It is that time of year again when the underwater hunters come out of the woodwork beating their chest and weaving great stories and yarns about fantastic exploits of lobster hunting. While you may not be the greatest lobster hunter, you can certainly impress your buddies with some obscure facts about the wily crustaceans. Want to impress your friends with a few facts about lobster are not generally known? Read on!
FAMILY TIES
California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) is only a distant cousin to the more popular and better-known American lobster (Homarus americanus). The American lobster that populates the east coast New England waters is known for its large claws. While they are both crustaceans from the order Decopoda (meaning ten-legged), California spiny lobster is not in the same family as the American lobster.
CLAWS
California spiny lobsters do have claws — at least the females do. Don’t worry; they are of no hazard to the diver. The tiny claws on the back legs are used for tending the eggs stowed on the underside of the tails during the spring.
LOBSTERS BITE AND OTHER DEFENSES
While the California spiny lobsters lack the large claws, they can inflict a powerful and painful bite with the large jaws. This is especially true of large lobster. Lobsters use powerful jaws in their feeding, able to break apart clams and other invertebrates with ease. Keep you hands clear.
Additional defenses of these Pacific “bugs” are its very sharp spines across head and back. Perhaps the most dangerous spines are those on the underside of the tail. As the lobster flips its tail to flee, these spines pinch together. If you grab the lobster by the tail you run a risk if getting painful punctures. Your defense for these spines is a good pair of sturdy gloves.
MONTEREY AND MEXICAN LOBSTER
While the vast majority of lobsters seen and taken is found in waters south of Point Conception, during years with warmer waters, lobsters have been seen as far north as Monterey. It is also not a well-known fact that diving for lobster off San Luis Obispo County can be quite good. Southern range extends far down the Pacific side of Baja California reaching as far south as Magdalena Bay. It is, however, illegal for U.S. citizens to take lobster in Mexican waters.
BACKWARDS AND BLIND
While crawling about on their legs, lobsters can move in all directions. But when they flee from a predator, they swim backwards with a quick flips of their powerful tail. They speed off rapidly but usually not far as they tire easily. Furthermore, because they are swimming backwards, they are effectively blind in their panic. Many a dive buddy has been bonked in the chest or face by a lobster speeding away from his partner’s missed grab.
Because the lobster tires easily, and the generally swim in a straight line, just follow its path for a second chance.