The Bug Club — 2026/27
Membership is earned.
THE BUG
CLUB
2026/27 California spiny lobster season
OCTOBER 2, 2026 — MARCH 17, 2027
Season-long. California waters.
Heaviest verified bug takes it.
The season belongs to the crew.
THIS AIN'T A
ONE-NIGHT
TOURNAMENT.
The Bug Club started as a Haggard Pirate graphic. This season, we're making it real.
From opening night through the final day of California spiny lobster season, we're keeping track of the heaviest verified bugs pulled from California waters. Dive them. Hoop them. Submit them.
Membership is earned.
The heaviest bugs of 2026/27
BIG BUG LEADERBOARD
17 entrants on the board.
Updated October 16, 2026.
| RANK | ANGLER | WEIGHT | AREA | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jackson Sagen @jacksonsagen / @freeonecerveza |
13 lb 2 oz Verified by organizer |
Long Beach | Oct 4, 2026 |
| 02 | Austin Caswell @cazzyswell |
10 lb 6 oz Verified by organizer |
Long Beach | Oct 7, 2026 |
| 03 | Joseph Hudson @hudson_enjoylife |
8 lb 4 oz Verified by organizer |
Long Beach harbor | Oct 8, 2026 |
| 04 | Gavin Holmes | 8 lb Approved by organizer |
Long Beach harbor | Oct 5, 2026 |
| 05 | Brian Holmes | 7 lb Approved by organizer |
Cabrillo Beach | Oct 5, 2026 |
| 06 | Troy Campbell @thetactical1 |
6 lb 11 oz Verified by organizer |
Santa Monica Bay | Oct 2, 2026 |
| 07 | Manuel Guerrero IV @Manny_alfresco |
5 lb 0.32 oz Verified catch · 5.02 lb |
Oceanside | Oct 11, 2026 |
| 08 | Trip Shedarowich @shredanarowich |
4 lb 3 oz Verified by organizer |
Dana Point | Oct 8, 2026 |
| 09 | DJ Garcia @salty_sancho514 |
3 lb 4.8 oz Verified by organizer |
LA | Oct 8, 2026 |
| 10 | Daniel Studt @fish_n_rabbits |
2 lb 11.04 oz Verified catch · 2.69 lb |
Long Beach | Oct 11, 2026 |
| 11 | Carson Gill @carsonrgill |
2 lb 8.3 oz Verified catch |
San Diego | Oct 10, 2026 |
| 12 | Pierre Bousquet @pierrebsq33 |
2 lb 8.0 oz Verified catch |
Oceanside | Oct 2, 2026 |
| 13 | Erika Cook-Studt @Las.conejas.collective |
1 lb 12.96 oz Verified catch · 1.81 lb |
Long Beach | Oct 11, 2026 |
| — | Chase Shrode @Chase__shrode |
11 lb reported Unranked · Date confirmation needed |
Pacific Ocean | Date confirmation pending |
| — | Daniel Grumet @dgrumeazy2 |
Pending Individual weight required |
Long Beach breakwall | Oct 9, 2026 |
| — | Abigail Merchant @abigail_merchant |
Not weighed Weight / proof pending |
San Pedro | Oct 7, 2026 |
| — | Brooklyn Merchant | Not weighed Weight / proof pending |
San Pedro | Date confirmation pending |
13 approved catches, ranked by individual lobster weight. Gavin’s and Brian’s reported weights were approved by the organizer. Four entries remain unranked: Chase’s catch date needs confirmation; Daniel Grumet needs an individual weight; Abigail and Brooklyn did not provide weights, and Brooklyn’s catch date also needs confirmation. Reported weights on unranked entries are not confirmed standings. Carson’s repeat submission is counted once. Decimal-pound scale readings are converted to pounds and ounces, with the original reading shown. Only approved catches qualify for standings and prizes.
THREE STEPS. ONE CLUB.
CATCH
Catch a legal California spiny lobster during the 2026/27 season.
PROVE IT
Weigh your whole lobster and photograph the readable scale. Include a clear gauge photo to verify legal size.
SUBMIT
Send us the total weight, legal-size measurement, catch details and proof photos. Verified catches hit the leaderboard.
Not for sale
EARN YOUR
MEMBERSHIP.
You can't buy your way into The Bug Club.
Submit your legal catch with the required proof. Once your catch is verified, you earn official Bug Club membership and we'll send you a Bug Club tee. Include your T-shirt size and shipping address with your submission.
The Bug Club — 2026–27 Member
EARNED. NEVER SOLD.
The Big Bug Report
FROM THE WATER.
ALL SEASON LONG.
Big bugs. New leaders. Club qualifiers. Stories from the coast.
When the season closes, there can only be one.
HEAVIEST
BUG WINS.
The heaviest verified legal California spiny lobster submitted during the season takes the top prize.
$500
Haggard Pirate credit
+ The Bug Club trophy
+ Membership #001 — 2027/28 season
This is just the beginning.
Sponsors and more prizes for the winners will be announced throughout the season.
We’re closing it out with an end-of-season party and awards to celebrate the winners and the crew. Stay tuned for the full lineup and event details.
Put your bug on the board.
GOT ONE?
Submit your catch for verification. Once approved, we'll send you a Bug Club tee.
BEFORE YOU SUBMIT
Have these details and photos ready. You’ll enter everything on the next page.
- Full name / Instagram handle
- Email address for verification and shipping updates
- Catch date
- General catch area
- Total lobster weight (include units)
- Scale photo showing the whole lobster and readable weight
- Legal-size measurement and clear gauge photo
- Catch photo
- T-shirt size
- Shipping address: recipient name, street, apartment/unit, city, state/province, ZIP/postal code and country
Your shipping address, email and T-shirt size stay private and are not displayed on the leaderboard. Exact fishing spots are never required or published.
Go to submission form →WEIGHT WINS.
SIZE QUALIFIES.
Total weight determines the winner and leaderboard rank. Verify it with a photo showing the whole lobster on a scale and a readable display, including units (lb/oz or kg). Zero the scale first and exclude the weight of any container or sling.
Legal bugs only. Also include a clear photo of the lobster being gauged to verify legal size. Length does not determine ranking. Questionable entries don't make the board.
OFFICIAL RULES
Eligible catches: Legal California spiny lobsters caught in California waters during the 2026/27 recreational season, from October 2, 2026 at 6 p.m. through March 17, 2027. All catches must comply with current CDFW regulations, including applicable licenses, report cards, legal size, methods, limits and area restrictions.
Required proof: Submit your name, email, catch date, general area, total weight with units, legal-size measurement, a catch photo, a clear gauge photo, and a scale photo showing the whole lobster and readable weight. Each entry is for one lobster; combined catches do not count.
Verification: All submissions are pending review. Provisional entries may appear on the leaderboard while proof is reviewed and are clearly marked. Only verified catches qualify for final standings and prizes. Weight determines ranking; length confirms legal size. Incomplete, unclear or unverifiable entries remain pending.
Membership & tees: A verified legal catch earns Bug Club membership and a tee. Include your T-shirt size and complete shipping address. Email, shipping details and tee size stay private; exact fishing spots are not required.
The Bug Club — 2026/27
SEE YOU ON THE WATER.
California spiny lobster season / The season opens October 2.