To all the lobster hunters:

[merxlin]

It seems like every year, there is an accident and incident report from opening weekend. Some of you, or your buddies, or some of those just on the boat with you will have been out of the water for a while, may not have checked your/their gear, may take shortcuts rather than lose the trip, or may over exaggerate your/their abilities. Lets make this year the exception: Dive Smart, Dive Safe. No bug is worth dying over.

 

[fire_diver]

I doubt your message is reaching any of the mentioned divers. Those types aren't likely to be on a scuba chat board talking about it without doing at least a few dives a year.

 

[blue steal]

Agreed, but to those who are, stay safe and bag your limit.

 

[Kevrumbo]

The opening of lobster season combined with buccaneer days: it's going to be an interesting weekend for LA County Sheriffs, Bay Watch Paramedics and the volunteer Chamber Crew at Two Harbors/Big Fisheman Cove. . .

 

[fire_diver]

The opening of lobster season combined with buccaneer days:

Oh man that sounds like an awesome time!

 

[merxlin]

I doubt your message is reaching any of the mentioned divers. Those types aren't likely to be on a scuba chat board talking about it without doing at least a few dives a year.

I hope you are right, but I think you might be surprised. For some, all they do is cyber dive all year, then get a chance to go out and be the top of the food chain (barring great white sharks of course )

 

[Skull]

Should be posting this on Bloody Decks ... those guys are all cowboys ... Beer, hoop nets, AL80's, rusted primaries and bleeding secondaries and did I say Beer all after midnight .... no possible way anything could go wrong!

 

[White Knight]

Man dies while lobster fishing off Catalina | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

Don't rush to hush Merxlin! An extra reminder now and then doesn't hurt anyone. As he implied....someone died opeing night of bug season! Two little girls now have no daddy....

 

[Leejnd]

Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. Why do inexperienced divers go out on the WORST night of the year? The one night when the seas and reefs are packed with once-a-year divers...when boats are crammed so full that crew are overtaxed...when divers are paying less attention than normal to their buddies, so they can go after that bug in the kelp...Sigh....We all, of course, know the answer to this. But that doesn't make this any less difficult to accept.

 

[drbill]

I've avoided BOTH opening night and Buccaneer Days for years. Saw "pirates" and "piratesses" walking around Avalon Saturday night, although I must admit most of them actually appeared semi-sober and none appeared ready to take a dip to dive for bugs.

Some seasons we've had more than a few deaths on opening night, so this one wasn't so bad... unless you were the diver who died, his family and friends... my condolences to them.