 p.m. - and the water finally cooling into prime bug-diving range after the Marie swell, now is the time to get your gear, your paperwork, and your spots sorted. Here's the checklist.
Know the opener
The recreational spiny lobster season opens Friday, October 2 at 6 p.m. this year and runs into March 2027, closing the first Wednesday after March 15 - so from here you've got roughly two weeks to get ready. Because it kicks off Friday evening, a lot of divers hit the water on opening night; plan to be there early, because the pressure on opening weekend is real and the good spots fill up fast. Confirm the exact opening date and time and the closing date for the current season with CDFW before you go.
Get your paperwork right
You need a current California fishing license and a Spiny Lobster Report Card, and the report card rules are strict: you record every lobster you take, and you have to return the card at the end of the season even if you never used it. Fill it out in the field, in ink, before the bug goes in your bag - not back at the truck. Missing or late report cards can cost you next year's card, so treat it seriously.
Know the limits and how you're allowed to take them
In California, spiny lobster must be taken by hand or by hoop net - spearing them is prohibited, so leave the pole spear for the fish. There's a minimum size limit of 3 1/4" measured the length of the carapace, and every diver must carry a fixed-caliper gauge and measure each lobster in the water. There's also a daily bag limit of 7 lobsters.
Dial in your gear now
Right off the bat, I'll say that you need to streamline all your gear in order to avoid getting snagged on rocks, kelp, etc. Some things that I do are I minimize the amount of gear clipped onto me, and I'll use a float and put the lobster in a bag that's attached to the float.Also, if I do have my knife on me, I will make sure that it is tucked away so it doesn't snag on any old fishing line or nets that might be attached to the rocks or the jetty that I'm diving on. Additionally, I try to keep gear on my weight belt to a minimum.
Gauge and gloves. A good fixed gauge on a lanyard and puncture-resistant gloves are non-negotiable. Bugs have spines and they live in sharp rock.
A quality light. Most bug diving happens at night or in dark holes - bring a primary and a backup, and charge them the night before.
A game bag you can work one-handed. You'll be holding a light, a gauge, and a lobster all at once; practice the sequence before opener. Or, as I mentioned above, just attach it to a float so that you can have both hands, or at least have the light and a free hand.
Scout while the water settles
The post-swell cool-down is a good time to scout. Structure, cracks, and ledges in 5 to 30 feet are classic bug habitat, and a daytime scout tells you where to come back after dark. Note the entries and exits and how they behave on swell - a rocky bug spot that's mellow today can be a washing machine on the wrong tide.
Dive safe, and respect the zone
Bug diving is often a night, low-viz, rocky-structure activity - exactly the conditions where accidents happen. Dive with a buddy, mind your gas and your breath-hold, and don't push a marginal entry in surf.
Know your Marine Protected Areas. Take is prohibited or restricted along a lot of prime-looking coastline - verify boundaries with CDFW before you drop in.
Handle undersize and berried (egg-bearing) females with care and return them to the water immediately.
Two weeks out, the clock is ticking - there's still time to fix gear, sort paperwork, and scout, but not much to waste. Get it dialed now and opening morning is all upside.
Dive safe out there.
Cover image: California spiny lobster by Ed Bierman, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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