Texas Lobster???

[Bird]

We were out of Galveston about 40 miles due south on a 'secret' rock pulling red snaps from the water (80' ish) Sunday and they were all FAT. When I put the knife to them at the house, they were all stuffed with baby lobster. Have ya'll pulled any spiny bugs from the Texas Gulf? I haven't been down to look on that rock or much any other structure (none of my fishing buddies dive) but that sure seems like a reason for me to go down there and find out what's going on. I haven't ever heard of divers going after lobster in the Texas Gulf but they are there according to the red snapper now in my freezer. Anyone know?

Have Fountain 29cc will travel and travel fast...

Bird

[panamajack99]

Are you talking about the shovel nose lobster, without claws? They are in the gulf.

[speckle-catcher]

I've seen tons of them on Stetson Rock (of course it's a no take zone) and one some of the deeper rigs.

[Santiago]

Two years ago I saw one come off a shrimp boat that was taken in the Texas city ship channel in december!

[Captn C]

Did they look like this?

[Santiago]

:rotfl: No, I know what a sea lice (mantis shrimp) looks like

[Captn C]

That picture was really for Bird's post.

Which Lobster was it ?

I've heard of a few Spiny Lob's around the Flower Gardens, but I would think these might not be Spiny's because they were all small.....makes them sound like a small relative though.

[Bird]

CapnC, you are right. I guess I was getting excited, visions of when I used to live in Hawaii. D@m the luck, only mantis shrimp. I usually fish with a marine biologist but he's off doing turtle research so no brains on the boat.

[Santiago]

CapnC, you are right. I guess I was getting excited, visions of when I used to live in Hawaii. D@m the luck, only mantis shrimp. I usually fish with a marine biologist but he's off doing turtle research so no brains on the boat. Nah, how were you supposed to know? It's not like sea lice are normally seen anyway. The bays are full of them, especially in winter and in cold weather it really hurts when they stick you. So your snapper were filled with them huh? That;s interesting. Next time you go if you want to try some for bait PM me and I'll see if I can get you some.

[Marsh Monkey]

Bird,

The lobsters are out there. I'm not sure if they are called shovelnose or spiny but they dont have claws. They get pretty durn big. They camoflage themselves very well. We will take one or so every now and then off of a rig. We have noticed that they can get wiped out off a rig real quick if word gets out. If you find any only take a few and don't advertise.

[Bird]

Does anyone know of any regulations for keeping lobster in Texas? In Hawaii it was something like 3.25" length of head and you couldn't spear them. We'd grab'em with a gloved hand and hold on. They squeeze air out of themselves and it sounded like they were screaming, kinda freaky sounding in a cool sort of way...

[capt4fish]

The only plalce I've seen lobster here in Texas was 1976, on my very first dive on the flower gardens. The first two divers in the water (very experienced) shot a 70 lb dog snapper , the next guy came up with a spiney that stretched the entire length a 151 qt igloo cooler, not counting the antennae!. The dive master told us later in his shop that the tailed weighed almost 7lbs, by itself. Don't think Texas is going to have regulations since there are no viable lobster fisheries in state waters. Probably going to be a nmfs thing. Of course you can't spear fish at all on the garderns anymore. Tight Lines.

[fishyisme]

this is mantis shrimp. taste good.

y.c.

[disgusted]

There are certain rigs that are covered with them. I wont tell you which ones but you need to be around 70 miles out of freeport. The rigs in 700 feet of water have more than the ones in 500. Don't get greedy. Take one or two and leave the rest.

[Working to fish]

This was caught at Clay Pile Banks aboard the Capt. John out of Galveston. They said it weighed 12lbs.



http://www.galveston.com/captjohn/reportimages/june15.jpg

[Castaway Kay]

Taken from the report Wed. June 15, 2005

"and 1 spiny lobster of 12#(released). While this was a truly multi-species catch, its most unusual aspect was that 12# spiny lobster. This is the first time I've heard of such a catch on a partyboat our of Galveston; it was immediately released since they are illegal to keep at this time in Federal waters, no matter how unusual a catch they are."


My question is are there ANY legal times to take lobster from Texas or Federal waters? And if so when are they and what are the size requirements? I know they are uncommon, and I've never been offshore before so I am not likely to decimate the species. Just basically a curiosity question.


Kay

[speckle-catcher]

http://www.gulfcouncil.org/downloads/GMFMC_BRO_REC.1204.pdf

closed season is from 4/1 to 8/5 for spiny lobster. carapace length (distance between the horns over the eyes and the back of the head) must be 3" or more. Divers must measure carapace in water. IIRC, Florida law requires divers to carry a "lobster gauge" while diving for lobster. I've done it a few times and it is lots o'fun.

Kay - your not likely to catch any lobster (in TX) unless you are diving and grab one. That one was caught on a hook was rare. - it's like catching crabs with a hook...most of the time, they let go of the bait. It is also illegal to catch spiny lobster by spear or hook.

In the FL keys, you can snorkle around the bridges that run between each key and find lobster. I picked up 4 under the edge of the concrete at the end of the boat ramp. you also can't dive for them at night (unless that rule changed)

shovelnose (AKA slipper or spanish lobster) are legal year round

[Castaway Kay]

Yeah, I haven't been diving offshore before, but TRYING to talk hubby into it.
Was just wondering what the legalities of picking one up were in case one was ran across... more then likely NOT likely, but you never know till it happens. Thanks for the reply and information.

Kay

[speckle-catcher]

BTW, it's usually a long ride out to find lobster. I've seen them out at Stetson - but never really seen any in closer, but then I wasn't looking for lobster.

[Santiago]

BTW, it's usually a long ride out to find lobster. I've seen them out at Stetson - but never really seen any in closer, but then I wasn't looking for lobster. I know this is a total freak incident but I saw one caught in a shrimp net right off the Texas city dike two decembers ago. We took it to the aquarium in Kemah.

[Oztex]

I have pulled them of rigs before. Spiny that is . We had surf and turf that night . So to answer your question yes tou can find them but it is work. I had most luck in the west Cameron group out of LA. Good luck

[Sow Trout]

Hartley's Rock, out of Sabine, has some very large lobster.

[Bird]

Ok, with all this good info I've got 'bug' fever. I'm going to load the tanks with the tackle and go down next time we run deep to 'take a look.'

BTW- thanks speckle-catcher for the Gulf Council website. Saved the link and printed the regs for reference.