Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Family Palinuridae (Spiny Lobster)
— California Spiny Lobster
Lobster from the San Clemente Pier
— California Spiny Lobster
Lobster from the San Clemente Pier
Species: Panulirus interruptus (Randall, 1840); interruptus refers to the grooves on the abdomen which are interrupted in this species.
Alternate Name: Bugs, crayfish, marine crayfish, rock lobster and red lobster. In Mexico called langosta mexicana or langosta roja. Most anglers in California simply call them bugs and greedily await the start of the “bug” season each Fall.
Identification: Typical lobster shape, color that varies from brick-red to brown with greenish overtones, and a carapace (or back) that is very spiny with two extra large spines protruding over the eyes. Missing is the large claw that distinguishes the more famous Atlantic lobsters. At the lower edge of each of the tail segments is a large spine that can produce a painful pinch or puncture when the lobster flexes its tail.
Size: Reported to 26 pounds and 24 inches; most caught from pier are sub-legal size and even legal ones are rarely over 5 pounds in weight.
Lobster from Santa Monica Pier
Range: Bahia Magdelena, Baja California, to Monterey Bay (but uncommon north of Point Conception).
Habitat: Prefers rocky shorelines and bottoms along the coast and around the Channel Islands. Usually found in various holes and crevices during the day while venturing out to feed alone at night. Typical food includes snails, sand dollars, shellfish and decaying animal and plant matter: they’ll eat just about anything.
Adam (Baitfish) and a Lobster from the Santa Monica Pier.
Piers: A favorite goal of SoCal pier anglers during the typical October to March lobster season. Unfortunately, many piers have seen persistent and increased poaching of lobsters during the past decade and as a result few piers yield the numbers once commonly encountered. The poachers take (and keep) lobsters of every size, do so during every month (no matter the legal season), and the California Department of Fish and Game seems unable to end the problem. As a result we do not offer specific recommendations for best piers. General recommendations: 1. Most lobsters are taken at night so the piers that are open at night offer the best chance for a lobster. 2. Bugs are typically found along rocky shores and bottom areas that contain rocks so piers that have that type of bottom, or that have reefs near the pier, generally yield the best results.
Lisa (Dolphinrider) and a lobster from the Green Pleasure Pier in Avalon
Shoreline: Taken by hoop nets in rocky areas.
Boats: Taken by regular boaters and kayakers venturing into their shallow water, rocky habitat.
Lobster from the Shelter Island Pier
Bait and Tackle: Spiny lobsters are most commonly taken by using hoop nets. Bait varies but fish scraps are probably the most prevalent bait used to catch them (and cans of cat food are favored by some of the people on the Pier Fishing in California Message Board). While many lobsters are accidentally hooked on fishing lines, and give really big surprises to the anglers who pull them in, it’s against the law to keep them.
Lobster at the Oceanside Pier
Food Value: Excellent eating! For additional information on cooking lobsters see the following: https://www.pierfishing.com/msgboard/index.php?threads/recipes-for-lobster.284/
DompfaBen and a lobster from the Goleta Pier
Comments: As with crabs, be sure to check current Fish and Game regulations before you go after the “bugs.” Minimum size restrictions, approved seasons, and legal bag limits will all be explained. In addition, all people seeking lobsters need to have a “Lobster Card” on which they must record their take throughout the year.
The Panulirus Creed
Posted by DomphaBen to the “Pier Fishing In California Message Board” on November 17, 2004
With apologies to all of my parochial school teachers…
The Panulirus Creed, (based loosely on the Nicene Creed)
We believe in one Lobster,
the Benthos, the All-Spiny,
taker of hoop-bait and mirth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Pull, Heavus Heist,
the only Fun of Cod,
eternally begotten of the Benthos,
rod from rod, Light-line from Light-stick,
huge bug from true tug.
Be-boiled, not filleted,
of one Being with the Gauge.
Through him my dinners were made.
For us and for our salivation
he came out from reef-haven:
by the power of the Holy Mackerel
he became netted from the Sturgeon Scary,
and was made 1/7 of a limit.
For our sake he was boiled under Caphalon;
he ruddied, died and was buttered.
In a few minutes he was sliced and eaten
in fulfillment of the Pictures;
he descended into my belly
and is seated at the right hand of my love-handle.
He will come again in plumbing to sludge the living and the dead,
and his memory will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Mackerel, the bait, the giver of Lobster,
who proceeds from the Squid and the Sabiki.
With the Squid and the Sabiki he is frozen and zip-tied.
He has spoken through PFIC.
We believe in one holy, aesthetic, and sanitary Pier.
We acknowledge one license for the avoidance of poaching.
We look for the resurrection of the kelp,
and the capture of Lobster to come.
Amen.
in nomini panulirus, spiny, et sabiki sancti…
