Can't find your answer? Email AskMarine. FAQ Home What would you like to Ask Marine? Home / Select Species / Invertebrate fishing gear / Can a sport fisherman use traps to take lobster? Select Species Clams Dungeness crab Groundfish Invertebrate fishing gear Kelp and Algae Miscellaneous invertebrates Other Finfish Pacific halibut Red abalone Rock crabs Salmon Shrimp, Prawns Spiny lobster Sharks Can a sport fisherman use traps to take lobster? traps, hoop nets, bugs, gear regulations, CCR T14, Section 29.80 No. Lobster may only be taken by hand or by hoop net - traps may not be used. For the legal definition of a hoop net, see CCR T14, Section 29.80(b)(1) in the California ocean sport fishing regulations. Glad we could be helpful. Thanks for the feedback. Sorry we couldn't be helpful. Your feedback will help us improve this article. How helpful was this page? Updated on Thu, 06 Feb 2025 by amanda.vandiggelen@wildlife.ca.gov In this section What is the best recreational gear for catching spot prawns? What gear can I use to assist me when free diving for spiny lobster? Where can I find information on crabbing zones? Can I use homemade gear as a hoop net? If I'm sharing hoop nets with a friend or several friends on my boat, do all of our GO ID numbers need to be on the buoys, or can I just have one GO ID number on each of the buoys? How many hoop nets can I use on my boat? I want to use a hoop net for lobster this season and bring my scuba gear on the kayak at the same time. Is this legal? Can I carry a pole spear or a spear gun while diving for lobsters? Can I catch lobsters with a hoop net while my friend next to me chooses to dive? Can a sport fisherman use traps to take lobster? How many hoop nets can I use while fishing from a public pier? Why can commercial lobster fishermen use huge traps when recreational fishermen are restricted to using hoop nets? It just doesn’t seem fair! I sometimes lend my hoop nets to friends. Can I mark my GO ID number on the buoys with something removable, like tape? Related articles Why can commercial lobster fishermen use huge traps when recreational fishermen are restricted to using hoop nets? It just doesn’t seem fair! Select Species / Invertebrate fishing gear What are the legal methods of take for spiny lobster? Can I use a "tickle stick" to coax a lobster from its hiding spot? Select Species / Spiny lobster Where can I purchase a spiny lobster report card? Select Species / Spiny lobster Do I need a sport fishing license to catch lobsters from a public pier? Select Species / Spiny lobster Where and when do I submit the lobster report card once it's filled out? Select Species / Spiny lobster