Got a very good trip on lobster. Went out with a 46 feet 3 year oldboat for free from LA :), the owner is very rich, so he don't  care,normally the trip like this, just gas alone will cost around $1000.Only problem is he doesn't want to spend too long away. so normallywill only be a 2 day diving trip. He has a friend knows me and Carl arevery good divers, so they invite us last year, I caught 27 bugs in twoday in the end of lobster season, Carl got 9, first time I beat Carl.We left on Saturday morning,got to Santa Barbara island around 10 am, launched the zodiac, butcannot start it up in the water because battery run out. Got thebooster charger connected  and still not working. Finally gave up anddecide to dive from the big boat. The problem is the place I want todive is very shallow and facing NW swell, that is why there is stilllobster left late in the season, and it is always very rough and surgy,so most diver don't want get into there. Got the first dive in almostnoon. Got 6 bugs, Don(my other diving buddy) got 3, second dive I gotanother 3 and Don got 4. After quick break, we noticed water actuallygetting calm. I can get way into the shallow, I got my bag full on thisdive, I even lost 1 when I try to put one bug in. and gave one to Donin the water because I got one each on my both hand and I hard to openmy lobster bag. So I got total of 20 in just 3 dives, nothing big, butall good bugs. Don got 12.
Then the wind started pick up, we decide to go check oneof my deep and protected diving spot. Oh, while I and Don was divingthe shallow spot, they figure out we forgot to put the kill switch onZodiac, the kill switch position is underneath the throttle. And  thereis a backup kill switch on the panel, so that fooled me and Don :(  Sowe anchored the big boat in 70 feet and launched the Zodiac. Me,  Donand Wayne went down to check a wall which always produce some lobsterfor me. For somehow, I did not find the wall I am looking for, so Iquit the diving earlier. Got to the big boat and sun already started togo down, so I got on the Zodiac and drove it to the back of the island(protected from NW wind and swell, about 20 minute drive), I waswaiting quite a while and the big boat still did not show up. So Idecide to drove back in darkness to check what is going on, on my wayback, I saw the big boat, and they told me time to go home because theanchor got stucked and they cannot get it free and finally decide tocut it. I said what? you guys have 2 divers on boat, just go down getit or wait for me, I will go get it, they said after I left, the windreally pick it up, current started running and getting dark, the ownerjust want play safe. Oh well, I told them we will be home 1 day aheadof schedule then. Back to the harbor almost 11pmbecause swell really pick up. Had BBQ and beer by the dock.  Slept wellon the boat and back to Fremont by 3pm, big surprise to wife and kids.I caught 20 bugs, but only got 7 back to home since it is a free trip,we split the bugs. But it is good and luxury diving, with a niceBillionaire drove the boat for you and few other people help you. Ijust want one more day :)