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Spiny Lobster Season

Part of Fishing in San Diego, our guide to fishing, long-range sportfishing and whale watching in San Diego.

California’s spiny lobster season opened at 6 p.m. on October 2, 2026 and runs through March 17, 2027. The limit is 7 per day with a 3 1/4 inch minimum, and a $12.70 report card is required for everyone, including anglers under 16. Hook and line is not a legal method.Checked October 23, 2026.

Oct 2, 2026season opened (6 p.m.)
Mar 17, 2027season closes
7per day
3 1/4 inminimum size
A California spiny lobster with long orange antennae on a rocky bottom
A California spiny lobster. No machine-readable author provided. DrKjaergaard assumed (b, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons.
Season6 p.m. Oct 2, 2026 through March 17, 2027
Limit and size7 per day; 3 1/4 inch minimum
Report cardRequired for all takers, including under 16; $12.70 (2026)
SourceCDFW Southern California limits

Season and Limit

CDFW lists the season as 6 p.m. October 2, 2026 through March 17, 2027, with a daily limit of 7 and a 3 1/4 inch minimum size. A Spiny Lobster Report Card ($12.70 in 2026) is required for everyone, including anglers under 16. A fishing license is also needed for anglers 16 and older; see license and limits.

How Lobster May Be Taken

CDFW says hook and line is not a legal method for crustaceans, and any lobster or crab taken on hook and line must be returned immediately. Our research did not cover which gear is legal, so check the current regulations before you go.

Lobster Trips and Counts

Point Loma Sportfishing lists lobster trips among its trip filters. Its October 22, 2026 dock total listed 70 spiny lobster.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Legal lobster gear, where lobster may be taken, night-time rules, and what the report card requires you to record are not confirmed here. Check the CDFW regulations.
  • Whether pier or shore anglers may take lobster by hand or trap from a given location is not confirmed.
  • The 2026 PDF regulations booklet could not be read. Figures come from CDFW web pages.
  • Dates and fees change each season.

More in Fishing in San Diego

FAQ

When is lobster season?

6 p.m. October 2, 2026 through March 17, 2027 per CDFW.

Do kids need a report card?

Yes. CDFW says the report card is required for everyone, including anglers under 16.

Sources

  1. CDFW: Southern California limits
  2. CDFW: fishing licenses
  3. Point Loma Sportfishing

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.