Almost time for a bug hunt

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy.

October is here, which signals the approach of the local lobster

season. I cannot wait to savor the local lobster. I have heard from

my sources that this should be a good year, especially at the

backside of Catalina Island.

Boaters need to be alert at the jetty entrance as the lobster pots

will extend out from both the east and west jetties. Each pot has a

floating buoy attached by a line, and there is the potential of

wrapping your prop in the line. My suggestion, especially in the dark

and fog, is to take a straight course between the line of demarcation

at the tips of the jetty and the offshore red and white vertically

stripped “NWP” buoy.

Now, while you are hunting lobster (also called bugs) this season,

remember to take only what you will consume, and know the local

regulations. Lobster hunting is regulated by California state law,

and as such, each diver or each swimmer, if you can hold your breath

for a long time, is required to have 2003 California sportfishing

license with the ocean enhancement stamp.

The 2003 Recreational Ocean Fishing Regulations under section

hursday29.90 for spiny lobsters state:

(a) Open season: From the Saturday preceding the first Wednesday

in October through the first Wednesday after the 15th of March.

(b) Limit: Seven. 7.

(c) Minimum size: Three and one-fourth inches measured in a

straight line on the midline of the back from the rear edge of the

eye socket to the rear edge of the body shell. Any lobster may be

brought to the surface of the water for the purpose of measuring, but

no undersize lobster may be brought aboard any boat, placed in any

type of receiver, kept on the person or retained in any person’s

possession or under his direct control; all lobsters shall be

measured immediately upon being brought to the surface of the water,

and any undersize lobster shall be released immediately into the

water.

You can view online all the fishing regulations at

https://www.dfg.ca.gov/fg_ comm/fishregs.html or pick up a booklet at

any tackle store.

Be sure to catch a few extra bugs for me.

*

Also, you may have noticed a few more recent navigational hazards

but a welcomed temporary addition to our harbor -- the tugs, barges

and dredging equipment. You will need to avoid the huge barge moored

in the main channel near Harbor Island. This barge is held in

position by two large floating mooring cans that boaters need to

remember when the barge is out.

I understand the main entrance channel will be dredged. The safety

of boaters will increase once the entrance sand bar is dredged.

Tom Rossmiller, the city’s harbor resources manager, in an e-mail

advises that “when the tug is in transit from the harbor to the beach

with its load of sand, there is a cable that connects the two

vessels, and all boats should stand clear of the vessels and the

cable.”

To add to Tom’s advice, when a tug and tow enters the ocean and if

the waters are rough, the tow line can be considerably lengthened.

You will not be able to see the tow line, as it will hang under the

water surface. As a warning, many tug skippers at night will shine a

spotlight aft along the towline to the barge. You can hail the tugs

on channel 13 and 16 to request passing information.

For more information on the dredging, call the city of Newport

Beach’s Harbor Resources Division at (949) 644-3034.

*

Tip for the week: Have you checked your zincs for electrolysis and

hot spots? The zincs are the sacrificial anodes that will help slow

down, not prevent, electrolysis aboard your boat.

Make sure that the zincs are still in a usefulness stage and that

all bonding and grounding wires are properly attached making a good

electrical conduction throughout the boat. Too many times, I have

noticed the effects of electrolysis and found a bad zinc, or a bad

connection, or no connection at all.

Lastly, the countdown is only nine more days until my boating

radio show is on the air.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to [email protected] or visit https://www.boathousetv.com.