With the recent changes to the recording of lobster hunts on a
so-called Lobster Card divers need to be better aware of what these
rules entail.

First things first. When you go in to Sea Landing to buy a card
($7.90) you should have your current fishing license with you. They
need to record that number on the card when it is sold. (Part of that
card is retained in their booklet).

Like your license it should be readily at hand when out diving for
bugs. They want you to record quite a bit of information on te card
even BEFORE you get in the water. They want the month and day and the
location code (broken down in detail on the back of the card). If
successful, you need to complete the details of the fishing
session,--what you used for gear, e.g., SCUBA diving, code 3, and how
many you caught that were of legal size.

Sadly, these cards don't appear to be refundable at all, and worse
yet, they expire on 31 December 2008. Thus, most bug divers will be
forced to purchase no less than two cards a season if you want to hunt
in either part of the CY08-09 lobster season.

Some of us would pay MORE just to see the results of all this data
just to intelligently plan future bug hunt locations!

P.S. Only Sea Landing appears to have these cards at present. They
will begin selling them the week of 14 September 08.


Dan