Saltwater · Southern
Lobster - Spiny
Ocean regulations can change in-season. Confirm with the 2026 Ocean Sport Fishing Guide and CDFW before you fish.
Species group
LOBSTER
Season
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. Lobster Report Card Dates: The day after the last day of the season - Apr 30 Late Lobster Report Card Dates: May1 - Jul1
Depth limit
Unknown
Daily bag limit
Seven Lobster The Declaration for Multi-Day Fishing Trip must be submitted to the nearest department office in order for any person aboard such boat to possess more than one bag limit of Lobster
Minimum size
3 and 1/4 inches measured in astraight 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.Spiny lobsters shall be kept in a whole, mea- surable condition, until being prepared for immediate consumption.
Gear restrictions
Hoop nets may be used to take spiny lob- sters and all species of crabs. Between Point Arguello, Santa Barbara County, and the United States-Mexico border, not more than five hoop nets shall be possessed by a person when taking spiny lobster not to exceed a total of 10 hoop nets possessed when taking spiny lobster, per vessel The owner of the hoop net or person who placed the hoop net into the water shall raise the hoop net to the surface and inspect the contents of the hoop net at intervals not to exceed 2 hours. Hoop nets used south of Point Arguello, Santa Barbara County, shall be marked with a surface buoy. Surface buoy shall be legibly marked to identify the operator’s GO ID number as stated on the operator’s sport fishing license or lobster report card. This section does not apply to hoop nets deployed by persons on shore or manmade structures connected to the shore.
Identification
Return of Report Cards is Mandatory. Report cards must be reported on- line at wildlife.ca.gov/reportcards or returned to the CDFW at the address specified on the report card by January 31 of the following year (except Spiny Lobster Report Cards, which must be report- ed by April 30, following the close of lobster season). Any person who fails to report online or return his or her report card to the CDFW by the deadline may be restricted from obtaining the same card in a subsequent license year or may be subject to an additional fee for the issuance of the same card in a subsequent license year. Spiny Lobster Report Card Required. All indi- viduals 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.