In Reply to: 18-Pound Spiny Lobster Caught off of Huntington Beach posted by on December 11, 2013 at 05:38:45:

My personal best California lobster was 17 pounds and about 4+ ounces which was the weight after returning from a dive at the islands, with the dehydration of the trip probably was close to 18 pounds. Even when captured almost 50 years ago it was unique among the lobster population of that era because of it's size.

I mounted it on a 4 foot diameter board for display. Over the years has been on displayed in several dive shops; first in the Aquatic center in Newport beach when owned by Omar Wood and Ron Merker for about 20 years and most recently it has been displayed for a number of years, way high on the wall at Depth Perceptions in San Luis Obispo own by Chuck Rawlinson.

Interesting fact about our local lobsters is that they grow in length and size and at an unknown point stop growing in length at which time the carapace begins increasing in width as though they become fat with age,

The lobster as displayed does not appear to be 18 pounds, more like 7 to 8 pounds.

Does any one know who this joker is who captured this lobster? Or who was duped into writing the article?

SDM