Palm Beach Bug Huntin'

[Ironcat]

I am going out next weekend (and the weekend after that too!) looking for lobsters with a group of buddies. Our rationale is that A: It's still lobster season, B: Most of the mini season warriors are done, and C: Half the people that would normally be out there will say March is too cold for diving.
Anyone got any hotspots they don't mind sharing this late in the season? Right now we are probably just going to pick a couple likely looking reefs and hope for the best.

 

[Johnoly]

Can't give you GPS numbers, but our winter has been unseasonably mild. The reefs have been getting hammered by alot of bug hunters. Your weather for the first weekend in March is looking the best ever and calm.

For spots, stay off the main front ledge of Boynton, it's been picked over already. Also the 2nd reef line around the 65fsw has been hit hard. You'll need to move to the 3rd reef line around the 90-95 range. Again, work the top and backside of the reef line. Your going to need Nitrox to get any bottom time on these sites.

FWC has been at every inlet and checking all the boats, make sure you have everything for them. Also remember that no bug or fish is worth your life, be safe and best of luck to you !!

 

[Ironcat]

Thanks for the info but unfortunately we are all new divers so the 90ft range is still out of our reach... We are all still fresh enough to respect our limitations.
I guess we will be admiring the scenery at <60ft. in our fruitless search for lobstery goodness but that's better than nothing...

 

[KBeck]

Sadly, the last two or three reef dives we've done, we haven't seen a single, solitary lobster. I don't eat them myself, but am always happy to be a spotter.....except when there's nothing to spot. Wild.

 

[Tom Winters]

I've been seeing lots of lobsters of Boca/south Delray right around the 85-95' depths. Most of them are marginal or shorts - half the time, they come right out of their holes with a tickle or two.

 

[Loneranger]

You will find late in the season most depths of 55-60' will be worked pretty hard. Went out of Jupiter 2/26 and dove to 104' plenty of bugs in depths over 85'.

 

[SCUBA Works]

Hey there IronCat,

We are seeing the skilled divers limiting out on one dive... Sometimes within the first few minutes of the first dive. We have been hearing that up till last week they were in the deeper water around 80 to 110 feet. BUT, a very reliable source (commercial lobster diver who has been diving for 30+ years) says that he is seeing them moving into shallower water, 60 to 80 or less. No one that I have seen has been bringing in the "Big" ones but the numbers are sure there. Some of the commercial guys are getting close to 200 per day. We are running specific lobster trip at least once a week for all of March. The lobster is there, you just have to find a reef that someone has not just hit and then you have to have the skill to find/see that and bag them.

Good luck to you. Please let us know how you do.

MINI SEASON 2005