In Reply to: “Blessed lobster divers” posted by Andy S on April 08, 2006 at 08:42:59:

I would tend to agree with the numbers supplied by the commercial
lobsterer. However, I think the location where lobsters are
taken is just as much a factor as it does the frequency at which
they are hunted.

In the past 10 years or so I have seen on the reef, and
witnessed MANY other divers take in "error", lobsters with packed
tails. While I have seen it less than 8 to 10 times around
Catalina, at SBI and Cotrez Banks is became almost expected.

The most holding lobsters I have ever seen was three seasons ago
on opening weekend. At one spot at Cortez where we always do well
(not the cement wreck) almost every of the 34 divers on board
came back with at least one holding female. We try to enlighten
divers who took the holding bugs as to the reasons why it's not
a good idea, but we always get those who don't care wipe away
the eggs from the female tail just before putting them into the
live well. It's irresponsible and sad, but it does happen.

Although I do not believe it is illegal to take keep legal sized
female lobsters that are holding, I am a firm believer that
these females be placed back onto the reef and kept, or even
taken to the surface. Those thousands of eggs they are holding
carry the lobster population for the next 4 to 10 years with
them.

I for one want to still find lobster 4 to 10 years from now.

• Re: Re: “Blessed lobster divers” tleemay 11:59:19 04/08/06 (0)