Florida mini lobster season

[Johnoly]

Can you grab them by the antennas or will they break off?

Yes it will break off if you grab the tops of the antenna. If you can slide your fingers down and grip the knuckles of the antenna next to the head, you can pull them out. 50% of my catch comes from hand grabs. The type of gloves is important and don't forget that the bug may have some company in it's hole. I've average 2-3 bites per year. Hand grabbing also take 3 times longer than looping or tickle-ing and you need to decide if you should skip that hole and move to another or stay and expend time and air.

Their tail looks like it will pinch you if you grab it.

If they curl and your hand is bare, it can hurt but not to much.

Will i have better luck around key west or islamarada?

Everyone knows that all of the Keys are loaded down with millions of lobster, have a blast down there! Unfortunately there are zero lobster from Boynton and all the way north of there.

 

[ONESPEED]

Nothing left in Broward either, better head down to the keys if you want to catch anything.

 

[JackSpearo]

youtube is your friend Rhino, watch some videos of how they tickle them out... I personally think tickling them out is a heck of a lot easier than using a snare/or loop... But I'm sure many people will disagree, to each his own you know?

definitely invest in some good gloves, either a pair of nice scuba gloves or maybe some gardening gloves from lowes... I ended up buying some nice scuba gloves, 3mm or 5mm i can't recall (I was tired of my gloves falling apart after each season and having to rebuy gloves) it will definitely save you money in the long run...

I personally think islamorda would be better, i did very very well in key largo last year...

good luck! I'll post some pics this year of my mini-season! !

 

[Scott L]

Nothing left in Broward either, better head down to the keys if you want to catch anything.

Didn't you mean to say Jupiter south to the Keys ONESPEED? Losbters just love the gin-clear shallow waters of the keys immediately adjacent to beautiful subtropical rum runner dispensing bars...

 

[Kaliber35]

I live in Broward and am VERY interested in lobstering this mini-season. A few live lobsters would make one heck of a July birthday gift! Anyone mind a new diver tagging along to learn the ropes?

 

[twinvee dan]

I want to warn you, those lobsters read the paper. They seem to know when lobster season is and run and hide. When you turn your back, they run out of their hole, do their happy dance and run back in before you can turn around.

Read the rules carefully. You will get a ticket for taking more than your catch, not having whole lobsters on the boat, not having a license, catching at night, and not using a dive flag to name a few of the rules. You can catch 6 lobsters per licensed harvester per day in Monroe Co. (the Florida Keys), and 12 per day in other counties allowing harvesting.

Mini season starts 1201 am on Wednesday, July 29 and ends at 12 midnight July 30.
You can download the Monroe County mini lobster season brochure at Lobster Season In The Florida Keys - Monroe County

We use to go out the morning of at 2am out of Sebastian and start diving (night diving) so when I saw your post I thought maybe I am breaking the law but I followed your link (thank you) and confirmed that.....

night diving is prohibited in Monroe County (only during the sport season).

 

[RhinoGuy]

We are getting pumped! We got our house down there booked today and are looking for flights. We ended up staying in Islamorada. Hopefully we will have good luck on the lobsters!

 

[twinvee dan]

Nothing left in Broward either, better head down to the keys if you want to catch anything.

you have not checked the ledges between sebastian and fort pierce, find them every year in 8 to 30 feet of water and it is not people packed like the keys.

 

[black1]

My new 5 year fishing and Lobster license just came in yesterday, yeee hawwww.

 

[black1]

I have seen some big boys out there the last few weekends.