‘Tis the Season for Saltwater “Bugs” – California Spiny Lobster Season Opens Soon

Spiny lobster den surrounded by sea urchins. CDFW photo by D. Stein

Hoop nets may be used by those fishing for lobster recreationally. CDFW photo by D. Stein

Measuring a spiny lobster carapace to determine whether it meets the minimum recreational size requirement. CDFW photo by D. Stein

Happy Autumn! For many of us, that means apple picking and pumpkin spice… everything! For both recreational and commercial fishermen along California’s southern coast, it signifies the start of spiny lobster fishing season.

New Recreational Grunion Regulations Starting June 1

Grunion run. CDFW photo

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife would like to inform all who fish for or collect California grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) that the California Fish and Game Commission has recently adopted new grunion sport fishing regulations.

CDFW to Lift Fisheries Closure Implemented Due to Southern California Oil Spill

Fishermen and scientists gathered samples of marine life along the coast to determine impacts from the Southern California oil spill.
photo by A. Cooney, U.S. Coast Guard

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has determined that there is no further risk to public health related to seafood consumption in the Southern California area affected by an Oct. 2021 oil spill. As a result, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will lift the fisheries closure related to the Pipeline P00547 Incident at noon on Tuesday November 30, 2021.

To ensure a safe and orderly reopening, no attempt to take fish or invertebrates, including the placement of baited traps or hoop nets in the fishery closure zone, may be made prior to the noon opener.  More information will be posted on the response website (https://socalspillresponse.com/fisheries-closure/). In addition,

Southern California Fisheries Closure Implemented Due to Oil Spill

Crude oil is shown in the Pacific Ocean offshore of Orange County, Oct. 3, 2021. A unified command has been established to respond to and clean up the oil spill off the California coast. Official U.S. Coast Guard photo

Notification from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Take of all fish and shellfish is immediately prohibited from Huntington Beach to Dana Point, including the shorelines and offshore areas and all bays due to an oil spill in Southern California.

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.”