4 cited after hundreds of illegally caught lobsters found in pickup in San Pedro

Four divers were cited this month after authorities found them with hundreds of illegally taken and mostly undersized spiny lobsters from a beach in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

While wildlife officers patrolled the coast around 11 p.m. on Aug. 1, they noticed four people with wetsuits and diving gear repeatedly taking lobsters at Royal Palms Beach even though the commercial and recreational spiny lobster season ended back in March, wildlife officials said.

The four left around 3 a.m. When wildlife officers contacted them, they ran away, the department said.

After a short search, wildlife officers apprehended them and found 236 spiny lobsters in the back of their pickup. Authorities didn’t find fishing licenses or required measuring devices, the department said.

During open lobster season, possession is limited to seven spiny lobsters per person. Each lobster much measure at least 3.25 inches from the rear edge of the eye socket to the back edge of the body shell.

The four people were cited for multiple misdemeanors, including taking lobsters during closed season, possessing undersized lobsters, commercialization without a license and not possessing a fishing license or measuring device.

Authorities returned most of the lobsters to the ocean after counting them and taking photos for evidence.