New report card for Spiny Lobster

VERGIE · Jan-05-2008, 12:29 AM

so after trying over and over to get onto the link,ill just ask you guys.how exactly is this lobster card thing going to work?

Jim Day · Jan-05-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishStalker

Considering how many people that I personally know who overfish the hell out of lobster (and illegally sell them to friends and neighbors) I have no problem with a lobster punch card.

WTF?

If you know someone whose selling sport caught lobsters report them. If they are a good friend tell them to stop and if they don't report them anyway.

I agree though that the report card is being put in place to stop illegal poaching. That said I think they are going to use the info they collect to change the regs down the road. That's certainly what they did with the abalone card data.

Jim

Jim Day · Jan-05-2008, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full Eclipse

Those people will still sell illeagle lobster-how will the report card stop them?

There was a case out of MDR where a guy was diving almost every night (he'd sunk lobster traps) and selling bugs. With the card system people are not going to get away with that shit in the future.

You have to log every trip and every bug taken, your required to turn in your cards or you will not be allowed one the next season. If your caught without a card they will bust you. If your caught with unrecorded bugs they bust you. So you have to fill out the card as you hoop, and return the cards, or risk getting caught.

I have no doubt if you turn in multiple cards with hundreds of bugs taken in a single season they're going to come to your door, check your freezer and ask you what the fuck your doing with all those bugs.

Jim

tuna taxi · Jan-05-2008, 10:13 AM

I'd have to agree that this may stop some of the poaching. Lobster is delicious and expensive if purchased at retail cost, Costco has it for $27.00/lb. I didn't get a single keeper until my 5th or 6th hooping trip, only caught 5 bugs using 8 nets, this was more than enough for two families.

When I look at the double or triple limits I ask myself how much lobtser could one really eat, even if you vacuum seal it. I know most hoopers are legit, but it only takes one rotten apple to spoil the bunch. Unfortunately, I believe the DFG has found some rotten apples and now WE'RE paying the price.

tsurikichi · Jan-05-2008, 03:26 PM

Hi Full Eclipise,

Yes, I mentioned that in one of my reports. Also Sturgeon anglers are stuck with a card now! What's the difference.

Sturgeon punch card is FREE ! for now !!

A second Steelhead Punch card can be gotten after purchase of first for FREE (2007 info)

Lobster Punch card is 7.90 and yes 7.90 again if you want more Lobster !!

Don't gather them, don't eat then, don't like to see more paperwork.

tsurikichi

Firebird · Jan-05-2008, 04:34 PM

You guys are all living in fantasy land!
If people are fishing for lobster illegally, or not following the spirit of the law now, what makes you think they are going to do it under the new regulations?
If someone is taking hundreds of lobster per year, do you think that they are going to mark that down on the report card?
This is the same argument as requiring guns to be registered. The criminals use unregistered guns, so how does it help law enforcement agencies?
The only thing this will do is give DFG better stats on what the responsible anglers are catching.

ConSeaMate · Jan-05-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firebird

You guys are all living in fantasy land!
If people are fishing for lobster illegally, or not following the spirit of the law now, what makes you think they are going to do it under the new regulations?
If someone is taking hundreds of lobster per year, do you think that they are going to mark that down on the report card?
This is the same argument as requiring guns to be registered. The criminals use unregistered guns, so how does it help law enforcement agencies?
The only thing this will do is give DFG better stats on what the responsible anglers are catching.

We have a winner!!!

Jim Day · Jan-06-2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firebird

If people are fishing for lobster illegally, or not following the spirit of the law now, what makes you think they are going to do it under the new regulations? If someone is taking hundreds of lobster per year, do you think that they are going to mark that down on the report card?

Hey I don't like the cards one bit, but I will admit that it may have an impact on poaching.

With the card system you get caught with lobsters that are not marked on the card you're busted, and it's anything like abs they'll be checking everyone they can. It also would surprise me if those caught end up under surveillance or have their freezers searched.

A poacher is going to have two options, either not mark his card and run the risk of getting busted each time he goes out or mark his card and come under suspicion for taking so many bugs in a single season.

Like I said: I hate the idea of cards or more regs. I'm opposed to the cards because I think they will eventually use the data they collect against us. That said I could see how it might have an impact poaching.

Jim

**Marcus** · Jan-06-2008, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Day

Hey I don't like the cards one bit, but I will admit that it may have an impact on poaching.

With the card system you get caught with lobsters that are not marked on the card you're busted, and it's anything like abs they'll be checking everyone they can. It also would surprise me if those caught end up under surveillance or have their freezers searched.

A poacher is going to have two options, either not mark his card and run the risk of getting busted each time he goes out or mark his card and come under suspicion for taking so many bugs in a single season.

Like I said: I hate the idea of cards or more regs. I'm opposed to the cards because I think they will eventually use the data they collect against us. That said I could see how it might have an impact poaching.

Jim

If anyhting this may raise enough funds for there to be enforcement of the regs. If that is the case and it doesn't end up in a slush fund in sacramento I'm all for it.

Hooping has exploded and the amount of lobster being taken has doubled and or tripled I would bet. DFG needs the funds and a way to see what our impact is on our lobster populations so that they can make sure the take is sustainable. Personally I would have no problem with the limit going down to 5 per person.

Red Drum · Jan-06-2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuam

If anyhting this may raise enough funds for there to be enforcement of the regs. If that is the case and it doesn't end up in a slush fund in sacramento I'm all for it.

Hooping has exploded and the amount of lobster being taken has doubled and or tripled I would bet. DFG needs the funds and a way to see what our impact is on our lobster populations so that they can make sure the take is sustainable. Personally I would have no problem with the limit going down to 5 per person.

Marcus,

The California commercial lobster fleet takes close to 400 METRIC TONS of Spiny Lobster from the California coast each year. That is a friggin' lot of Lobsters...and most are exported to other countries. They are allowed to leave their baited traps in the water, during lobster season, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, in non-prohibited areas....of course.

The average recreational hooper only hoops for a couple hours, then has to remove their gear from the water. If they know where to go and get lucky, they may get a couple Lobsters or maybe even limits.

The recreational hooping for Lobster along the California coast has obviously increased....thanks to the Internet, but the recreational take of Lobster in California is just a small percentage of what it killed by the commercial fleet.

The DFG obviously monitors this website and many others, and has come the the conclusion that it is time to finally try and collect, somewhat accurate data, on how many Lobsters are being taken by recreational anglers, since they have already been requiring the commercial Lobster fleet to provide them this data for many decades.

If the Spiny Lobster population in California was in any danger, the DFG would've already shortened the season or implimented a quota on how many TONS of Lobsters the commercial fleet could take.

It is always easier for the DFG to shut down/reduce the take limit on recreational anglers than the commercial fleet.

Plain and simple, there would be no DFG Lobster report card if there would've never been any Lobster reports on the Internet. I can't blame anyone but myself.

**Marcus** · Jan-06-2008, 02:01 AM

I definitely agree with you Vince. The commercial take is sustainable but obscene in my eyes in the fact that most of it gets shipped overseas. I have some great dive spots that you can do well on before the commercial opener and then you won't see a legal bug again for the rest of the season.

I think that the DFG wants to be able to monitor the recreational anglers better. If you look at who breaks or bends the rules more on this species it is going to be the recreational guys way more than the commercials.

I've seen way too many short and over limits in my time to trust all recreational anglers.

Jan-06-2008, 03:47 AM

The dfg needs to start taking a closer look at the commercial guys and how much they are actually taking. Reporting can only work if the fisherman involved is honest about what they are actually taking. It would be nice to see the dfg crank down a little harder on the big guys that are hauling tons and tons of gear. Maybe make more unannounced visits to the commercial docks and fish processors. How about some more on the water stops and data collection. I certainly wouldn't mind paying more to catch lobster if the money went towards more wardens that could effectively monitor the commercial take in addition to the recreational catch.