Lobster poaching starts early

[Nick Steele]

10/12 here in Fort Lauderdale put passed on a ton of barely legals and went for the guys I didn’t need to measure all from the beach!

Thumbs up to all that went out and came home safely!

 

[Sam Miller III]

No more reports of the opening day of the Florida lobster season ?
sdm

 

[Wookie]

No more reports of the opening day of the Florida lobster season ?
sdm

A million of them. I figured folks would be tired of them by now. On the upside, no day 1 fatalities.

 

[Saniflush]

I like seeing them because I have never done it and I enjoy learning what not to do.

 

[Marie13]

A million of them. I figured folks would be tired of them by now. On the upside, no day 1 fatalities.

Is that unusual? Do many divers die during the season? I assume it’s amateur hour with many infrequent divers in the water.

 

[Wookie]

Three Bell, Florida men cited for possessing 34 over-the-limit lobster

Upper Keys Marine Deputy Nelson Sanchez was on patrol at 6 a.m. Thursday during the 2018 Lobster Mini Season when he stopped a vessel in the Whale Harbor Channel for an inspection. From a distance, Sanchez noticed at least two dive bags full of lobsters on board.

Once aboard, Sanchez searched all the dive bags and coolers on board. He found 52, legal-sized lobsters. Deputy Sanchez had the vessel captain follow him to the FWC Station nearby. Once there, he asked who all were harvesting lobster. Three men and a juvenile stated they took the lobsters.

The three men stated they didn’t realize how many lobsters they had harvested.

The three men were given mandatory notices to appear in court for possession of the over-the-limit lobsters.

Deputy Sanchez was able to return the illegally-taken lobsters to the water alive.

 

[Wookie]

Lower Keys Sgt. Trevor Wirth has been busy this 2018 Lobster Mini Season. He is seen here instructing boaters on why it is important to not be underway with their dive flag up.

 

[Wookie]

Middle Keys Marine Deputy Wilfredo Guerra found this undersized lobster during a resource check on Wednesday during the 2018 Lobster Mini Season. The small lobster was returned to the water alive and Deputy Guerra wrote the offender a ticket.

Despite a few incidents like this, deputies are reporting most lobster hunters are in compliance and few issues have been reported. As of Thursday morning there have been no major safety issues reported.

 

[Wookie]

MCSO saves diver clinging to bridge

A boat operator flagged down Middle Keys Sgt. Christian Kellenberger Wednesday during the 2018 Lobster Mini Season. Sgt. Kellenberger was patrolling on one of the Yahama WaveRunners provided to the MCSO by Key Largo-based Riva Motorsports & Marine of the Keys. A diver caught in heavy current was found clinging to a Channel Two Bridge support. He as pulled to safety by Sgt. Kellenberger. The diver was not seriously injured.

 

[Wookie]

Sgt. David Smith and Sgt. Trevor Wirth conducted some 2018 Lobster Mini Season patrols on Yahama WaveRunners from Key Haven to Big Coppitt Key, bayside on Wednesday. They reported folks were mostly in compliance.

One issue: Divers need to stay within 300 feet of their vessel! The sergeants reported having to herd more than a few divers back to within 300 feet of their flagged vessels. It is for your safety, divers!