Palos Verdes Lobster Fest

[MaxBottomtime]

It's been more than a dozen years since I've seen a really big lobster. I saw four on the same reef today. The largest one had a carapace that appeared to be as wide as a football. It would have taken two hands to lift it. I estimate it was close to ten pounds. I caught an eight pounder once and this one was much larger. Three others were at least five pounds each.

Other than the massive bugs there wasn't much to see in spite of the good visibility. During my safety stop I could see my anchor forty feet below me. The ocean was glassy with very little wind after the Sun came out.

As we neared King Harbor I saw a feeding frenzy just offshore. A couple of large sea lions were creating baitballs of anchovies at the surface. The sea lions, larger fish, gulls and a hundred pelicans feasted.

 

[drbill]

A few years ago I was doing a night dive at Casino Point and saw the biggest lobster I had seen in many years. I tried to take video of it but my battery was dead. It was so nice to be reminded of how things used to be back in the 60s

 

[mdb]

I lived in La Jolla on BonAir street, just of the beach in the early 70's.

There was a small offshore reef, nice small kelp patch, that was hardly ever dived, except by a few locals.

On the opening day of "Bug" season I would make a midnight solo dive.

The small reef was crawling with Lobsters, walking about seeking their midnight snacks.

It was just a matter of being patient enough to snag the bigger lobster.

Next night, a lobster feast.

 

[drbill]

I stopped taking lobster and other game back in 1975 but have no problem with those who take legally (sadly, not all do that). My favorite spot was an old cement mixer located right in the bay by my marine biology lab. There would be dozens of bugs in there ripe for the picking.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I haven't taken anything but photos since 2005, but I ended on a high note. My friend Angela tried to boil my last lobster but had to eventually try another method.

 

[Sam Miller III]

I never stopped taking lobsters - I got quote good at taking lobsters - I caught a number over 10 pounds, several in the 12 + pounds but my personal best was 17.2 pounds. It was taken about 1963 at San Clemente .

I mounted it but had no place to display in my home so I loaned it to my friend Ron Merker, your (DR Bill's ) basic instructor, to display at his shop' the Aquatic Center where it remained until the shop was sold.

Bill. Perhaps you recall seeing it when you were in your basic SCUBA course ? It along with another rather larges one of my "mounts" were displayed in a place of honor at the shop

It is now displayed high on the wall at Depth Perceptions in San Luis Obispo. A silent tribute to day's gone by and a great old lobster that has lived on as a display for all to see for almost 55 years and hopefully another 50 or so years

Sam Miller,III

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I've seen it in both shops. I pointed it out to Merry the last time we were in Depth Perceptions.

 

[Sam Miller III]

I should give credit to three gentleman who mentored me in the art and science of lobster diving ; Harry Vetter (LA CO UW Instructor and NAUI Instructor number 4, & NAUI Retired Instructor number 1`) the late Jack Waite and the late great Charlie Sturgil (LA CO UW instructor) . All are featured in the first issue of Skin Diver Magazine; Volume 1 number 1 December 1951 as members of a club called the Southern California Skin Divers, whos patch displayed a Southern California lobster and main reason for being was to capture lobsters.

And we did catch lobsters ! And we ate lobsters ! Harry ate so many he became allergic to shell fish and any thing with a shell including eggs ! I recall one meal when my oldest daughter sat down to dinner and exclaimed "Lobsters again! Why can't we have Hamburgers or Hot Dogs like my friends ? And so it was in the genesis of lobster diving-- and eating!

It was Charlie who made members of the club custom masks (about 40 were made, only thee remain in existence today, Charlie's widow's which is in a museum, Harry Vetter's which is now owned by Alex Pierce and mine)

Charlie who began diving in 1929 won the 1951 international spearfishing meet at Laguna Beach using a pole spear of his own design, the only person ever to win a international spearfishing meet with a pole spear. (@Dano take note)

These were my diving buddies, my mentors of lobster diving, the golden days of diving

Sam Miller , 111