SAN PEDRO – CDFW wildlife officers were on coastal patrol the night of Aug. 1 when, at around 11 p.m., they spotted lights and suspicious activity near Royal Palms Beach in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The officers observed four individuals in wetsuits and diving gear actively taking spiny lobsters and returning to shore throughout the night. Both the recreational and commercial spiny lobster season in Southern California had closed months before in March. At about 3 a.m., the suspects left the area. Wildlife officers initiated contact and the suspects attempted to flee on foot. A short search led to the suspects who were apprehended without further incident. Here’s what the wildlife officers found in the back of their truck:
- 236 spiny lobsters taken during the closed season, 210 of which were undersized
- No fishing licenses
- No required measuring devices
During the open lobster season, the possession limit is seven per person with a minimum size of 3 and ¼ inches measured in a straight line on the back from the rear edge of the eye socket to the rear edge of the body shell. Fortunately, most of the poached lobsters were still alive and were safely returned back into the ocean after a quick count and photographs for evidence. All four individuals were cited for multiple misdemeanor violations, including:
- Taking lobster during the closed season
- Possessing undersized lobster
- Commercialization without a license
- No fishing license
- No measuring device
