Lobster Time!
Every year when I tell people that we are going to the Florida Keys to go lobstering, they always think of the lobster with large claws. The lobsters they are thinking of are the ones they see in the cold saltwater tanks when they go to restaurants. This lobster is called the American Lobster and is found predominately in the northeastern frigid waters of the United States. The American Lobster is harvested by commercial lobstermen and very rarely do recreational divers go after them. In Florida we go after the Florida Spiny Lobster. The Spiny Lobster does not have claws, but does have sharp spines on the body to protect it from predators. The Florida Spiny Lobster is found on the south east coast of the Atlantic Ocean, in the middle to upper Caribbean, and in the Gulf of Mexico. Florida’s Spiny Lobster is most plentiful in the southern parts of Florida and the Bahamas. The spiny lobster can be found in water ranging from the shallow flats and canals to the deep reef areas of the Southern Atlantic and over the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida’s spiny lobster spends most of the daytime hours hiding under coral heads, rocks, and any other places that offer safety from predators. Florida Spiny Lobsters will venture out in the dark to feed when they cannot be seen by their predators. Since most recreational Lobstering is done during the day, we typically only see the giant antennae sticking out from the lobster's hiding place. They also have smaller antennules that can help them detect the slightest changes in water displacement and little changes in the chemical composition of the water due to the presence of predators. The greatest thing about seeing the big antennas sticking out of the hiding areas is usually when you find one Spiny Lobster you find many more. They love to bunch up together in those tight little holes that can open to larger areas way in the back. Be very careful when plunging your hands back in these holes, there sometimes can be moray eels hiding in these holes that can leave a nasty and painful bite.
When to catch Florida’s Spiny Lobster
The best time catch Florida’s Spiny Lobster is during the Florida’s Mini season, which runs July 28-29, 2010, and the Regular season, which is August 6, 2010 through March 31, 2011
During lobster Mini Season recreational divers may harvest up to 6 spiny lobsters per day, providing each lobster measures at least 3 inches along the carapace which is the main body of the lobster from the indentation between the eyes to the end of the body shell). You may not take female lobster with egg bunches under the tail, they will look like little berries under the tail, you can’t miss it. All lobster must be measured in the water, so you need to always have a lobster gauge when diving or snorkeling for lobster and they must be handled in a way that insures there is no harm to the lobster during the transfer to the boat.
The Catching Process
The easiest way to catch a Florida Spiny Lobster is to troll very slowly with Snorkelers behind the boat hanging on to a ski rope and patrolling over the grassy ledges and coral areas in the Florida Keys. You will eventually learn the best areas to look for them by spotting their long Antennas sticking up out of the limestone holes and ledges. Once you spot one you let go of the rope and dive down to begin your plan of attack. It is always good to have a driver and then also a spotter on the boat to let the driver know that someone has let go so they can circle around to pick them up. You then coax the lobster out of his hiding place by tapping a "tickle stick" near the front of the hiding place. The spiny lobster is very nosey, like most women that I know, and when confronted and poked at it will cause the lobster to come out and investigate the movement. You then place the net behind the lobster and they will usually shoot or walk backwards into the net when touched again with the tickle Stick. I also wear a tough pair of dive gloves to grab them in the net very quickly and measure them with my measuring gauge while they are still in the net so they won’t get away. Once I know they are of legal size, I place them into a mesh bag that is tied to my waist.
Scuba divers will use the same plan of attack, but will usually be working larger coral reef and/or bridge areas with a lot of belt weight to keep them down in the strong currents of the keys. This allows them more time under water to work numerous holes and ledges.
Safety!!! Be courteous to other boaters and make sure you follow all safety rules and guidelines. This is one of the craziest times of the year in the Florida Keys and someone always seems to die every year by not using common sense or by carelessness of others on the water.
If you decide to go after lobsters in waters of the Florida Keys there are some important things you to keep in mind; Lobster Season dates, bag limits, and Safety rules and Regulations on gear and equipment. The drive down to the Florida Keys is also a long haul from the Tampa Bay area so make sure your boat and trailer are in tip top shape for the trip.
Please contact the FWC at myfwc.com to verify all the up to date information.
Please think safety first!
Capt. Mark W. Gore
Outdoor Writer, Guide & Speaker
Guide Headquarters - Fishing-Hunting & Outdoor Communications
Cell: 813-434-5504
Email: mgore2@tampabay.rr.com
Website: www.captainmarkgore.com
Every year when I tell people that we are going to the Florida Keys to go lobstering, they always think of the lobster with large claws. The lobsters they are thinking of are the ones they see in the cold saltwater tanks when they go to restaurants. This lobster is called the American Lobster and is found predominately in the northeastern frigid waters of the United States. The American Lobster is harvested by commercial lobstermen and very rarely do recreational divers go after them. In Florida we go after the Florida Spiny Lobster. The Spiny Lobster does not have claws, but does have sharp spines on the body to protect it from predators. The Florida Spiny Lobster is found on the south east coast of the Atlantic Ocean, in the middle to upper Caribbean, and in the Gulf of Mexico. Florida’s Spiny Lobster is most plentiful in the southern parts of Florida and the Bahamas. The spiny lobster can be found in water ranging from the shallow flats and canals to the deep reef areas of the Southern Atlantic and over the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida’s spiny lobster spends most of the daytime hours hiding under coral heads, rocks, and any other places that offer safety from predators. Florida Spiny Lobsters will venture out in the dark to feed when they cannot be seen by their predators. Since most recreational Lobstering is done during the day, we typically only see the giant antennae sticking out from the lobster's hiding place. They also have smaller antennules that can help them detect the slightest changes in water displacement and little changes in the chemical composition of the water due to the presence of predators. The greatest thing about seeing the big antennas sticking out of the hiding areas is usually when you find one Spiny Lobster you find many more. They love to bunch up together in those tight little holes that can open to larger areas way in the back. Be very careful when plunging your hands back in these holes, there sometimes can be moray eels hiding in these holes that can leave a nasty and painful bite.
When to catch Florida’s Spiny Lobster
The best time catch Florida’s Spiny Lobster is during the Florida’s Mini season, which runs July 28-29, 2010, and the Regular season, which is August 6, 2010 through March 31, 2011
During lobster Mini Season recreational divers may harvest up to 6 spiny lobsters per day, providing each lobster measures at least 3 inches along the carapace which is the main body of the lobster from the indentation between the eyes to the end of the body shell). You may not take female lobster with egg bunches under the tail, they will look like little berries under the tail, you can’t miss it. All lobster must be measured in the water, so you need to always have a lobster gauge when diving or snorkeling for lobster and they must be handled in a way that insures there is no harm to the lobster during the transfer to the boat.
The Catching Process
The easiest way to catch a Florida Spiny Lobster is to troll very slowly with Snorkelers behind the boat hanging on to a ski rope and patrolling over the grassy ledges and coral areas in the Florida Keys. You will eventually learn the best areas to look for them by spotting their long Antennas sticking up out of the limestone holes and ledges. Once you spot one you let go of the rope and dive down to begin your plan of attack. It is always good to have a driver and then also a spotter on the boat to let the driver know that someone has let go so they can circle around to pick them up. You then coax the lobster out of his hiding place by tapping a "tickle stick" near the front of the hiding place. The spiny lobster is very nosey, like most women that I know, and when confronted and poked at it will cause the lobster to come out and investigate the movement. You then place the net behind the lobster and they will usually shoot or walk backwards into the net when touched again with the tickle Stick. I also wear a tough pair of dive gloves to grab them in the net very quickly and measure them with my measuring gauge while they are still in the net so they won’t get away. Once I know they are of legal size, I place them into a mesh bag that is tied to my waist.
Scuba divers will use the same plan of attack, but will usually be working larger coral reef and/or bridge areas with a lot of belt weight to keep them down in the strong currents of the keys. This allows them more time under water to work numerous holes and ledges.
Safety!!! Be courteous to other boaters and make sure you follow all safety rules and guidelines. This is one of the craziest times of the year in the Florida Keys and someone always seems to die every year by not using common sense or by carelessness of others on the water.
If you decide to go after lobsters in waters of the Florida Keys there are some important things you to keep in mind; Lobster Season dates, bag limits, and Safety rules and Regulations on gear and equipment. The drive down to the Florida Keys is also a long haul from the Tampa Bay area so make sure your boat and trailer are in tip top shape for the trip.
Please contact the FWC at myfwc.com to verify all the up to date information.
Please think safety first!
Capt. Mark W. Gore
Outdoor Writer, Guide & Speaker
Guide Headquarters - Fishing-Hunting & Outdoor Communications
Cell: 813-434-5504
Email: mgore2@tampabay.rr.com
Website: www.captainmarkgore.com
