The mini lobster season is always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july. Everything from appetizers to full meals is available. Jul 23, 2016 a lust for lobster will lure an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 divers and snorkelers to florida waters on wednesday and thursday, with most of them headed to the florida keys. Florida keys lobster season welcome to florida keys, monroe county florida, mini lobster season florida keys lobster season is at hand and everyone is excited. July 2930, 2020 last consecutive wednesday and thursday of july each year daily bag limit. The 2016 spiny lobster season opens with the twoday recreational sport. Many of our subscribers ask us all the time how to find lobster, what gear to use, and when is the best time to go.
Wednesday, july 27, 2016, you can catch your very own lobster in the florida keys. Every july the coastal areas of florida are flooded with lobster hunters trying to get their share of this years bounty when the offical mini lobster season kicks off. Florida keys lobster season, monroe county, sport lobster. If youre a lobster fan, youll love the possibility of some of the most succulent meals coming up. For the first day of minilobster season here in the florida keys, i headed out to the backcountry to do some diving. This is a time when lobstering is open to recreational harvesters only. Then a multitude of divers show up at the scene to catch the precious crustacean. The state of florida does not regulate the harvest of the other lobster species. Lobster mini season, takes place on the last wednesday and thursday in july. Cancel lobster mini season for the florida keys facebook. This annual two day event, during which properly licensed snorkeler andor. Lobster hunting is however restricted, and the florida lobster season is broken down into 2 parts. Make sure to always verify dates and regulations with florida fish and wildlife.
Lobster miniseason kicks off wednesday with big splash. Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission for questions on regulations or to report a violation division of law enforcement 8884043922 marathon office 3052892320 division of marine fisheries 8504870554. The florida lobster is caught off the florida keys and around the southern tip of the state. The florida keys is rich in history with many state parks to catch breathe taking views of the famous 7 mile bridge. Mini lobster season is about to kick off in the florida keys, and man are we ready to get our hands on some fresh florida lobster. July 25th july 26th book your florida keys hotel early because the islands fill up for this annual popular event. Since lobster season has recently opened, i thought a how to catch fl lobster article would be timely for anyone considering a trip down to the keys check out all of my best lobster tips below. Be smart, make sure you know the rules and regulations and most of all be safe out on the water. This allows the for the normal practice of mating season to take place. This gives folks like us a chance to catch a few lobster before the commercial traps are put out. We planned to head west from marathon, on the gulf side, toward content keys for sport lobster season, also known as mini season. The annual spiny lobster sport season mini season begins this year at 12. Lobster diving in the florida keys at the top of every divers bucket list is lobster season in the florida keys. Spiny lobster fwc florida fish and wildlife conservation.
Lobster mini season kicks off wednesday with big splash. Key colony 2016 lobster season, florida keys on vimeo. Key colony 2016 lobster season, florida keys on vimeo join. Thats because the official florida lobster season, which runs for 8 months, doesnt start until august 6th. Aug 24, 2014 in the middle of the keys, in the middle of islamorada, with access to deep sea fishing, swimming pool or ocean, bone fishing, near many attractions, etc. See more ideas about florida, fl keys and lobster fishing. The florida lobster or spiny crawfish palinurus argus is a crustacean. Here is an example of some coral that you might find some lobsters hiding under. Florida established mini season in 1974 as a way to reduce the conflict between recreational lobster hunters and commercial lobster fishermen. In the keys, lobster miniseason is a holiday and an ordeal. Mini lobster season florida keys catch spiny lobster. The only thing mini about minilobster season is that, legally, this lobster season can only be held for two days. Lobster diving is a lot like spearfishing harder than you think.
Finding lobsters can be tricky unless you know what your looking for. Aug 09, 2016 florida keys lobster mini season 2016 tikidiver. Book your florida keys hotel early because the islands fill up for this annual popular event. Although china is 9,000 miles away, the coronavirus is causing the lobster season to end early for nichols and many of the other lobstermen of the florida keys. Anybody whos been in the keys for florida s sport lobster season knows things can get crazy. One of the most celebrated species of wildlife in the florida keys is the spiny lobster.
The 2day spiny lobster event is always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july, with the regular season opening august 6 th and ending march 31 st. Hear about the lovehate relationship with lobster miniseason in the florida keys. Secure the lobster in the net and take it to the surface for measurement. Spiny lobster research panel planned in florida keys.
The eightmonth commercial and recreational lobster season opens at 12. More than 70 percent of all crawfish taken in the state come from reefs in monroe county, despite the fact that lobster hunting is regulated more strictly here than anywhere else. Wednesday, and waters around the florida keys will be packed with divers. By now there are literally thousands of you all headed to the florida keys for lobster mini season this july 2425 from all across the country. L obster season is one of the busiest times in the florida keys, as thousands of visitors and residents hit the waters in search of one of their favorite delicacies, the florida spiny lobster. Many people find the rules and geographical boundaries in southern florida to be complex and confusing. Spiny lobster and stone crab prices in the florida keys we are well into the spiny lobster and stone crab seasons. At the end of every july the phenomenon called mini lobster season takes place. Florida keys minilobster season 2017 day 1 youtube. It was the first day of florida spiny lobster season, which ends thursday.
Fall in love with floridas upper keys the florida buzz report. Floridas 2016 spiny lobster season good hunt the ledger. Between the already sexually mature lobster growing larger, the hatchlings beginning to make their way through their life cycle, and the only pressure on the species, is by their own natural predators. This hotel is a clean well kept reasonably priced place it is in the keys you know right in the middle of everything.
Thats why it pays to find the right charter operation. Florida keys lobster season is at hand and everyone is excited. There are two florida lobster seasons, the 2 day mini sea. Lobstering in the florida keys key west lobster charters. The florida keys lobster season is much awaited here since lobster is such a favored and popular seafood item. Lobster season in florida at dive duck key hawks cay. Spiny lobster season in florida is an exciting time for residents and locals alike, as well as commercial and recreational fishermen.
Thousands of people come to the keys every year for their chance to catch florida spiny lobster, the clawless delicacy that has been off limits to anglers since the regular season ended march 31. Mini lobster season is a chance for recreational anglers to try their hand at catching these elusive crustaceans. In the keys, lobster miniseason is a holiday and an. Jul 11, 2016 florida fish and wildlife commission officer jeff luce checks a lobster caught during during mini spiny lobster season for eggs at port canaveral, on wednesday, july 30, 2014. Lobster season closes from march 31st until august 5th. With smart choices, you can lower your impact on sensitive coral reefs, plus other natural resources, that you are here to enjoy.
So far, five arrests in lobster miniseason in fl keys miami. Mini season in the keys is the last wednesday and thursday of july and is open for all noncommercial lobstering. Dive boats and hotels in the more popular areas tend to fill up pretty quickly, so make plans early. First of all, the type of lobster most common in the keys is called spiny lobster.
Betsy, islamoradas giant lobster islamorada florida keys. If youre traveling south for this years lobster season and need an accommodating hotel in the florida keys, be sure to consider hiltons many properties, including the casa marina key west, a waldorf astoria resort, bakers cay key largo and budgetfriendly options like the hampton inn marathon florida keys. Lobster miniseason lauderdalebythesea, florida facebook. Wednesday with several early birds scoring good starts to the twoday event. Scouting for lobster, petting sharks and eels lobster mini season 2016 duration. Florida spiny lobster miniseason 2016 is july 27 and 28 new. Florida keys 2019 lobster mini season is here florida.
The mini season dates are always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july and begins at 12. Mini lobster season, content keys blue turtle trawler. This year our friends from idaho ask to go with us. Aug 18, 2016 published on aug 18, 2016 our family has made it a tradition to go to the florida keys and lobster at the beginning of every season. Regulations for recreational harvest and lobster information for monroe county monroe county spearfishing. The two day spiny lobster sport season is always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july. What a fun lobster season down in islamorada florida keys. While final numbers wont be tallied until well after the twoday florida spiny lobster season ends after midnight thursday, the keys saw five arrests related to the annual hunt, dozens of. Harvest of lobster is prohibited in john pennekamp coral reef state park during the sport season and in everglades national park, dry tortugas national park, notake areas in the florida keys national marine sanctuary and in the biscayne baycard sound lobster sanctuary during both the 2day sport season and regular season. Jan 25, 2018 as members of a true new england seafood destination, we at weathervane seafood restaurants know what our guests like to eat. With smart choices, you can lower your impact on sensitive coral reefs, plus other natural resources. Here is another great example of coral that will typically have a lot of lobsters under it. Sara at 3053941042 or you can get more information on her website at.
Think of minilobster season as a preparty, held every year on the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july. Make sure you use a good pair of gloves to prevent injury from their sharp spines. On august 1, the commercial lobstermen are permitted to set their gear and allow it to soak until the opening of regular lobster season, which is august 6. Every year, team salt strong heads down to islamorada for a week of lobstering. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to the keys on the last wednesday and thursday of july for lobster mini season. Florida keys lobster highlights 2016 salt strong invades. This page was created to gain support to cancel lobster mini season in the florida keys, the devastation of our waters is not worth the. The prices should have stabilized after the high prices of the beginning of the seasons. And theres a reason why they call lobster divers bug hunters. Coronavirus slams floridas lobster industry cbs miami. A twoday lobster mini season takes place the last wednesday and thursday of july each year. Each year in the florida keys vistors are arrested for illegal harvesting of our lobsters. A florida keys judge sentenced three men from alabama and one from georgia to 60 days in monroe county jail. This twoday, lobsterhunting extravaganza makes it possible for the everyday sportsman to catch the spiny shellfish before the official eightmonth lobster season kicks off for commercial fishing boats.
Surrounded by the atlantic ocean and the gulf of mexico, the keys are a paradise for lovers of fish and seafood and the word paradise is not an exaggeration. Billy causey has been in the florida keys since the early 1970s. Every year, floridians flock like northeastern snowbirds to the florida keys for mini lobster season. Hear about the lovehate relationship with lobster mini season in the florida keys billy causey has been in the florida keys since the early 1970s. The regular lobster season in the florida keys is always august 6 through march 31 the mini lobster season is always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july.
Florida keys judge sentences men to a 60 days for lobster. Florida keys lobster season florida keys experience. Fishing spots in the florida keys 2020 florida keys fishing tournaments keys fishing report nov 2017 marathon florida keys custom florida keys fishing seasons speciesmarathon florida keys monthly fishing forecast february 2016fishing report feb 2 2016 marathon fl seasquared chartersflorida keys fishing season what s biting chart the tuna towercallion fishing charters. How to catch lobster in the florida keys without scuba. They are accused illegally harvesting more than 300 lobsters while on vacation in. This year the mini season falls on july 29th and 30th. The twoday sport lobster season is always the last consecutive wednesday and thursday in july, beginning at 12. Florida keys mini lobster season 2016 florida keys mini lobster season is prime vacation rental time. But people actually do talk to causey about the lobster miniseason, the two days each july when recreational divers get a jump on. Or take a seaplane or boat out to fort zachary in the dry tortugas. Sunday, launching the years most important harvest for the florida keys commercial fishing industry. Whether lobster fishing content keys in the gulf of mexico, the wrecks and reefs of the atlantic, or the shallow key west flats, spiny lobster are abundant everywhere. Minilobster season 2016 is wednesday, july 27 and thursday, july 28.
Get prepared for lowimpact lobstering noaa florida keys. Floridas legendary spiny lobster miniseason runs from the last consecutive wednesday and thursday of july each year. So far, five arrests in lobster miniseason in fl keys. What makes this so beneficial a time is that monroe county works to build some of the best lobster experiences for everyone who want to take it on as a sport. Lobster charters in islamorada lobstering chartersbud n. Welcome to the florida keys treasures lobster page. Mini lobster season 2018 in islamorada, florida keys duration. The florida keys is the perfect paradise to take your whole family. Many areas also have a special sport season for legal recreational fishing of the spiny lobster. Fishing in marathon key february all about fishing. Often you can see the lobster s antennas from the surface, but its always a good idea to get down there and check even if you dont see any at first glance. Swarms of lobster hunters flood the florida keys for a chance to get their share of this delicious spiny crustacean. Jul 28, 2016 since lobster season has recently opened, i thought a how to catch fl lobster article would be timely for anyone considering a trip down to the keys check out all of my best lobster tips below. There are two florida lobster seasons, the 2 day mini season and the 8 month regular lobster season.
Unlike their northern relatives, the maine lobster, floridas spiny lobster has no claws, but are caught for their continue reading betsy, islamoradas giant lobster. Florida and florida keys lobstering guide scuba diving. A week in the beautiful florida keys fishing, diving and catching lobster. How to catch lobster in the florida keys without scuba tanks. Monroe county boasts the largest lobster population in the state and draws the most lobster divers. The bag limits in the florida keys during the 2 day mini season and the lobster regular season is 6 lobsters per person per day. Here the guys of dream catcher charters pose with their catch. They are related to crabs, shrimp, and other lobsters. By far, the most popular of our delicious and hearty meals featured on our extensive menus has to be the lobster and luckily, its always lobster season in our restaurants. At first glance you may not see one, but once you get down there and inspect, there they are.