Are you talking about the beautiful and crafty SoCal Spiny lobster, or those wacky multi-colored Florida sandspuds, or those highly overrated brown, barnacle encrusted Maine lobster?
Being from UT, I presume your close proximity to SoCal has enlightened you and you're speaking of our fine, tasty and tender SoCal Spiny Lobster.
First of all, the only things you bring are a gauge and a lobster bag. Leave all the other hardware the weenies east of I605 feel they need to capture lobster: tickle sticks, snares, nets, pokers, cattleprods and whatever else these "hunters" bring. Out here, its you and lobster. No hardware.
And of course, it depends where lobbie is when you roll up. Most I pull from the reefs. Some (what we call LOO's or Loo Loo's "Lobsters-Of-Opportunity") are out for walkabout... easy stuff. I lobster hunt 2 - 3 nights a week out here, and I highly recommend coming at them thusly:
1) QUICKLY. Don't hesitate. If you miss, see #5, below.
2) From the top, if possible. I prefer "the pin." The grab is OK, but the pin works every time. Get to the place where you can grab with the left or the right hand. Over the last 3 or 4 dives, full on half of the lobster I bagged I grabbed with my left hand.
3) If lobbie is in a hole, you may employ "the sweep" - whereby you take your free hand and sweep him out into your waiting other hand. I've used this very effectively. If he misses your waiting hand, see #5, below.
4) "The Horn Grab" - this is the least effective, but often the only choice. If you gotta go in from the front, grab as close to his beautiful head as possible, entwining his horns in your fingers - NOT HIS ANTENNAE. The former will give you a good way to pull him out, the latter will just snap off - not good.
5) Don't fear the NTS (Nantuket Sleigh Ride) - this is when lobbie makes a break for it... he will paddle off at great speed, only to tire quickly and re-settle on an unfamiliar place on the reef / sand. Easy pickins. Its the rare lobster that bolts that I can't run down as a sure catch. They almost always land on a place with nowhere to hide... out in the open. I love it.
Other Thoughts:
* Always measure them before you bag them. Don't be a loser and fill the bag and measure them on the shore / boat. If there is any question ("Is this a legal bug?"... if I clamp down the gauge he may be...) just leave him until next season. Don't poach.
* A spring / Auto close bag is highly recommended.
* A light with a goodman handle rules! Everything changed when I started buggin' with a canister light... it gives me two free hands, not one. LOVE IT.
* Bring a bucket - gotta have a bucket.... tossing the writhing and chattering bag into the back of your Beemer is not recommended.
* Do not go lobstering with Kyle. Just trust me.
* SoCal season ends 3/22 (I think that's it... I need to check)
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Ken
:joke:
