There’s a lot bug hunters need to be aware of before hitting the water
The 2025-26 recreational spiny lobster season opens at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 26 and closes at midnight on Wednesday, March 18 off the California coast. As the season opener approaches, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) would like to offer some guidance on how to prepare for some great “bug” trips.
Along with checking your gear and gathering your bait, it’s the perfect time to review the lobster fishing regulations. First, the basics: do you have your California sport fishing license with an Ocean Enhancement Validation, and a Spiny Lobster Report Card? While the report card is always required, there are some exceptions to the requirements for fishing licenses and the Ocean Enhancement validation:
If your focus is hoop-netting from a public pier, only a report card is required. Everyone, even those age 15 and younger (who are not required to have a fishing license), must have their own report card. You can fish from a public pier without a sport fishing license or Ocean Enhancement Validation, but all other restrictions apply.
If you’re only fishing under a 1- or 2-day sport fishing license, or you’re fishing north of Pt. Arguello (Santa Barbara County), you’re not required to have an Ocean Enhancement Validation, but you must still have a report card. (Note that lobster are not abundant north of Pt. Arguello).
Spiny Lobster Report Cards
Filling out your report card is easy – instructions are printed right on the card. Before you get your dive fins wet or put a hoop net in the water, record the month, day, location, and gear code on the first available line on the card. When you’re done fishing at that location, or done fishing for the day, record the number of lobsters kept, even if it is zero.
If you move to a new location, record the month, day, new location, and gear code on the next available line on the card. Use separate lines on the card for each location fished and each gear type used.
Remember to report your catch online or return your report card to CDFW by April 30 each year to avoid paying a $21.60 non-return fee when you buy next season’s report card. Report card data is important; it gives CDFW the information needed to sustainably manage the recreational lobster fishery. You can find out more about report cards on the CDFW website.
Measuring Lobster
The lobster size limit is 3¼ in. body shell (carapace) length ― this does not include the tail. The size limit protects young lobster, and allows lobster to reproduce at least once before they’re big enough to be captured and added to someone’s bag limit.
Lobster are measured in a straight line on the midline of the back, from between the two horns (above the eyes) to the rear edge of the carapace. Lobster must be measured immediately when they’re captured, and any lobster smaller than the size limit must be released into the ocean without delay. As with any invertebrate that has a size limit, you’re required to carry a measuring device that can accurately determine whether the lobster is large enough to keep. Most people use a lobster measuring gauge, available at many sporting goods stores and dive shops, for this purpose.
Remember to report your catch online or return your report card to CDFW by April 30 each year to avoid paying a $21.60 non-return fee when you buy next season’s report card. Report card data is important; it gives CDFW the information needed to sustainably manage the recreational lobster fishery. You can find out more about report cards on the CDFW website.
Marine Protected Areas
Whether you’re hoop netting or diving for lobster, you’ll want to know the location of your local marine protected areas (MPAs). Why? Some MPAs allow lobster hoop netting or diving, while some do not. Avoiding MPAs that do not permit lobster fishing will help to keep you out of trouble with CDFW Wildlife Officers and help MPAs to reach their full potential.
To find your local MPAs and their regulations, use the mobile-friendly CDFW Ocean Sport Fishing Web Map. With an internet connection, you can use the map to find MPAs in the area where you plan to hunt or hoop net for lobster. Click on the MPAs to bring up regulations, coordinates, and much more. If you provide access to your mobile device’s location services, you can also see your current location in relation to any MPAs on the map.
MPA maps and regulations are also available on CDFW’s California MPA web pages, and flyers featuring MPA regulations and maps can be printed out or viewed online from CDFW’s MPA Outreach Materials web page.
Further Information
A great source for up-to-date fishing regulations is the CDFW Recreational Spiny Lobster Fishing web page. The web page provides one-stop shopping for lobster fishing information, and has an impressive Frequently Asked Questions section. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for on this web page, please email CDFW’s Marine Region staff.
Every lobster diver and hoop netter helps to keep lobster plentiful in California’s rocky reefs and kelp forests by recording their fishing activities and returning their report cards by April 30 each year. Submitting your report card data online or through the mail supports sustainable lobster fishery management.