Reef Lobster

[Latimeria]

Some guys have been catching reef lobster with the California Spinys here in San Diego.  So weird, but I would totally love to get one of these guys one day in the nets!



You can see the Cali ones below it.

[jrodda]

What's the scientific name? Curious about its distribution and all that, but nothing is coming up on the search.

[Latimeria]

When I was in Rancho Leonero, I think they called them Pinto Spiny Lobsters.  The two I remember looking weird was that and a Green one... but I'm pretty sure this is a Pinto.

[jrodda]

Checks out on the descriptors.

From https://mexican-marine-life.org/pinto-spiny-lobster/ , it seems they are waaaay out of their way up here.

The Pinto Spiny Lobster is found in all Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean with the exception that they are absent from north of Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, along the central and northwest coasts of the Baja Peninsula, south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, and north of Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California in the Gulf of California. They are the  most common species of spiny lobster in the Gulf of California. In the early 1960's two individuals were captured as far north as San Diego, California.

Wild that there's a sudden influx of them for the first time in perhaps 60 years. Hope you get one. Would you be allowed to keep it? Could be sketchy but I would guess DFW would be perplexed to see it and at least be forgiving if they checked you.

[Latimeria]

So, this may be a tricky one.  It specifically says "California Spiny Lobster" in the regs, but it also only says "Spiny Lobster Report Card" and "Spiny Lobster" multiple times throughout the regs.  My guess is it would still have to measure up to the gauge used on Cali Spinys.  I'm sure there would be a few wardens who would let it go, but most probably would state something like I mentioned in the beginning of this post.