At 9:30 on Monday night, September 29, 26-year old spearfisherman Brendan Dirks was diving with friends at the Dana Point headlands when he spotted a huge lobster – a lobster he’d seen many times before. After an intense wrestling match that resulted in torn hands and wetsuit, the monster bug (named “Larry” by Brendan and his friends) was finally brought to shore.
Larry the lobster weighed in at 15 pounds, 9 ounces, just a few ounces shy of California’s sport diving record of 16 pounds, one ounce. That record lobster was taken back in February 1968 off Catalina Island – 46 years ago.
Instead of inviting a bunch of friends over and cooking up Larry the Lobster, Brendan decided to bring him (alive) to Dana Point’s Ocean Institute instead. After finding out the Institute already had several large lobster in their collection, and after being encouraged by the Institute to return it to the wild, Brendan did just that, and took Larry back to the ocean and released him on October 1st.
“Hopefully if another diver of fisherman ends up catching him, he’ll have the same respect and let him go,” Brendan said.
Male California Spiny Lobster reach sexual maturity after about 3-6 years, and both males and females are thought to live 50 years or more. They prefer rocky substrates and can be found as deep as 240 feet, particularly in winter, perhaps to avoid the effects of winter storms. Sport fishing accounts for up to half of the entire catch annually, while most of the commercial catch comes from commercial fishing using lobster traps.
(Due to copyright issues, we cannot publish the photo of the monster bug, but please click here to see it at OCRegister.com)
LOBSTER: BY THE NUMBERS
15 pounds, 9 ounces
Weight of “Larry,” a California spiny lobster caught by Dana Point resident Brendan Dirks
16 pounds, 1 ounce
Weight of the state record for a California spiny lobster caught in sport diving
1968
Year that record was set
26 pounds
Maximum weight estimated for male California spiny lobsters
50+ Years
Estimated lifespan of California Spiny Lobster
Sept. 27, 2014
Date the recreational lobster season started this year
25,000-30,000
Recreational lobster fisherman in the state
150
Commerical lobster fisherman
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California Lobster Season Off To A Rough Start With 5 Accidents
Lobster Season 2014 is almost here: This Year’s Rules & Regulations
Physical Conditioning Fast Track: Preparing for Lobster Season
Poaching remains a threat to California Lobster
California’s New Lobster Report Card changes coming for 2013/2014 Season