Florida Keys Lobster Season
Every year at the same time things get a little more hyped up than usual in the Florida Keys, and that is when Lobster Season has finally arrived and it is again allowed to hunt and collect these tasty critters after a four-month hiatus that is in place to allow proper spawning of this species.
Lobster season attracts a lot of locals and visitors alike. So, especially when the season begins, dive shops, as well as boat and fishing charter operators, are buzzing. There are two ways to deal with this annual frenzy: One either avoids it at all costs and steers clear of visiting the Florida Keys during opening days of lobster season, or one mingles with all the other like-minded divers and free divers, goes with the flow and simply has a splendid time!
The Florida Spiny Lobster
Commonly referred to as the Florida spiny lobster, the Caribbean spiny lobster can be found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. The spiny lobster does not have claws as a Maine lobster has, hence you have a delicious lobster tail to indulge in but no claw meat. When you compare the taste of a Florida spiny lobster tail you will find that its meat does not taste as sweet as that of a Maine lobster and it has a seafood-ier taste.
Lobster Mini Season & Regular Season
Florida spiny lobster can only be taken from the ocean during certain times of the year, and its harvesting is strictly regulated. This type of lobster starts spawning some time in March to August, and it is entirely prohibited to hunt and collect spiny lobsters from April 1st on except for a two day period that precedes the opening of the regular lobster season on August 6th each year.
This so-called two-day mini-season or sport season is always on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July (so in 2020 that would be 29th and 30th of July). The mini-season was put in place by the State of Florida to allow non-commercial divers and snorkelers to catch lobsters before the fishermen bring out their traps during the regular lobster season.
Lobster Hunting Rules in Monroe County
The daily catch limit in Monroe County, Florida, is 6 lobsters per recreational harvester per day during both mini- and regular season. However, while during the regular season you can also catch lobster at night, during mini-season you must not hunt for lobster from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise.
Each lobster that you harvest must have a carapace measuring 3 inches or bigger. Any lobster smaller than this and also any egg-bearing lobster must be released unharmed immediately. A lobster that you catch needs to be measured in the water, so divers and snorkelers are required to have a measuring gauge with them at all times while hunting. Also, you have to bring the lobster to shore alive before cleaning it.
Local authorities such as FWC and also members of the local community keep a wary eye on the proceedings during lobster season. People who disobey the rules will be reported and fines are stiff!
A Florida recreational fishing license with lobster stamp is required for Florida residents and visitors (Florida residents age 65 and older and children under 16 years of age are exempt). You can purchase a license and lobster stamp online at www.gooutdoorsflorida.com or call toll-free at 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (1-888-347-4356).
What else do you need? Well, you do not need much more than your license and the measuring gauge we mentioned earlier to comply with the law. Spiny lobster though does not just sit on the bottom of the ocean waiting for you to swim by and pick them up easily. So you do need a few more tools to successfully hunt them.
Spiny Lobster Harvesting Tools & How-To
Spiny lobster, or “bugs” as the locals call them, are nocturnal and only roam around at night which is probably the least likely time you would be out there on the hunt. During the day they like to hide away in holes and underneath ledges, and they are not so easy to spot most of the time. To find their hidey-hole you may want to look for their rather long antennas sticking out from underneath a rock or other solid formation.
Once you found one pair of antennas (there’ll be likely more in the same area) you need to get to work and lure the lobster out of its cranny, which is best done using a 3-4 feet long tickle stick. You put this stick behind its tail gently forcing it to move forward out of its hole and into a net that you have in place with your other hand. Once you have the lobster in your net you can then measure it to make sure it has a minimum carapace length of 3″ or greater before you put it into a collecting mesh bag or a “lobster hotel”. Since this kind of lobster is called “spiny” for a reason, a pair of gloves when handling them comes very handily!
Complete sets of lobster hunting kits (net, mesh bag, gauge, tickle stick, gloves) are being sold in almost any dive shop in the Florida Keys during lobster season. They are rather inexpensive starting at about $20 per set. More elaborate contraptions such as “loopers” are available of course, but we think that the traditional tickle stick and netting method is still the best to apply.
As you can see the lobster hunting gear is designed to have little impact on the lobster itself. Any other harvesting tools that could puncture or penetrate the shell or the flesh of the lobster are prohibited to use.
Now, if you want to catch lobster in Florida Keys waters you can’t do that just about anywhere. Many areas are closed to the harvest of spiny lobster such as Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs), Ecological Reserves, Special-use Research Areas, National, and State Park areas. To be sure you hunt and harvest in areas allowed we highly recommend making arrangements with a local dive charter operator. These guys know their waters and will only take you to areas on the ocean where it is allowed to lobster hunt. They will also make sure that all lobster hunting activity is being done by the book and that all rules are followed.
Scuba Diving vs. Snorkeling for Lobster
We are being asked many times: “Can I catch lobster while I snorkel?” The answer is: “yes” and “no”. Unless you can free-dive to a depth of 15+ feet and hold your breath for a while there is little chance of success at all since lobster does hide well and it takes some and technique to catch them.
Your best bet is to scuba dive (a scuba certification is required). You need to have good buoyancy underwater to be able to harvest lobster and most importantly, not to damage any marine environment while you are doing so. Many times you find lobster in and under coral reef structures which is very delicate and can easily be destroyed.
If you are a certified diver already and it has been a while since your last dive or you simply want to brush up on your buoyancy skills give us a shout at Scuba-Fun, we can do a quick refresher course with you.
Book a Lobster Hunting Trip
If you are intrigued by the idea of catching your yummy lobster dinner, just ask us at Scuba-Fun to help you with making arrangements for your lobster hunting adventure! Dive guides are also available to help you spot and harvest the lobster at sea and show you how to properly clean it on land. Should you do not know how to cook your lobster, or you simply do not have any kitchen space available rest assured – most restaurants in the area cook your catch at very reasonable rates!
For more info on lobster hunting in the Florida Keys/Monroe County please also visit the following websites:
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