Lobster Hunting

There are others far better than I to answer this. But in my limited experience:

During the day, they stash themselves in caves and holes - usually an inch or two farther back than I can reach! :vangry I have had success, if I can get a hold on their "knuckles" (the hard part at the base of their antennae), and shake them vigorously - this disorients them and they loose their grip on the sides of the hole.

At night, they come out into the open. Then, I've had success by holding my light (with a gauge on the end) out to one side, and nabbing them with my free hand (except for a couple which needed two hands, they really didn't require a gauge ) I've also found them hanging out in the eel grass, same method applies.

As I said, I am not that good at getting lobster, and I am looking forward to reading the others' advice.

Rick

Everything lockedin said is correct. I am not a great lobster hunter but this is my take...

First make sure there are no morray eels coinhabiting their cave. Theres a really big lobster at Fishermans cove way out there that lives with a huge freggin morray eel >6ft. So watch yourself.

Its best to use a buddy to guard the back of the hole if there is one. Sometimes if you almost grab them they will shoot out the back and into your buddies hands. Another tip i use is to use my fin and kick some sand and current into their hole, i have had luck with this sometimes they come out and try to find a new hole. Other than that diving where there is no grass makes it easier to spot them, loose floating strands of grass look to me like antennae.

I look for antennae. When i see some i signal my dive buddy, and point to where he is. Its his responsibility to either watch from the surface or come down behind the rock. Then, i set on the surface and try to see if the lobster has a morray eel buddy. If i cant see any dangers I come down from directly above and try and grab as close to the head as possible (Its kind of a fast dive bomb and you grab hard to hold him in place and take the impact of your fall) If they are out in the open i really hit hard, no ear equalization for the last 8 feet, just full speed and two hands. Make sure to try not to touch the antennae while grabbing them for it will spook them and they will shoot back into the cave/crevice to be lost for the day. Last week i saw a large one and shot my hand in his cave all the way up to my armpit (you go by touch at that point). I had the antennae and i was wrestling around and whamo i got to keep the antenna

My dive buddy is totally different he comes down slowly and really does a dance with the lobster moving left then right. Then pounces and never lets go. And honestly this season he is doing far better.

Another arguable tactic is to look around lobster traps and hoop nets. Lobsters are attracted by the bait and will be looking for the goodies, and as long as they arent in the traps they are mine. But if fishermen see you near their traps you are gonna be accused of raiding them.

I have heard of people cutting them into steaks and grilling them to render out the fat. Im not sure if they are legal to kill here in Cali. I think they might be but i cant find any mention of them in my CF&G stuff.

As for morray eels danger. Search youtube you will find one vid where the morray eel latches onto some poor (rather stupid) divers thumb and snaps it off. Also, i hear that if they get a good grip on you you cant pull them out of their hole so you can drown if you are freediving. Im sure there are people far better off commenting on morray eels than i am.

Take a look at the Eel hunting thread(s?). There is a lot of info about hunting and catching eels, mostly Congers, but I think most of the info applies to morays as well. The main differences seem to be size (Congers get HUGE), and teeth (Morays actually have a pharyngal jaw!)

http://forums.deeperblue.net/reef/37184-eel-hunting.html

Rick