| Lobsters Beware! The time has almost arrived for Lobster Mini Season again, when no rock, reef, or ledge is safe for a crustacean. The hotels of Key West and the rest of south Florida will fill, the waters will swell with boats, and for 2 days, you will be fair game for the divers that want nothing more than to grab you up and eat you.
Yup, if you’re a lobster, the news isn’t good. However, since I sincerely doubt you have a shell or short spines all over your body (though if you do, there are some tabloid papers that might pay big for your story) the news is considerably brighter. Since you’re a person, the mini-season means that you’ll get to have some underwater fun that will likely result in a tasty meal.
Lobster mini-season is a 2 day sport season that allows divers to snag Florida spiny lobsters within the legal limits prior to the regular spiny lobster season (August 6 through March 31) when the commercial operations set baited traps for the lobsters. The mini- season is July 30th and 31st this year. South Florida and the Florida Keys are known as hot spots for divers to stalk lobsters in clear, shallow water. The mini season is only for scuba or free divers. There is no such thing as “recreationally trapping lobsters.”
Florida spiny lobsters are different than their cousins up in Maine, and don’t sport generous, meaty claws – but they are delicious.
How it works:
First, locate likely lobster living quarters. The reef is the most obvious place, since it’s easy to find, and it features lots of nooks and crannies where lobsters love to lurk. Rock patches are harder to find -- they can be anywhere. Ledges are another favored place for lobsters; color changes in the shallow water can sometimes alert you to one.
Next, go hunting. If you're snorkeling for lobster, diving skills are necessary, because you need to dive down to the bottom and see what – or who – is under a rock or a ledge. You also have to be able to stay underwater for a bit to coax out your victim and prod him into your net.
Lobsters face outward and use their lengthy antennae to scare off intruders. You’ll need to know how to use a tickle stick and net. You don’t want to stick your fingers under a rock in your search for these spiny creatures. (There is a word to describe this experience: OUCH.)
Hang on to your sanity – they’re just crustaceans! Some folks are struck by lobster fever, and forget safe boating and diving practices. Avoid lobster mobsters, be defensive and have a safe outing. In addition, every year Marine enforcement officers catch people getting lobsters early, before the season. Don’t even think about it! Click here for more information on regulations and requirements from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Lastly, feast. Here are some recipes.
PS: My apologies to the lobsters. If you have any sense, bolt for the open ocean, NOW! |
