The Lobster Closure (3/19)

[Latimeria]

So busy getting my shoulder tested that I didn't think I would be able to get another lobster season in before it closed.  Shaun's boat had motor issues so I was prepping my boat.  I saw the forecast and realized I wouldn't be anywhere in the inlet due to the winds and pretty big swells.

Boat was all ready and Shaun calls to say he fixed his boat and let's just take his since we have less to worry about with the seas.  That and I just got back from the Sx consultation and wound up getting a cortisone shot in my arm for the moment instead and was told to take it easy today.  Shaun was going to be the puller and I the captain of his boat it seemed.  He was totally fine and we brought all of the frozen stuff we had in our freezers including a marlin carcass, BFT parts, Rockfish, Macks, Trout and anchovie.



To our surprise, it was PACKED out there!  I wasn't expecting a crowd, but it looked like the Lobster opener and not the last day of the season fishing.

In any case, we set our 10 and gave it a 2-hour soak.  We had to have all nets pulled by 11:59, so it was a limited time to fish.  That and it gets dark pretty late...



First string and we caught 44 with 9 keepers.  We also picked up a few nasty Danger Noodles!  Much different when they fall out of the net and into the boat by your feet and the lobster.



We ended up pulling 3 sets in the time we had.  Each time their were less bugs, but more morays!





Finally we got it done at 11:52pm and called it the night.  Not huge numbers, but had an otherwise really good night.







Freezer is stocked and so is my belly tonight after a tasty lobster dinner!



Well, what a great way to end the lobster season but it was really tough waking up in the morning after a couple of hours of sleep to get into some meetings.  I'm ready to pass out right now.

Thanks for reading and please keep posting as I appreciate seeing the stories since running the site is pretty pricey. Cheers!

[Tim524]

Looks choppy out there, glad you got your fill 

My buddy cleaned up inside Mission Bay the night before.

Rockfish time !

[jrodda]

Solid numbers to close out the season.

How do you typically handle the morays in that situation? Use the gaff like a snake hook? Or just grab behind the head?

[Latimeria]

How do you typically handle the morays in that situation? Use the gaff like a snake hook? Or just grab behind the head?

He didn't have a gaff on board and the boat hook was way too small so I just grabbed them and flipped them over.  Really sketchy sh!t.  He only brought the nets into the boat because we had a bunch of legal lobsters on the outside of the net on quite a few pulls so he didn't want any getting away.  Downside was morays in the boat.  lol

[Pinoyfisher]

I can feel some kidney stones forming just looking at that cooler full of bugs and crabs!! Decent haul for sure.