California recreational spiny lobster season opened Oct. 2 through March 17

Hoop-netters and divers are into the new California spiny lobster season. The Department of Fish and Wildlife says the 2026–27 recreational season opened at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, and stays open through Wednesday, March 17.

Anyone hoop-netting or diving for lobster must carry a physical Spiny Lobster Report Card while fishing or taking lobster and fill in a row for each date, location, and gear type used. All report-card data must go to CDFW by April 30 — even if you did not fish or did not catch a lobster. Those cards feed location-based effort, catch, and gear tracking for the recreational fishery.

CDFW also released its first annual recreational lobster newsletter covering 2025–26 harvest by gear and area, size-limit measuring tips, enforcement reminders, and key dates. Check the recreational lobster page for current bag and size rules before night sets.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: CDFW Marine Management News — 2026–2027 recreational spiny lobster newsletter (Sept. 4, 2026).