Next Wednesday marks the beginning of spiny lobster sport season for those with a valid license. Here’s what fishermen should know before they get ready with their bait and tackle.
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From July 29 to the 30, people can catch up to 12 lobsters per individual in Florida except for Monroe County and Biscayne National Park (they have a limit of six per person).
Though fishing in Florida waters for spiny lobsters is fair game, there are some places where harvesting lobster is forbidden. Some of these places include Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, in the Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary, and in the five coral reef protection areas in Biscayne National Park.
In order for someone to keep a lobster, there are a few requirements that need to be checked off first.
First of all, to take home a lobster, the carapace length must exceed 3 inches, specifically when measured in water. A carapace is their tough shell that spans from their head to midsection.
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Once captured and it passes the minimum size limit, it must be brought to land in one piece. It is prohibited to separate the tail from the body.
It is also not allowed to harvest a lobster that is bearing eggs or harvest using a device that could puncture or crush the crustacean.
For more information about this year’s Spiny Lobster Sport season, visit the FWC’s website.
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