Spiny lobster mini season kicks off in Florida, drawing eager divers to the water
Summer is in full swing in South Florida, but if you’ve been here at any point in the last few months or have a thermometer, you’re probably aware of it.
As the calendar quickly approaches the last week of July, it’s easy to be sad that summer is over, but it also means we’re approaching the most wonderful time of the year.
No, I’m not talking about Christmas. It’s spiny lobster mini-season in the Sunshine State.
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The Florida Keys are known for attracting large species like swordfish, but landing a fish that size requires special deep-sea techniques. (iStock)
If you’re not familiar with mini-season, it’s basically a time when commercial fishermen are not allowed to catch lobster so anyone doing it recreationally can get first dibs.
This event takes place each year on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July, and every hotel in the Florida Keys prepares in anticipation of the mass pilgrimage of both locals and visitors who will descend to join the journey.
For those who want to share in the wonders of mini season, there are some rules you must follow.
Unless you’re diving in Monroe County (home of the Florida Keys), there’s a limit of 12 lobsters per person per day. If you’re staying there, your limit is six per person per day.
Also pay attention to protected areas and National and State Parks; as these are clearly no-hunting zones.
In addition to the border, you should also ensure that the length of the coat (the part from the head to the beginning of the tail) exceeds 3 inches. You also need to have a lobster permit, which you can easily obtain by going to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. website.
Once all this is taken care of, the fun really begins.
A family displays their spiny lobster from the Florida Keys (2012) mini-season. (Austin Perry)
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I’m not even a big fan of eating lobster at a restaurant, but I happily devoured pounds of Florida spiny lobster that friends and family caught while staying in The Keys.
Just like with fish, you can never get a tastier lobster than one you catch yourself.
One of the beauties of diving for lobster during mini season is that you don’t need any fancy equipment to have a great time.
Of course, it helps to have dive tanks and SCUBA equipment, but many spots throughout the Gulf waters are shallow enough—especially in the Upper and Middle Keys—that all you need to hit your daily limit is a mask, snorkel, a pair of gloves, and a kayak.
Lobsters love to hide in small holes, crevices, and even under old personal items, so make sure you leave no stone unturned (literally).
Even though the real season is only Wednesday through Thursday, I recommend staying all week so you can partake in the other activity the area is famous for: fishing.
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When you’re not diving for lobster, there’s plenty of world-class fishing to be done on both coasts of the Florida Keys.
Bradford Todd Picariello reportedly operates a business of his own called Outlaw Fishing Charters in Marathon, Florida. (iStock)
As a native Floridian, my summers are never complete without taking a road trip to our state’s most famous archipelago in late July, and I hope some of you can experience the magic for yourself.
Summer is about creating memories that last a lifetime, and I can’t think of a better place to create new ones than the Florida Keys during spiny lobster mini season.
