Creature Feature: Giant Rock Scallop

The giant rock scallop may be found statewide from the lower intertidal area to depths of around 147 ft. They typically inhabit offshore reefs, although concrete pier pilings and rock jetty entrances to bays in southern California have also become favorite habitats.

Lobster Report Cards Due Soon – Your Data Informs Lobster Fishery Management

During the day, spiny lobsters bide their time in dens, often accompanied by other creatures, such as eels, urchins, or fellow lobsters. CDFW photo by D. Stein

Spiny lobster surrounded by brittle stars and a red sea urchin. CDFW/MARE photo

Did you dive or hoop net for spiny lobster last season? How many lobsters did you catch?

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds lobster report card holders that report cards are due by April 30, 2024. The lobster report card is the official way for you to report your lobster fishing activity and is required to be submitted even if you didn’t fish for lobster, or didn’t catch any legal-sized keepers. Reporting zero lobsters caught on your report card is just as important as reporting successful trips.

Help Develop California’s Red Abalone Recovery Plan: Join the Community Working Group

Red abalone beneath a rocky ledge. CDFW photo by C. Juhasz

Red abalone at Schooner Gulch. CDFW photo by C. Juhasz

 

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking individuals to join the Red Abalone Recovery Plan Community Working Group. Applications for serving on the Community Working Group must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024.

California Saltwater Angling and Diving Records Program

Larry Laumann holding a trophy-size California corbina that he speared while diving.
photo by L. Laumann

Have you ever caught or speared a fish so large, you thought it might be a State record? Larry Laumann thought just that when he speared this 6.3 pound trophy-size California corbina near San Diego on the Fourth of July. Unfortunately, he checked the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Fishing and Diving Records web page after he had filleted the fish and without getting an official weight from a certified scale, disqualifying him from the new record. While Larry certainly has bragging rights, the old record for California corbina still stands at 5 pounds 15 ounces.

CDFW maintains a list of state fishing and diving records for various species. The next time you land “the big one”, check CDFW’s Fishing and Diving Records web page to see if your species is listed for either “Ocean Angling” or “Ocean Diving” under the “Fishing Type” category, depending on the method of fishing you used. Note that only the species listed can qualify for a record, other species are not accepted.

Exploring California’s Marine Protected Areas: Begg Rock State Marine Reserve

Young rockfish over a reef covered with anemones, divers in the background. photo © Roger Carlson

Young rockfish at Begg Rock. photo © Chris Grossman, diver.net

Rock scallop amid aggregating anemones. photo © Roger Carlson

Cormorants roost atop Begg Rock. photo © Chris Grossman, diver.net

Begg Rock, a small pinnacle jutting up around 15 feet from the ocean’s surface, may not look like much to the passing eye, but below the surface its marine life is abundant. Located about eight miles northwest of San Nicolas Island and nearly 60 miles from the Southern California mainland, it is by definition “remote.”