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.

Spiny Lobster Report Cards Due by April 30

California spiny lobster and red sea urchins
CDFW photo by D. Stein

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds 2020-2021 spiny lobster report card holders to mail their cards or submit them online by April 30, 2021, as required by regulations.

Getting the Right Licenses, Validations, and Report Cards for Saltwater Sport Fishing

Buying a sport fishing license from CDFW at a sport fishing show in 2014.
CDFW photo by C. Wilson

At the massive Fred Hall sport fishing shows in Long Beach and San Diego this coming March, you’ll see a dizzying array of saltwater fishing gear and tackle. From custom, hand-made rods to heavy metal jigs, to realistic, deep-diving plugs, these shows have the gear for just about any fishing adventure imaginable. One very important item for most people, no matter what kind of fish, lobster, clam, or crab they plan to chase, is a state sport fishing license.

Spiny Lobster Report Cards Due by April 30, 2019

California spiny lobster
illustration by J. Hofmeister

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds 2018-2019 Spiny Lobster Report Card holders to submit their harvest report online or return their cards by April 30, 2019, as required by law. Information collected from the cards provides CDFW with data necessary to monitor and manage California’s spiny lobster fishery. CDFW generates estimates of recreational spiny lobster catch and effort based on data collected from lobster report cards each season.

2019 Recreational and Commercial Fishing Regulations Available for Download

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW’s) annual Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet and Commercial Fishing Regulations Digest are now available on the CDFW website.

Ocean Sport Fishing
With the 2019 sport saltwater fishing season taking off, it’s a good time to grab the annual Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet and review ocean fishing regulations. There have been a few changes, so recreational anglers will want to take note.