Lobstering Guides
Practical guides to lobstering in South Florida and the Keys: season dates and rules, where to go, how to catch your limit, and the gear you need.
Seasons & Rules
5Do You Need a License to Lobster in Florida? License & Permit
Yes, unless exempt: harvesting spiny lobster in Florida takes a recreational saltwater fishing license plus a $5 lobster permit. What each costs for residents and non-residents, who is exempt, the terminology, and where to buy before you go.
Jul 28, 2026How to Measure a Florida Lobster: Legal Size & the 3-Inch Rule
A Florida spiny lobster is legal only if the carapace is longer than 3 inches, and you have to measure it in the water. Exactly what to measure and how, why the tail doesn't count, the whole-lobster rule, and how to stay legal at the gauge.
Jul 27, 2026Florida Lobster Season Dates: When It Opens & Closes (2026-2027)
Florida lobster season dates: mini-season is July 29-30, 2026, and the regular season runs August 6, 2026 through March 31, 2027. The exact open and close dates, the closed season, bag limits, and when to actually go.
Jul 4, 2026Florida Lobstering Rules: Bag Limits, Size, Season & License
A plain-English guide to Florida recreational spiny lobster rules: season dates, bag limits, the 3-inch size rule, licenses, legal gear, and no-take zones.
Jun 22, 2026Florida Lobster Mini-Season 2026: Dates, Rules & Tips
Exact 2026 sport-season dates, bag and size limits, licenses, no-take zones, and beginner tips for lobstering in South Florida and the Keys.
Jun 20, 2026Where to Lobster
18Lobstering Coral Heads & Nearshore Rocks in Florida
Isolated coral heads and nearshore rock piles are the beginner's lobster habitat: shallow, calm, and full of bugs. How they form, where lobster tuck in, how to find them, the hazards from fire coral to surge, and why 2023's record marine heatwave hit these lone coral heads so hard.
Aug 2, 2026Lobstering Grass Ledges & Seagrass in the Florida Keys
Grass ledges, the edge where seagrass drops to sand, are the easiest habitat to learn on and the foraging engine of the whole system. What they are, why they matter to lobster from settlement to adulthood, how to read them from the surface, the challenges, and why protecting seagrass protects the fishery.
Aug 1, 2026Lobstering on Patch Reefs in the Florida Keys
Patch reefs are the coral outcrops between shore and the reef tract, and they hold some of the best lobster in the Keys and some of the highest live coral cover left on Florida's reef. How they form, where bugs hide on them, how to find your own, the challenges, and why they matter after 2023's bleaching.
Jul 31, 2026Florida Bay: The Hardbottom Nursery That Grows the Keys' Lobster
The shallow sponge-and-soft-coral hardbottom of Florida Bay is the nursery for the Keys' spiny lobster. How this habitat forms, the role of red grouper that excavate it, why juvenile lobster depend on sponges and solution holes for shelter, and the cyanobacteria blooms that threaten it.
Jul 30, 2026How to Find Lobster Spots in Florida: Bottom, Water & GPS
Finding productive bottom is the real skill in lobstering. What makes a spot hold lobster, how to read that habitat from the surface with polarized glasses, satellite imagery, and your sounder, and how a proven set of GPS waypoints saves the time and fuel of scouting.
Jul 26, 2026Florida Keys Boat Ramps for Lobstering: Locations, Fees & Parking
A ramp-by-ramp guide to launching for lobster from Miami through Key West: addresses, current launch fees, trailer parking, ramp conditions, and how crowded each one gets on mini-season and summer weekends.
Jul 21, 2026Lobster Mini-Season Spots: Where to Go and Beat the Crowds
Mini-season is two crowded days. The key to a good, safe trip is options: spots on both sides of the islands and at every depth so you can dodge the crowds, adapt to the weather, and dive at your own pace. How to plan ahead with Lobsterly.
Jul 17, 2026Florida Artificial Reefs: History, Coordinates & How to Find Them
Florida has one of the largest artificial reef programs in the country: 4,500+ public reefs you can lobster, fish, or dive. The history of the program, the rule on harvesting lobster from reefs, recent deployments, and how to search them by county and depth.
Jul 16, 2026Buying Lobster Spots in Florida: App vs GPS Files vs Charters
Thinking about buying lobster spots in Florida? Here are your three real options, GPS coordinate files, a guided charter, or a spot-finding app, and how to get the most spots for your money.
Jul 15, 2026Free Florida Lobster Spots: GPS Coordinates to Get Started
Real, free GPS coordinates for lobster spots from the Palm Beaches through the Florida Keys, organized by region, plus how to use them. A sample of 100+ free waypoints in the Lobsterly app.
Jul 14, 2026Lobstering in the Lower Keys & Big Pine Key: Spots, Access & Tips
A local's guide to lobstering the Lower Keys and Big Pine: backcountry ledges and drop-offs around the Content Keys, channel hardbottom, Gulf-side flats, oceanside patch reefs, public ramps, and why this is the quiet, kayak-friendly end of the chain.
Jul 9, 2026Lobstering in Key Largo, Florida: Spots, Access & Tips
A local's guide to lobstering in Key Largo, FL: the reef tract and the fossilized reef just inside it, patch reefs and hardbottom around the famous no-take reefs, nearshore rocks, public ramps, and the Monroe County rules.
Jul 8, 2026Lobstering in John Pennekamp: Rules, Season & Spots
Can you lobster in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park? Yes, in the regular season, but not during mini-season when the whole park is closed. The rules, the protected coral zones, the no-take reefs, easy nearshore rocks, and how to launch in Key Largo.
Jun 30, 2026Lobstering in Miami & Biscayne National Park: Spots, Access & Tips
A local's guide to lobstering in Miami and Biscayne National Park: the densest patch reefs in the Florida reef tract, the biology that makes them so productive, public ramps, and the 12-vs-6 bag-limit rule every Miami diver needs to know.
Jun 29, 2026Lobstering in Key West, Florida: Spots, Access & Tips
A local's guide to lobstering in Key West, FL: nearshore rocks, shallow patch reefs, the oceanside reefline, and the backcountry. Public ramps, the Monroe County rules, and why Key West has diveable bottom for any wind and any skill level.
Jun 28, 2026Lobstering in Marathon, Florida: Spots, Access & Tips
A local's guide to lobstering in Marathon, FL: oceanside patch reefs and Gulf-side backcountry from the same ramp, public launches, the Monroe County rules, and why the Middle Keys give you the most habitat variety in the chain.
Jun 26, 2026Lobstering in Islamorada, Florida: Spots, Access & Tips
A local's guide to lobstering in Islamorada, FL: the oceanside patch reefs and bayside potholes that hold bugs, public ramp access, the Monroe County rules, and why this stretch produces lobster year after year.
Jun 25, 2026Lobstering in Duck Key, Florida: Spots, Access & Tips
A local's guide to lobstering around Duck Key in the Florida Keys: bayside and oceanside spots, kayak access for visitors, the rules, and how to catch your limit.
Jun 21, 2026How-To
17Sharks, Eels & Lionfish: Marine Life Hazards While Lobstering
The marine animal people fear while lobstering is rarely the one that hurts them. A realistic guide to the hazards: why sharks are usually the least of it, the moray eels in the holes you reach into, venomous lionfish and fire coral, stingrays, urchins, and the simple habits that keep you safe.
Aug 7, 2026Dive Flags & Boating Safety for Florida Lobster Season
Mini-season packs thousands of divers and boats into the same water, and the divers-down flag is what keeps them apart. Florida's dive flag law explained: the flag and buoy requirements, the 300-foot and 100-foot distance rules for divers and boaters, and how to stay safe on the busiest days of the season.
Aug 6, 2026A Day in the Life of a Florida Spiny Lobster: Den, Diet & Predators
A single spiny lobster's 24-hour cycle: where it dens by day, why it rarely dens alone, the predators it hides from, what it hunts after dark, how far it ranges, and whether it returns to the same den each night. The science, written for divers.
Jul 25, 2026Florida Spiny Lobster Migration: Where They Go & When
Follow a single spiny lobster from the shallow seagrass where it settles, out through nearshore rocks to the reef, and around the annual loop it repeats for life. The science behind the fall marches and how to use it to find bugs every month of the season.
Jul 24, 2026Scuba vs. Freediving for Lobster: Which Is Right for You?
Should you scuba or freedive for Florida lobster? It is less about which is better and more about the right tool for the job. The honest pros and cons of each on access, crowds, speed, gear, cost, and safety, and how to choose.
Jul 22, 2026Where Do Florida's Lobster Come From? The Surprising Science
Most divers assume the egg-bearing lobster they see are restocking Florida. The science says otherwise: spiny lobster larvae drift for months on ocean currents, and a large share of Florida's lobster begin life upstream in the Yucatan, Cuba, and the wider Caribbean.
Jul 13, 2026Reading the Weather for Lobstering: How to Plan Your Trip
Wind, seas, visibility, and tide decide whether a lobster trip is great or a wash. Learn to read the forecast: which wind sends you to the bayside or the ocean side, what seas and visibility to look for, how tides affect current, and when to call it.
Jul 12, 2026Tickle Stick & Net vs. Snare: How to Catch a Lobster
The two main ways to catch a Florida spiny lobster by hand: a tickle stick and net, and a tail snare. How each works step by step, when to use which, the blunt-tip rule, and the technique tips that actually land bugs.
Jul 11, 2026How to Catch Lobster Without a Boat (Kayak, SUP & Shore)
You do not need a boat to catch Florida lobster. Plenty of bugs sit in shallow nearshore rocks, grass ledges, and flats you can reach by kayak, paddleboard, wading, or swimming. Where to go, the gear, the rules, and how to stay safe.
Jul 10, 2026Bully Netting for Lobster: The Keys Night-Netting Guide
Bully netting catches lobster at night from a skiff as they forage on shallow grass flats, no diving required. The gear, the technique, where it works, and why it is legal at night even during the Keys mini-season.
Jul 7, 2026Lobstering at Night: Rules, Tips & Where It Is Legal
Night diving for lobster can be incredibly productive because lobster come out to feed after dark. Where night diving is legal in Florida, the Monroe County mini-season ban, the gear you need, and how to do it safely.
Jul 6, 2026How to Find Lobster: Reading the Bottom Like a Local
The skill that matters most in lobstering is finding them. Learn to read the bottom: why seagrass is your best clue, what good structure looks like, the fish that give lobster away, and how to use your eyes and electronics to land on bugs.
Jul 5, 2026Lobstering Safety: What to Watch Out For
Lobstering is safe and fun when you use good judgment. Here is what to be aware of on the water: boat traffic, current, and weather, plus the critters and coral to give space, and why moving to an easier spot is always the right call.
Jul 3, 2026Water Temperature and Lobster: How to Find Bugs All Season
Spiny lobster are cold-blooded, so water temperature drives where they are. Learn the temperature band lobster like, what they do in summer heat and winter cold, and how to follow them through the August-March regular season to catch your limit.
Jul 2, 2026Lobster Habitat in Florida: Where Spiny Lobster Live & How to Find Them
A field guide to Florida lobster habitat: seagrass, hardbottom, coral heads, patch reefs, channels, and the reef tract, how each one formed, what lobster do in it, and how their habitat shifts with the seasons and water temperature.
Jul 1, 2026Lobstering Around Bridges: The Seven Mile Bridge & the Real Risks
Bridges like the Seven Mile Bridge hold lobster, but strong current, poor visibility, entanglement, and boat traffic make them advanced water. Why bridge lobstering is risky, who should skip it, and how to do it safer if you go.
Jun 27, 2026How Does Lobstering Work? A Beginner's Guide
New to lobstering? Learn how to catch Florida spiny lobster step by step: the gear, where to find them, the technique, and how to keep it legal.
Jun 22, 2026Gear
2How to Set Up Your Boat for Lobstering
Rig your boat for an efficient, safe lobster day: anchoring vs. drift diving, the right anchor and ground tackle, marker buoys and boarding, and knowing your draft.
Jun 24, 2026Lobstering Gear: The Complete Checklist
Everything you need to go lobstering in Florida: the must-have dive and lobstering gear, the legal essentials, and a pre-trip boat checklist.
Jun 23, 2026Conservation & Science
8Slipper, Spanish & Spotted Lobster: Florida's Other Lobsters
Most Florida lobster is the Caribbean spiny lobster, but divers occasionally bring up a flat, shovel-nosed slipper lobster or a small spotted spiny lobster. What these other lobsters are, how to tell them apart, the very different rules (no size or bag limit, but egg-bearing always off-limits), and whether they are worth keeping.
Aug 5, 2026The History of Florida Lobster Regulations: From the First Rules to Mini-Season
Florida's lobster fishery is older than its rules. A history of how the regulations evolved: the 1920s boom, the first protections, the 1974 birth of mini-season, the 1982 federal plan, the 1990s trap wars, and the no-take reserves that shaped today's rulebook.
Aug 4, 2026How Everglades Restoration Affects Florida's Lobster
The spiny lobster is a saltwater animal whose future runs partly through a freshwater plumbing project. How a century of Everglades drainage starved Florida Bay of freshwater, triggered the seagrass and sponge die-offs that wreck the lobster nursery, and what the $10.5 billion restoration is expected to do for the fishery.
Aug 3, 2026Spiny Lobster vs Maine Lobster: Claws, Lifecycle & Behavior
Florida's spiny lobster and the Maine lobster share a name and little else. The real differences: claws vs spines and where the meat is, warm water vs cold, and two completely different lifecycles and behaviors, from months-long larval drift to den life and migration.
Jul 29, 2026Lobster Conservation: What You Can Do to Help
Recreational divers have real leverage over the future of Florida's lobster. A plain, actionable guide to lobster conservation: follow the rules, release short and egg-bearing lobster unharmed, protect nursery habitat and the bottom, leave casitas alone, and support the big breeders that produce the next generation.
Jul 23, 2026Sargassum and Lobstering: How the Seaweed Blooms Affect Your Season
2025 set an all-time record for Atlantic sargassum, and 2026 is tracking as another record year. What sargassum is, where the blooms come from, why the floating mats are vital habitat but a mess on the beach, and how they affect lobster habitat and your dive days in the Keys.
Jul 20, 2026Lobster Casitas (Lobster Condos): What They Are & Why Florida Bans Them
Casitas, or lobster condos, are artificial shelters that concentrate lobster, and they are the backbone of legal fisheries in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Mexico. In Florida they are illegal. What casitas are, why they work, why Florida keeps them banned, and the cleanup that pulled hundreds out of the Keys.
Jul 19, 2026Florida Lobstering by the Numbers: Harvest, Value & the Big Days
Florida's commercial fishery lands around 5 million pounds of spiny lobster a year, plus about 1.5 million recreational, and Monroe County alone accounts for roughly 85% of it. The numbers behind the fishery: recreational vs commercial harvest, year-by-year landings, how many lobster that really is, and where they come from.
Jul 18, 2026Ready to dive in?
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