NCDF BIG BUG 2026
$15 to register for NCDF members ($25 for non-members) - Registration ends on October 8 at 11:59pm — Sign up by Oct 4 to ensure you’ll receive a competition shirt
Competition Dates:
12am Friday October 9 until weigh-in on Sunday October 11 at 3pm
Awards: Sunday October 11 at 3pm
Location TBD
Prizes:
BIG BUG Category: The single heaviest lobster grabbed during the competition. Prize: $100
BIG BAG Category: The heaviest lobster bag (max 7 lobsters) grabbed during the competition. Prize: $100
BIG NEWBUG Category: Any diver in first two seasons of buggin' with heaviest single lobster grabbed during comp. Prize: Gift card
BIG NEWBAG: Any diver in their first two years of buggin' who can present a single night limit on their CDFW report card receives a gift card.
Rules:
BIG BUG participants must follow all CA DFW regulations.
Bugs may only be taken by hand on breath hold - no hookah or tanks permitted.
Bugs must be presented in tact at weigh-in. It is the diver’s responsibility to care for their bugs between capture and weigh-in. Bugs may be frozen if necessary to preserve quality meat
Bugs submitted at weigh-in may only be taken during the competition window. BIG BAG submissions can be compiled during the course of the competition.
CA lobster card must be presented at weigh-in.
NEWBUG category is open only to divers in their first 2 seasons of BUG diving. Divers in this category are also eligible for the BIG BUG and BIG BAG categories.
Signing up gets you:
T-Shirt
Opportunity to win BIG BUG category
Opportunity to win BIG BAG category - max 7 bugs
Divers NEW to lobster (in their 1st or 2nd season of lobster diving) are eligible for the following:
Opportunity to win BIG NEWBUG category
Opportunity at award for NEWBAG - awarded to any NEW diver showing their lobster card with a single-day limit during the competition window
One raffle ticket
Raffle
Raffle at the awards is only available to registered divers. Raffle tickets will not be for sale.
Divers MUST be present to win raffle prizes.