Is Fla lobster mini-season to be avoided by nonhunters??

[nolatom]

I'll be in Florida next week, happy to dive, either off a boat around Jupiter or Palm Beach, or at Phil Foster Park under the Blue Heron Bridge (midafternoon high tides).

I've done all this before, but typically in winter. So---is the mini-season bad craziness and crowded boats, or not all that bad? I'm an out of stater and don't typically hunt lobsters in any event, though I have helped local buddies "spot" them sometimes during the regular season.

I know weather may also be a factor in when I can dive, but some advice from the Magi about those two days, would be appreciated.

 

[100days-a-year]

The Keys will be Epic stupid but most of the rest of FL will just be busy.I wouldn't go to the Keys if the trip was free during mini-season.

 

[kelemvor]

If you can get on a provate boat you might be able to find a site that isn't overrun with hunters. In the key's there is john pennekamp state park where hunting isn't allowed. There are also a few "Special Protected Areas" where there is no hunting. Personally, I'd do it another day if you can. If it's the only day you can get out, look for a site that doesn't allow hunters and a captain that will protect his divers from boats not respecting the dive flag.

BHB should be safe I would think.

 

[snowdog61]

Did mini-season once off a friend's boat a few years back - that was likely the first and the last. It's a shi* storm of idiots and police agencies. I'd definitely do BHB if I had the choice or Pennekamp if I was down there. Most, if not all the regular charters will be catering to the mini season crowd. Don't get me wrong, I love to hunt them but it's just not worth the mayhem that is mini-season