Lobster season is open
The 2026-27 season opened at 6 pm on Fri Oct 2, 2026 and runs through 11:59 pm on Wed Mar 17, 2027. 150 days left.
How to get your license Rules for divers Where you can take them
Licensing
What you need before you get in the water
Three things, all from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Prices are CDFW’s 2026 fees.
A California sport fishing license
Everyone 16 or older. Resident $64.54 a year, nonresident $174.14; a one-day license is $21.09 and a two-day $32.40. Not needed when you fish from a public pier.
An Ocean Enhancement Validation, $7.30
Required in ocean waters south of Point Arguello, which is all of the water on this site. Not needed if you are on a one-day or two-day license.
A Spiny Lobster Report Card, $12.70
Good for the whole season, and required for everyone who takes or helps take a lobster: kids under 16, pier fishers and the buddy holding the bag included. It has to be the physical card, in your possession while you fish. Diving from a boat, keep it on the boat; from shore, within 500 yards of where you went in.
Where to buy
- CDFW Online License Sales and Service
- A license agent: most dive shops, bait and tackle shops and sporting goods stores. Find one near you.
- A CDFW license sales office.
Filling in and returning the card
- Before you get in the water, write the month, day, location and gear code on the next open line. When you finish at that spot or for the day, write the number you kept. A new line for each location and each gear type.
- Report by April 30 after the season closes, online or by mail to CDFW, Lobster Report Card, 3883 Ruffin Rd., San Diego, CA 92123. Report even if you never went or caught nothing. Miss it and next season’s card costs $21.60 more.
For divers
The rules underwater
- Hands only. Skin and scuba divers may take lobster only by hand. No tickle sticks or any other tool to coax one out.
- Your speargun can come along. You may hunt fish with it on the same dive, but using any spearfishing gear on a lobster is illegal.
- Carry a gauge and measure in the water. Minimum size is 3¼ inches carapace, measured in a straight line along the middle of the back from the rear edge of the eye socket to the rear edge of the body shell. A short one goes back immediately and never leaves the water or goes in your bag.
- 7 per person. That is the bag and the possession limit, counting any already in your freezer.
- Keep them whole. No tailing at sea or at the ramp; a lobster stays whole and measurable until you prepare it to eat.
Protected areas
Where you can take them
Outside the marine protected areas, lobster may be taken in season under the rules above. Inside them, only 6 of the 52 on this site allow recreational take of lobster, each in CDFW’s own words:
- Anacapa Island State Marine Conservation Area Channel Islands
- Cat Harbor State Marine Conservation Area Catalina
- Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area Orange County
- Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area Orange County
- Kashtayit State Marine Conservation Area Santa Barbara
- Painted Cave State Marine Conservation Area Channel Islands
Every other protected area is closed to lobster, including the conservation areas that allow some fishing. See every area on one list, or pick a region to see the lines on a map.
From CDFW’s Recreational Lobster Fishing and Sport Fishing Licenses and Report Cards pages and its 2026-2027 lobster newsletter, read 12 October 2026. The season follows 14 CCR 29.90. Rules change and this is not legal advice; check CDFW before you go. Questions to CDFW: lobster@wildlife.ca.gov.