Lobster anglers can start hooping it up after midnight Friday as the 2012 Southern California Lobster Season officially opens.
With a basic net and rigging costing just over $20—and lobster selling for $28 per pound—anglers have a chance to dine on expensive lobster at a fraction of the price it would at your favorite seafood eatery.
Jason Morton from Promar Nets offered some great advice for would-be lobster anglers.
"Lobster are nocturnal creatures, so you'll want to drop your baited net down about an hour before sunset,” he said. After the sun sets, lobsters come out of the rocks and crevices they live in and crawl around in search of food.
Morton said the tuna bite this year has been incredible, and tuna remains make for excellent lobster bait.
"Bait your nets with a fresh, oily fish such as mackerel, tuna or salmon,” he said. “Leave the net in the water about half-hour before pulling it so you can fill up with the tasty crustaceans.”
Pier fishermen can have up to two nets in the water at a time while boaters may have up to five per angler with no more than 10 nets in the water per vessel. Hoop-netters may only take legal crabs and lobsters and must release all by-catch.
Anglers can take up to seven lobsters each day.
All hoopers must have a California fishing license and a lobster report card as well as a lobster gauge to make sure lobsters are of legal length. Make sure you know the current California Department of Fish and Game regulations regarding the taking of California Spiny Lobster.
Morton was on Phil Friedman Outdoors Radio on Thursday night, telling listeners how to become successful, safe lobster anglers.
Seal Beach lobster seminar
When: Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.
Where: Big Fish Tackle at 1780 Pacific Coast Hwy., Seal Beach
Phone: 562-431-0723
Big Fish Tackle and Phil Friedman Outdoors are coming together to put on a great lobster hoop-netting seminar Oct. 10. The seminar will feature a guest speaker who will get you up to speed on everything you need to know to catch more and bigger lobster.
There will also be raffles, swag, and big discounts on all lobster-related products. Phil Friedman Outdoors Radio will be broadcasting live from Big Fish Tackle. If you can't attend, you will be able to listen in on this great seminar on Radio PFO.
Knowledge is power and in this case it's lots more lobster for you. Come out and have a good time while you learn how to catch more lobster this year.
Tuna Season Continues
Fantastic tuna fishing continues with boats from San Diego to San Pedro scoring excellent numbers of bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and some albacore, along with dorado and yellowtail. Several boats out of San Diego had limits of yellowfin tuna, along with a variety of other species, early Wednesday morning.
The Toronado out of Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach has been catching mostly bluefin tuna, with some of the prized tuna weighing as much as 50 pounds. The Freedom from 22nd Street Landing in San Pedro reeled in more than 100 bluefin on a recent trip.
There have been opportunities for other species, too. Dorado, yellowtail and even some albacore have been lurking too.
The Toronado is running a one-and-a-half-day trip for tuna on Friday night. The cost is $225, and the boat departs at 9 p.m. For more information, call 562-983-9300.
Great Twilight Fishing
Excellent fishing for fine-eating sculpin and more sand bass has been the rule for the Native Sun out of Long Beach Sportfishing. Last Saturday, anglers on board took their 5-fish limits of the tasty critters along with more than 30 sand bass for only 20 anglers. The weather has been flat and calm to boot. The trips go every Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30 p.m. to midnight and cost only $42. For reservations, call 562-432-8993.
Beach Café in Long Beach offers discounts to anglers
The Beach Café is offering a 15 percent discount when you show your fishing license. Chef Matthew Stockard, an avid angler who wants to give back to the fishing community, specializes in California barbecue, with incredible ribs, chicken, brisket, hot links and more.
The Beach Café is located near the intersection of the 710 and 91 freeways at 703 Artesia St. Open seven days a week, they can be reached at 310-997-5054.
Car wash and barbecue meal for funeral expenses of slain Long Beach man
Avid Long Beach angler Raul Martinez sadly reported that his son’s friend’s little brother was killed Friday night in Long Beach. Estuaredo Rodriguez, 19, was taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds to the chest. He later died.
Martinez said this has left the family in emotional and financial distress. To help with funeral costs, there is a car wash from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Romeo’s Pizza located at 1950 Santa Fe Ave. in Long Beach. The Beach Café has donated delicious barbecue meals, which can be purchased at the car wash with funds going to the family.
“I am just hoping a lot of people come out and show their love on Saturday,” said Martinez.
