Towards the end of July, lobster hunters flood the coastal areas of Florida for “lobster season” in search of crustacean delights. There are two Florida lobster seasons: the two-day “mini season” and the eight month regular lobster season. Mini season is always the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. This year’s mini season falls on July 25 and July 26 and begins at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, ending at 12:00 midnight on Thursday.
The regular eight month lobster season is always August 6 through March 31. Before you head out for either season, reacquaint yourself with the latest regulations.
Regardless of what species you are fishing for, bag limits are only for properly licensed individuals and those people exempt from license requirements who are actively harvesting. People harvesting may not exceed their individual bag limit and take someone else’s bag limit. That is, people (including children) who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for purposes of bag limits.
Other Prohibitions
- The harvest or possession of eggbearing spiny lobster, or any other species of lobster belonging to the families Palinuridae (spiny lobsters), Scyllaridae (slipper lobsters), or Synaxidae (furry lobsters) is prohibited.
- No person shall harvest or attempt to harvest spiny lobster using any device which will or could puncture, penetrate or crush the exoskeleton (shell) or the flesh of the lobster.
- Recreational trapping prohibited.
And Things to Remember
- Possession limits are enforced on and off the water.
- Night diving is prohibited in Monroe County (only during the sport season).
- 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, and no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary during both the 2-day sport season and regular season.