Written by the Lost Anchovy
This week moomoo Outdoors and I take our first road trip down to southern California to hoop spiny lobster in Redando beach.
Spiny lobster are a delicacy for the warm water residents. The season in California is limited and strictly regulated by the CDFW(California Department of Fish and Wildlife). A spiny lobster card, gauge and a valid California Fishing license is a minimum requirement to garget this species.
Regulations for the California Spiny Lobster is here.
Description and Background
Although they superficially resemble true lobsters in terms of overall shape and having a hard carapace and exoskeleton, the two groups are not closely related. Spiny lobsters can be easily distinguished from true lobsters by their very long, thick, spiny antennae, by the lack of chelae (claws) on the first four pairs of walking legs, although the females of most species have a small claw on the fifth pair,[6] and by a particularly specialized larval phase called phyllosoma. True lobsters have much smaller antennae and claws on the first three pairs of legs, with the first being particularly enlarged.
Spiny lobsters have typically a slightly compressed carapace, lacking any lateral ridges. Their antennae lack a scaphocerite, the flattened exopod of the antenna. This is fused to the epistome (a plate between the labrum and the basis of the antenna). The flagellum, at the top of the antenna, is stout, tapering, and very long. The ambulatory legs (pereopods) end in claws (chelae).[7]
Reference:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiny_lobster
Spiny lobster can often be found in and around harbors and breakwaters in Southern California. They normally hide during the day to escape predators and come out during the evening to look for feed.
Hooping has become an increasing popular method to take spiny lobster over the past few years with the emergence of kayak fishing.
Moomoo Outdoors Kayak Spiny Lobster
TLA Adventures in Spiny Lobsters
Deep Fried Spiny Lobster Noodles
Whatever makes you enjoy the outdoors take the time to go out and enjoy this magnificent resource. We are lucky to have a variety of species roaming through out our coast line. Until next time, good luck and tight lines lines –TLA