What’s the Best Method for Catching Octopus?

August 18, 2016

Question: We have a question about catching octopus. Can octopus caught in crab traps be kept? Can sport fishermen use traps to target octopus for sushi or to use for bait? If not traps, can you recommend a better way? Also, are there any seasons, bag limits and/or size limits for octopus? (Nick W.)

Answer: No, traps may not be used to take octopus. They can be taken only by hand or hook-and-line fishing gear and no chemicals of any kind may be used to assist in taking octopus by hand. Octopus may be taken year-round, and up to 35 octopi may be taken per day or possessed at any time. Scuba diving equipment may not be used to take octopus north of Yankee Point, Monterey County (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 29.05). There are no size limits for octopus.

*Octopuses.

a few years ago there was a big octopus spawn in monterey. I would catch them on my weight, and some on the hook. I never kept them to fry. I just don't have the heart to kill an octopus like a would a fish. Lol. Don't know why. It's just something in their eyes. 

Bearhug em.

 

Bearhug em.

 

Wow, food for 50...............

Your a freggin legend Jim! That is incredible!

Did you eat all of it Jim? 

Yeeeeeee Jim!! What a puss! 

Unbelievable Big Jim.  Sushi anyone.

It was a team effort...Nathan Sharkbait spotted it free-swimming and followed it into its cave.

Then he and I and mikemcg spent forever wrestling with it trying to get it out...

Then Charlie IceColdChuck swam over to see what we were doing and we told him and he dropped down and right when he did the puss swam out and he just picked it up and brought it to the surface. 

Then an hour later Charlie and I were diving together and he comes across another one out in the open and scoops it up! I hear him yelling and go see wassup. Puss had grabbed his weightbelt and unbuckled it! 

I grabbed the puss from him while he held onto his weightbelt and went and shoved it in his yak.

Took us foorrevveeer to get both of them out from the inside of his yak! 

I've wrestled with many and managed to take a few over the years...they all taste great and are short lived critters so I don't feel bad harvesting them if I get a chance.

I remember that year when the smaller red ones were all over the place in Monterey...when I was halibut diving I would grab em and either munch em right in the water or bring them home for appetizers. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

 caught this one rockfishing years ago, gaffes a Ling for my dad then look and see my poles bent over. starting reeling and thought what the f*ck and ended up being that guy ate the jig

a few years ago there was a big octopus spawn in monterey. I would catch them on my weight, and some on the hook. I never kept them to fry. I just don't have the heart to kill an octopus like a would a fish. Lol. Don't know why. It's just something in their eyes. 

It's another pokemon character... I believe this one is called the Googly eye squid.

That day at TC we ate that one on the beach. That was AWESOME!  Some good shelter cove octopus stories too!
I recall those small ones back then. I tried keeping a few, and keeping them alive as long as possible. Escape artists!

The best two ways to catch octopus are Big Jim and FM1, hands down!