Sport Spiny Lobster Season opens Wednesday and Thursday, July 25 and 26 this year and many experienced bug catchers will be scouting their favorite reefs earlier in the month. Most successful lobster hunters also spearfish and know that many fish will often lead them to good lobster holes. Of course spiny’s can’t be taken, but they will often stay in the area, unless there are big storms. Tropical storms and hurricanes are known to cause “lobster walks,” where they frequently travel to new and easier hunting grounds.
Not all lobsters are out of season. Scouts can hunt spotted lobsters which are unregulated, meaning they’re always open and have no size or quantity limits. Only egg bearing females are off limits. The one shown next to my mask and fins is very large for a spotted lobster. Bring a narrow dive light, as spotted lobsters hide in hard to reach cracks and are super fast! Spanish lobsters, also known as slipper or shovelnose bugs, are also unregulated and much easier to catch, but they camo in real well under reefs, often hanging upside down. The shovelnose pictured here was caught by my diver after spearing the gag grouper that is holding him in it’s throat! (Look close for the teeth.)
It’s not easy to carry full size spearguns and stringers, along with lobstering equipment, during the open season, but many of us do it anyway, clumsily. Lobsters and lionfish share the same habitat, so targeting lionfish and using small polespears is becoming popular, and easier to manage.
Spiny Lobstering in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties have big advantages over the Keys and Key Biscayne. Sportsman Season here allows night diving and a limit of 12 per/person per/day, versus only 6 in Monroe County, and only in daylight. Many of the big parks south of Miami-Dade County have restrictions in Sportsman Season and Regular Season, so check all the regulations. All Lobster hunters should thoroughly read all the info on myFWC.com.
Be sure to get many dive floats and flags with stiffeners. I recommend as big as possible. Always keep an experienced driver aboard your boat and big dive flags flying high above!
Good Bugging & Dive Safe!
Capt. Chad Carney
(727) 423-7775
www.floridaskindiver.com
email: chad.carney@yahoo.com