Spiny Lobster Mini Season Set To Begin In Florida

MIAMI, FL — Florida will be awash in recreational fishermen Wednesday hoping to bag one of the Sunshine State's flavorful spiny lobsters. The 2018 two-day mini spiny lobster fishing season will begin at 12 a.m. July 25 and end at 12 a.m. July 27 ahead of August's regular season, which will be open to both recreational and commercial fishermen.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the mini season is intended to give recreational fishermen a two-day jump on the regular season which runs from Aug. 6 through March 31.

While Florida has three varieties of lobster, state wildlife officials say that most fishermen prefer the Florida spiny lobster, also known as the Caribbean spiny lobster. The spiny lobster inhabits tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. They derive their names from the forward-pointing spines covering their bodies.

The best time to catch a Florida spiny lobster is at night since lobsters stay in their dens during daylight hours to avoid predators and only come out after dark to look for food. Their favorite diet consists mostly of snails, clams, crabs, and urchins. Spiny lobsters head back to their dens several hours before sunrise.

Unlike Maine lobsters, Florida's spiny lobsters do not have claws. They vary in color from almost white to dark red-orange. They are highly sought after for their tails by seafood lovers.

Spiny lobsters make their homes in the protected crevices and caverns of coral reefs, sponge flats and other hard-bottomed areas.

In past years, more than 69,000 people participated in the mini lobster season. Lobsters must be measured in the water before bringing them onto boats.

Fishermen need only a salt-water fishing license and a lobster stamp to participate. The application can be completed online even the same day that people plan to go lobstering. Licensed harvesters can take up to six lobsters per person daily in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park waters or 12 lobsters per person daily in other Florida waters. All lobsters must meet minimum size requirements, meaning that they must have a carapace length larger than 3 inches. Fishermen are also prohibited from taking egg-bearing females.

State officials remind divers that they must use dive flags for safety purposes while they hunt for lobsters. It's important to remember to pack all necessary safety gear, including a fully charged mobile phone and marine radio. Know your position in case you catch more trouble than lobster and need to call for help.

The mini season lobster harvest is prohibited in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Biscayne Bay-Card Sound Spiny Lobster Sanctuary, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park as well as no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Officials advise boaters to be mindful that bright lights and loud noise on the water can be unpleasant for people trying to sleep late at night.

"Keep lights directed down and avoid shining lights at houses along the shoreline," officials advise. "Keep sound levels low when near shoreline residences. Bully netters have a right to fish, but should be courteous of others by minimizing disruptions and not trespassing on private property."

For more information about licensing requirements visit MyFWC.com/License or purchase your license at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

For more information on spiny lobster fishing, including how to measure your catch, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and select “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Lobster" under "Crustaceans and Mollusks."

It takes a spiny lobster about two years to grow to the required three-inch carapace size and they can grow as large as 15 pounds. The typical recreational harvest is 1.5 to two million pounds between the start of the two-day sport season and Labor Day, according to state wildlife officials.

The commercial harvest averages six million pounds per season, with an average estimated value of $20 million, making spiny lobsters the largest commercial fishery in Florida by dollar amount.