Lobster Hoop Nets DFG meeting

[Bigfish69]

Originally Posted by tuna taxi

YES, SIR.....I AM!!!! I'm getting ready to pull all my gear out of hibernation very, very soon.

George>>>>Allready started repairs on mine but still have some more holes to patch. I am hoping to be in your area this season at some point. Maybe i'll see ya then.

Lobzilla>>>to answer your question, yes, yes and yes. It is still pretty rare to pick up one that big, and most of the time we do let them go. we allways let the females go.

Buggin is more than catching to me, i enjoy the hunt like most people.

Good luck outhere.

69R

[sam1963]

Originally Posted by plj46

well maybe you should not dive where people are legally fishing,i have had plenty of divers get in on top of my gear after i set up thats their problem if they get hurt,i dont fish the jetties anymore because of the lack of respect toward others from divers and hoopers

I've been beach diving the Orange county area for twenty five years and up to five years ago maybe one or two boats in site.

And now Laguna at night looks like the HB flats when the bass are biting. You should have seen the lobster opening day five years ago. A few divers here and there, a few boats here and there. Sweet. Now the coast looks like the Newport Harbor Christmas parade all through lobster season. And in my opinion, the regulations need to change to accommodate all the newcomers too.

Starting with you guys being asked to set your net/traps out past where the beach divers are partaking. You don't want me zig zagging through your net pattern, and I don't want to be dodging boats and the dropping of anchors and hoop's

And the method of take should also be reconsiderd concerning all the new participants to the resource. Considering that the current regulations were designed for the divers and the very few hoopers of the era.

I applaude the DFG for their proactive implementation of the punch cards and their desire to keep the lobsters from going the way of the abalone and the black sea bass.

Good luck October 3rd.

[Thozguys]

I have said my peace so I will not re-iterate it again. This is anther example of "Absolute power corrupts absolutely", just like the MPLA process, we have no say in what will happen. It has already been pre-determined. The data is flawed, the process is flawed and the fishery needs to be managed without any outside intervention from any party. This includes recreational and commercial representatives who will utilize unbiased data without any personal involvement to any fishery. These representatives should represent both the enironmental and financial impacts associated to the outcome of their decision. Has this ever happened in the past?

When considering differences of a trap or not a trap, please think in the 3 deminsional world the prey exists, not the 2 deminsional world we react to. Lobsters swim, always have, always will. Crawling is only one part of their life. The argument that when a lobster crawls into a "trap" they can not crawl out does not matter, as they can always swim out. How would I know this, I have watched time and time again. Yes, I am both a diver and a fisherman. My checkout dive was with a double hose regulator, check out when were used if you need a time referencs. Divers and hoopnetters need to get along. We impact each other. Most divers are arrogant because they see things the fisherman can't, but this same arrogance does not make them superior. Fisherman see things that divers cant because of their arrogance.

The main issue here is the added preasure from all the new people that have started both diving and hoopnetting. Do we need a maximum size limit, yes, but I believe it should be self imposed just like any good custodian of our envirnomet should adhere to.

The real issue here is, unknown data is unknown data, our government agencies are known to keep this this data confidential. I am in favor of all data gathered in any subject to be published for external validation. After all, each us has paid for it through our licensing fees and tags. Why can we not see this data? Its a simple answer, Fear. Fear that they did not follow a thorough process. Everything evolves or changes, changes need to be taken into account when determining regulations. Regulations need to increase and decrease as the data, which has been validated, depicts these changes. The process to increase and/or decrease needs to be a dynamic and repeatable process, not something that is re-invented on a whim. If the DFG want to make a change, the ownership is upon them to show why, and publish all data and processes used to determine these changes. Otherwise, we are all sheep standing in a corral, waiting to be lead up the ramp, to each our's own heaven.

My disertation is finished, time to move on..

[rojodiablo]

Originally Posted by lobzila

My old college Marine Biology professor told me a long time ago, that the top ten precent (size wise) lobsters both male and female, are responsible for 90% of the next years spawn. He is one of the most knowledgealble watermen I ever met. He got his doctorate degree by studying the Kelp forest eco system.
Yet very few would on here would let a bug like that go. I have taken large lobsters in the past, but not since my college days. Over five pounds and I let them go. I just wish people would treat them like large Calicos, growth and reproduction rate is about the same. Bring them back to the boat all you want and take there picture but please let them go!
Slot limits would help more then gear restrictions, but the gear definately needs to be clarified.
Think of the conical nets as a road with a guard rail, sure if the contions are right, you are going right through it, but mostly you will bounce back on to the road when you hit one. Just my opinion.

The really big make bugs are kinda menopausal. Their days are done, and though not totally sterile, they are not nearly as vital to the health of lobster as a healthy 3lb male. Ask anyone who had caught a lot of large males- do they see the big ones kick out sperm packets? I bet the answer is NO. Bugs from legal up to 6lb, yes. 8lb, 10lb bugs???Haven't seen one yet. And I have now 10 over 10lb., maybe 20 more between 7 and 10lb.
Kinda taste like a big lobster when you eat them; great, just lots more of it!!!

[sam1963]

Anybody remember Puerto Nuevo Mexico and what it was back in the day and how it is now? Yes, the lobsters can and do get overfished and no, the Mexicans did not get a new school of them. Lobsters don't migrate like tuna.

[rivertake]

Rob (thozguys)
Gary (Deser s10)

Great posts!

Please don't misinterpet my sarcasm for hatred towards America and or our government.

I love this country and the principals our founding father's wrote our constitution and bill of rights with.

"land of the free and home of the brave". Together, lets keep it that way! Freedom is never free, it has a cost, the battle will never end.

In this matter regarding "proposed" gear code changes and other fishing matters, the DFG has the power to act like a gestapo ( I had to look up the spelling) organization.

Lobster report card data is flawed and inconclusive! Biased DFG recording of 2,700 repord card #'s does not justify for gear code changes at this time. The process to determine if lobster population is in danger and or wether conicals are a "trap", can not possibly be in any way determined by the process being utilized.

To illustrate my point about the DFG being biased read Ed Zieralski's report in Saturday's edition of the San Diego union sports page.

From day one when promar along with Jim Salazar brought the DFG the new conical design,,, DFG said it was illegal. It is their agenda to eliminate the conical hoop. And they have devised a method to make sure of it's iminent demise.

By definition to be trapped, you have no means of escape.

Other definitions the DFG manipulates,

Defiinition of a fish-"fish" means wild fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, or amphibians, including any part, spawn, or ova thereof.
(since when have biologist taught in any major university in this country that a lobster (crustacean) is a fish?

Definition of sell "sell" includes offor or possess for sale, barter, exchange, or trade.
As defined by dictionary. Sell has to include money
As defined by dictionary. Barter is item for item and cannot involve money. The two contradict one another and yet for DFG they are one in the same.

BUT I DIGRESS,


Bottom line is just because there are more people fishing and some hoops may or may not outfish others all based on speculation and hearsay does not guarantee that the lobster population is in imminent danger.

This process needs to be determined by non biased methodology that is thorough and accurate.


If after an accurate assesment of either is concluded and changes are required,,,,, I AM DOWN WITH THAT!!!!!!!

To me a limit reduction and max size restriction implemented makes a hell of a lot more sense,,,, but again that is just speculation and common sense reasoning. Like I have said over and over I will catch the same number conical or flat.

Later, Dave

[tailsurfer]

Well where ever this goes I'm getting certified next year. As long as the limit stays at 7, I'll manage.

[lobzila]

Originally Posted by rojodiablo

The really big make bugs are kinda menopausal. Their days are done, and though not totally sterile, they are not nearly as vital to the health of lobster as a healthy 3lb male. Ask anyone who had caught a lot of large males- do they see the big ones kick out sperm packets? I bet the answer is NO. Bugs from legal up to 6lb, yes. 8lb, 10lb bugs???Haven't seen one yet. And I have now 10 over 10lb., maybe 20 more between 7 and 10lb.
Kinda taste like a big lobster when you eat them; great, just lots more of it!!!

Paul,
I respect your opinion, but the man did have a doctorate degree from USC based on his work in the Kelp Forest Ecosystem, if you can convince him, its a done deal. I have caught three or four myself in the ten pound range and have noticed a lack of sperm packets as well. Just kind of attributed it not being breeding season.
I have come across a lobster trail of males chasing a female and low and behold there was a ten pounder at the front of the line, with sperm packets hanging all over it. Maybe I just ran across the Johnny Wadd of lobsters that night, I don't know. He was the last ten pounder I have caught. I have seen several that I could not get close enough to catch, but every diver has seen large bugs that know that light means trouble.
I do whole heartedly agree with you on taste of a larger lobster, If it tastes bad, it's because you cooked it wrong!

[WhalerGuy]

I'm pissed they are going to make the change a week or two before the season starts. Come on! Make the changes for the 2010-2011 season.

[tailsurfer]

Ya. Does DFG specify exactly when the changes will be put into effect? October third is pretty damn close... or will they become effective Jan. 1 or next season?

[bigeye2k]

Just use the flat style new with a huge float and about 3 pounds of weight on the bottom ring. Top will float but not the bottom.

[Bigfish69]

Its going into effect next season,,,no worries this round!

69R