fbpx
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
Southern Boating
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
    • Engine Buyers Guide
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • EntrĂ©es
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Web Reader
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
    • Engine Buyers Guide
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • EntrĂ©es
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Web Reader
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Southern Boating
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle News

Lobster Mini Season

July 16, 2019
in News
0
a woman diving during lobster mini season
593
SHARES
3.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare via Email

Lobster Mini Season

It’s almost here! Avid lobster hunters say the lobster mini season is the best unofficial holiday of the year.

What is it?

Florida’s legendary spiny lobster “mini-season” runs from the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July each year. The regular season begins Aug. 6 every year and runs through March 31.

Dive boats and hotels in the more popular areas tend to fill up pretty quickly, so make plans early. Also, the best conditions for diving — clear, calm and warm water — are most dependable in July and August all around the state. To check those dates, and detailed regulations, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

How is it done?

Divers either descend by holding their breath or use SCUBA gear. Free-diving is the most challenging way to collect lobsters. Boaters often slowly tow their divers over shallow patch reefs to see what’s below. Or sometimes divers use a planer device such as the Sea Sled, which the diver can tilt downward to get closer to the reef for a closer look. The diver will let go and descends once a hot spot is found.

However, most divers opt for SCUBA gear, which depending upon depth and choice of air mix, allows a diver much more “bottom time.” Whether you’re diving on normal air or Nitrox, make sure you hold the requisite certifications and understand the risks associated with breathing compressed air.

Very large spiny lobster
This lucky diver landed a big bug!

 

 

Lobster mini season is like an underwater treasure hunt. In shallow water where limited bottom time isn’t an issue, divers hug the bottom and peer into every nook and cranny. In deeper water where bottom time is precious, good divers spend time hugging the bottom in the most productive areas, then rise up a bit to conserve air while hoping to lobster legs wiggling out of a hole.

What tools are used?

Divers depend on several tools to find and catch in lobster mini season. A good waterproof flashlight is helpful in cavernous stretches of reef. Kevlar gloves are essential — they don’t call them “spiny” lobsters for nothing, and urchin and lionfish quills pose other hazards.

Divers typically carry a “tickle stick” and/or a loop snare. A transparent tickle stick works well to tease lobsters out of holes and into grabbing range. The loop snare can be used to “tickle out” a bug until you have enough room to get the loop behind the tail. Usually, the lobster will walk backward into the loop and when it does you constrict the snare. Of course, you need a bag to hold the bugs, and the various “lobster inn” devices keep them from escaping.

Florida spiny lobster
You’ll need gloves to handle these lobsters.

Season Dates:

This year, the lobster mini season is July 24th-25th, 2019 (always the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July each year).

Bag Limits:

6 per person per day for Monroe County and Biscayne National Park and 12 per person per day for the rest of Florida

On-water possession limits:

Equal to the daily bag limit.

Off-Water Possession limits:

Equal to the daily bag limit on the first day, and double the daily bag limit on the second day.

Regular season

The regular 8 month lobster season is always August 6 through March 31.

Size Limits:

Regulations during lobster mini season require lobster hunters to have a saltwater fishing license and lobster stamp. You must carry a gauge to measure the carapace*, which must be longer than three inches.

*What the heck is a carapace?

How to measure a spiny lobster

The carapace, pictured here in green, is a method of determining a lobster’s maturity.

Items of Note

  • Possession limits are enforced on and off the water.
  • Night diving is prohibited in Monroe County during the lobster mini season.
  • Harvest of lobster is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the mini season, and in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and in the Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary during both the 2-day mini season and regular season.

For more information, visit myfwc.com/

Tags: divingFFWChuntinglobstahlobstermini seasonspeardivespearfish

Recommended

Aquila teases the 47 Molokai with a sneak peek

Aquila teases the 47 Molokai with a sneak peek

March 15, 2023
3.7k

The gift of giving

March 21, 2016
3.2k

Don't miss it

A center console turns on open water while sporting Honda's New BF350 Outboards
Engines

Introducing Honda Marine’s BF350 Outboard: V8 Power Meets Premium Performance

September 21, 2023
3.4k
Man holds stop sign covering his face
Marketgauge

Will The Fed Finally STOP?

September 20, 2023
3.3k
Highfield’s Sport 660 (21’ 4” LOA; 8’ 6” beam)
Boats

Highfield Boats Unveils New Models at Exclusive Michigan Event

September 19, 2023
3.9k
Deena Lippman Sea Bass Image
Featured

Female Anglers Rise Up: A New Trend in American Fishing

September 15, 2023
3.7k
Oil barrels in front of a graph showing increases
Marketgauge

Could Higher Oil Prices Throw The U.S. Into a Recession?

September 13, 2023
3.5k
The Ocean Alexander 28E Cuts across deep blue waters
Boats

The Ocean Alexander’s 28E: Revolutionizing Yachting with Modern Luxury

September 12, 2023
5k
Facebook Instagram TikTok Youtube LinkedIn

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
logo

1591 E. Atlantic Blvd, 2nd Floor
Pompano Beach, FL 33060
Office: +1 (954) 522-5515
Fax: +1 (954) 522-2260
Contact us: info@southernboating.com


Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive the best in boating weekly direct to your inbox!

No Result
View All Result
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
    • Engine Buyers Guide
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • EntrĂ©es
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Web Reader
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise

© 2023 Southern Boating Media

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Don't Miss Out

Get weekly content updates to stay informed about the best boating and yachting news.

Don’t miss out on this Special Offer

Only 1 Dollar Per Issue!

Get Yours Here

(Billed Annually for our Digital Subscription Only)

Don’t miss out on this Special Offer

Only 1 Dollar Per Issue!

Get Yours Here

(Billed Annually for our Digital Subscription Only)

Don’t miss out on this Special Offer

Only 1 Dollar Per Issue!

Get Yours Here

(Billed Annually for our Digital Subscription Only)

Enjoying our Content?

Get it delivered weekly to your inbox! Dive into Your Fix of Adventure with the Latest in Boating, Yachting, Fishing, Gear Reviews, Exotic Travel Destinations and Lifestyle. Don't Miss Out, Sign Up Today!

Before You Go

Set Sail With Us! Dive into Your Weekly Fix of Adventure with the Latest in Boating, Yachting, Fishing, Gear Reviews, Exotic Travel Destinations and Lifestyle. Don't Miss Out, Sign Up Today!

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy