By Paul Lebowitz

After the bumper-boat frenzy of California’s annual spiny lobster season opener is safely past, the catching has only commenced. In 2006-07, fresh lobster went on the menu on March 21. It's closed now, but October isn't far off. For the rest of the rules, refer to the DFG’s sportfishing regulations.

When there’s at least some elbow room at the obvious lobster haunts – the harbor breakwaters from Santa Barbara to San Diego – it’s a nice time for an evening paddle. Our fall nights are often peaceful. The breeze dies away as the sun sinks below the horizon, the water calms, and the city lights, the moon and stars reflect off the still surface. It’s beautiful out there, and potentially rewarding to those who carry along a set of hoop nets for hunting lobster.

The kayak is an underrated craft for chasing the delicious ‘bugs.’ “How’s that?” you might well wonder. It’s small, slow, wet, and wobbly.

When it comes to working with hoop nets, the only legal means to take lobsters without going into the drink yourself, the first two characteristics are assets. Let’s consider why before contemplating the other two charges.

Lobsters can easily escape from an open-topped hoop net. A flick of the tail and they’re gone. The trick is keeping them in there.

That’s why pulling a net straight up is so important. If the net is retrieved at an angle, lobsters can jet off the lowered edge. But it’s not so simple. There’s almost always an angle to overcome, because the buoy that floats the main line drifts down-current. Jostle the net while you’re trying to get the line directly overhead and it’s bye-bye lobster dinner.

That’s where small and slow come in. That small kayak is highly maneuverable. Put it down-current of the buoy, give the paddle a couple of strokes; the kayak will glide right over the top of the net. It’s easy to gently pick up the buoy as it slides by and then pull the net smoothly to the surface once the line comes vertical.

TUG-A-BUG – Kayaks are excellent craft for lobster hoop netting. Rigging for the task is easy. Simply add a few lights and some net storage and then you too might find yourself with a big bug for the pot. PHOTO COURTESY JIM SALAZAR

BUGGY NIGHTS AHEAD – California’s spiny lobster season opened on Sept. 30. The possibility of catching some of the delicious treats is ample excuse for an evening paddle. PHOTO COURTESY JIM SALAZAR

The steady, straight-up pull will pin the lobsters in place.  If you’re out solo, it’s a task most easily accomplished from a kayak.

On weekends many popular lobstering spots turn into an obstacle course of prop-snagging lines. A small, paddle-powered kayak slips right through the maze.

What about the wet and wobbly part?

Of course a kayak is wet. Combat the chill by dressing appropriately in paddlewear or a wetsuit, bringing a warm hat, and dressing in layers.

As for wobbly, the answer is no, not with the right tool for the job. Wider, shorter kayaks featuring enhanced stability and high cargo capacities shine for lobster hooping. The new Ocean Kayak Prowler Big Game, the tried and true Cobra Fish N Dive XF, and the Malibu X-Factor are good examples. Tandems that are also designed to be used single-handed also work well, such as the OK Malibu II XL. In fact, in the hands of an experienced kayaker, all but the narrowest boats suffice. If your everyday ride is a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160i, OK Prowler 15, Cobra Marauder or Hobie Quest, give it a try.   

Rigging for Lobster
Space on a kayak’s deck is at a premium. Thoughtful rigging for the task at hand is a must. The main concern is how to handle the bulky hoop nets.

First of all, it’s wise to rig and bait the hoops before setting off. All lines should be neatly coiled, allowing the hoops to be stacked without causing a frustrating tangle. Then they’ll be ready to set and soak while you enjoy the sunset light show.

Storing the nets up on the bow or at the front of cockpit works for kayakers who use sheltered launches. It’s convenient; the nets can be worked right from the cockpit. The rigging is simple. Just add a strap or tie-down or two to secure the nets during transit.

Surf launches are another story. Hazarding the waves at night is not for the faint-hearted, but it’s a good way to access untapped shallow water reefs. Batten down the hatches, and take extra care when stowing the nets. Anything larger than an ankle-slapper could knock the hoops into the drink. Worse, instead of bugs the nets could catch you, the paddler. Storing the nets on the stern shields them from the full force of the waves. Some regular surf-launchers take the extra step of building a net storage rack.    

Remove or cover unnecessary accessories likely to snag in the net mesh. But keep that fishfinder in place. It will help find good spots to set the nets: flat bottoms near structure and no deeper than 5 to 10 feet less than the length of your main line.  

The next rigging consideration is lighting. Boaters have a hard time spotting kayaks in the light of day. At night, it’s worse. For safety’s sake, you want to glow like a Christmas tree, or better yet, illuminate yourself like the walls of Fort Knox. Chemical light sticks attached to the bow and stern work as marker lights in a pinch. More effective options are available from boating accessories manufacturer Scotty, which produces a full line of lighting products suitable for kayak use. Of course, a headlamp is de rigueur for hands-free task lighting, which brings us to checking the goodies that come up in the nets.

Trick or Treat
Hauling occupied nets is hard work. It’s tempting to swing a heavy net right onto the kayak. Always stop and take a look first. The baited hoops catch a lot more than lobsters. Some of the incidental catches can put the hurt on, such as sting rays, small sharks, and moray eels. Angry, snapping eels are impossible to overlook, but also watch out for the tiny sculpin that sometimes stick to the mesh. It doesn’t take more than a scrap of kelp to hide the painfully spiky creatures, so be careful when you sort through the catch. Here’s to hooping up more tricks than treats this Halloween season.