Nearly 200 divers seek Laguna lobster

During the opening weekend of spiny lobster season, Sept. 29-30, Laguna Beach Marine Protection officers had their hands full with divers seeking to be the first to bag the tasty crustaceans in night dives. Lobster season continues to March 8.

A Marine Protection officer and Marine Safety officer made contact with 172 divers in the waters from Crescent Bay to Three Arch Bay on opening weekend, according to City Manager Ken Frank.

The officers worked night shifts that Saturday and Sunday to ensure compliance with fish and game laws, Frank stated in a weekly memo to the City Council.

Five citations were issued to divers, primarily for illegally taking short lobster, according to Frank. However, one diver was cited for three separate infractions, including an over -the legal-limit take for lobster and for possessing short lobster from the Heisler Park Marine Protected Area.

Under state Dept. of Fish and Game rules, lobsters may be taken only by persons 16 and older with a valid fishing license. There is a daily limit of seven lobsters per person, and they may be taken by hand only. In addition, lobsters must be a minimum of 3 1/4 inches in length from the eye socket to the rear edge of the shell in order to be removed from the ocean. For more information, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations or www.dfg.ca.gov/marine.