California spiny lobster is back on the menu. Anyone with the scratch can buy the tasty treats. Southern Californians are luckier; we can catch our own by hand or hoop net.
Via kayak? Why not? Although power boaters claim much of the non-dive recreational catch, kayak anglers can get into the hunt for red gold. As long as you’re not put off by darkness or creeped out by some of the less desirable critters that you’re sure to encounter, you’ll find the kayak an effective lobster hunting platform.
Kayakers enjoy several advantages when it comes to playing with hoop nets, the only way to catch these things short of holding your breath or breathing canned air. There’s no prop to foul the ropes. Working danger close to rocks and in the shallows isn’t as hazardous. There’s also the stealth card.
Ready to hunt? Keep these tips in mind as you seek out your own ‘buggy’ bounty.
Think Bonus Bait
You can’t have too much bait. Whether you use a built-in bait pouch or go with a wire bait cage, stuff it full. Lobsters need something to chew or they won’t stick around. Oily fish such as sardines, bonito, and tuna are favorites. Score the bait, then drop your hoops up current of nearby structure. Pro tip: in a pinch, try chicken thighs.
Hold the stink, not your nose. Lobsters respond well to fresh-dead or frozen bait. There’s no need to ripen it until it develops an eye-watering stench.
If thieving sea lions are tearing up your mesh bait pockets, switch over to wire bait cages. As a side benefit, their added weight will cause the nets to fall faster, and once they’re on the bottom, helps keep them there.
Pull Smarter
Want to land more lobsters? Sneak up on them. When it’s time to retrieve the net, gently pick up the main line, carefully bring in the slack until you are directly above the net, and then smoothly pull it to the surface without stopping or hesitating.
The pull is critical. If you bump the net around or send vibrations down the line, the lobsters will do what’s natural – bug out. A flip of the tail and they’re history.
Never pause when you’re pulling. Get that thing up to the surface, stat. Hitting the pause button causes traditional nets to flatten like a pizza, prompting lobster jailbreaks.
Straight is great. When a net is pulled at an angle, one edge will be tilted low. Again, it’s a ticket to lobster freedom. Exception: conical nets are much more forgiving of angled pulls. That’s particularly important when working deeper water.
Bracket Like in Battleship
You can only catch lobsters if you drop your nets around feeding bugs. During the day they hole up in rocky structure, so you need to start somewhere close.
Harbor break walls are the most obvious bug condos, drawing plenty of attention from others hoping for a buttery feast. They aren’t the only options. While out fishing, keep an eye on your sonar. If you find good-looking submerged structure, mark it on your GPS and prospect there later.
Determining where to set nets is tricky. To work properly, hoop nets must sit relatively flat and level. They are prone to snag if dropped directly on rocks. Eels are another indication. If you pull one of those (always angry – dump that grump!), you need to give it more space.
Until you find the hot zone, mix it up. Drop some nets closer and others farther out. Allow 50 to 100 feet between nets. Keep moving until you find the lobster. Then relocate unproductive nets into the crawl zone.
Lobsters are light shy. If you’re not getting bugs, search out darker zones. Dim your own lights (the Coast Guard requires kayakers carry them). Going all dark compromises safety.
