News Release

Lobster seasons about to begin

July 25, 2008
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554 or Patricia Behnke, 850-410-5291

Recreational and commercial harvest seasons for spiny lobster in Florida are set to reopen soon.  The special two-day spiny lobster sport season comes first, on July 30 and 31 this year, followed by the regular lobster season, which begins on Aug. 6 and extends through March 31.

The special two-day sport season occurs on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July each year to let recreational fishermen collect spiny lobsters before commercial lobster traps are placed in the water.  Commercial fishermen can begin putting their traps in the water on Aug. 1, and recreational and commercial fishermen can harvest spiny lobsters starting on Aug. 6.

Spiny lobsters must have a carapace length greater than 3 inches to be taken during the open seasons, and you must possess a measuring device and measure all lobsters in the water.  You also must have a recreational saltwater fishing license and a spiny lobster permit to harvest spiny lobsters, unless you are exempt from the recreational license requirements.

During the two-day spiny lobster sport season, you’re allowed to take up to six lobsters per person daily in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park waters and 12 lobsters per person daily in other Florida waters.  You may possess no more than the daily bag limit of lobsters when you’re on the water.

When you’re off the water, you may possess the daily bag limit on the first day and double the daily bag limit on the second day.  Possession limits are enforced on and off the water during the two-day sport season.

Night-diving for spiny lobsters during the two-day sport season is not allowed in Monroe County, and all harvest of lobsters is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the two-day season.

Lobster harvest is also prohibited at all times in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Spiny Lobster Sanctuary, certain areas in Pennekamp Park, and no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

During the Aug. 6 through March 31 regular season, the daily recreational bag and on-the-water possession limit is six spiny lobsters per person. 

More information on recreational spiny lobster fishing, including how to measure lobsters, is available online.  You also can download a brochure about lobster fishing in Monroe County, and get online information about recreational saltwater fishing licenses and permits and commercial lobster fishing.