It’s that time of year again – lobster season. It all starts out with the two-day mini-season on July 26 and 27. Tourists from all around the world flock to the Florida Keys to get a chance at catching their lobster limit.
While the tourist lobster hunters are praying for clear skies, no wind, no waves, great visibility and no rain, the commercial lobster fishermen are doing a rain dance hoping for the opposite. Commercial lobster harvesting in the Florida Keys is big business, and a very tough and taxing business. Mini-season gives the recreational lobster divers a chance to harvest their limit of six per active harvester per day a week before regular season starts on Sunday, Aug. 6. Our lobster season ends at the end of March. The lobster season dates are arranged to avoid their mating season, which happens from early April to late July.
Mini-season is known for turning the Keys into a crowded, frantic island chain. Overseas Highway gets congested with trucks pulling boats. All the boat ramps are packed, all of the marina slips are taken, and you had better get to the fuel docks early or you’ll wait in line to get your fuel and ice. Many of the dive shops in the Florida Keys have lines going out of their doors.
While locals’ thoughts on mini-season are mixed, its impact on the local economy is undeniable. Most of the hotels, motels and vacation rental homes are all booked up in advance. Mini-season and opening day of lobster season represent the last real economic shot in the arm before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday rush. After the regular season opens in August, things start slowing down in the Keys until another holiday rush in December.
The thing a lot of people don’t seem to realize is that diving for lobster during the slow months can be just as productive, if not more productive, than the two days of mini-season and opening lobster season week. Tourists ask me all the time, “What’s the best time to dive for lobster?” I think September and October are prime time for harvesting lobster.
New batches of lobster migrate here from the Caribbean daily, replenishing the population throughout the year. You can come to the Keys, pay off-season rates for lodging and not have to deal with the insane crowds. There are no crowds on the water, and depending on the weather, plenty of lobster to catch. November and December are also great months to harvest lobster, but as we go into the colder months it gets tougher and tougher to catch them.
Several reputable local charter companies, including Ana Banana, offer lobster trips and bully netting charters at night. Make sure your guide asks important questions to understand your level of experience, comfort and fitness with swimming, diving/snorkeling, and lobster-catching techniques.
Some of the same unfortunate events seem to happen every year. People come into the Keys a week or two before mini-season or before regular season and get caught harvesting lobster out of season. All of Florida, and specifically the Keys, are very protective of our natural resources – when someone gets busted harvesting lobster out of season, it’s big trouble for them. Other tragic events that occur are boat accidents and drownings, many of which are alcohol-related. Hopefully this year we won’t see any of these.
Spiny lobster are a blast to harvest and great to eat. I feel fortunate to live in the spiny lobster capital of the world where I can dive down any day during season, harvest lobster and feed them to my family. We love hunting and eating lobster, and we hope everyone enjoys the lobster experience as much as we do. We hope everyone stays safe and enjoys our slice of paradise here in the Florida Keys.
To book a charter with Ana Banana, call or text Capt. Joel at 813-267-4401 or Capt. Jojo at 305-879-0564, or visit anabananafishing.com.
