Tickle Stick & Net vs. Snare: How to Catch a Lobster

Recreational lobstering in Florida is hands-on: no traps, no spears, just you and a couple of simple tools coaxing a lobster out of its hole. The two that do almost all the work are the tickle stick and net and the tail snare. They suit different spots, and knowing which to reach for, and how to use it cleanly, is the difference between filling a bag and watching bugs rocket off into the blue. Here's how each works and when to use it.

The two tools

• Tickle stick and net. A slim rod about three feet long (the "tickle stick") used to nudge a lobster out of its hiding spot, paired with a wide, short-handled net to scoop it. The tip of the tickle stick must be blunt: sharp or pointed implements are illegal.
• Tail snare. A cable or wire loop on a handle that cinches down around the lobster's tail. The handle doubles as a tickle stick, so it's a two-in-one tool.

If you're brand new, read how lobstering works first for the big picture, and the gear checklist for what to buy.

Tickle stick and net, step by step

This is the highest-success method for beginners and the go-to on open bottom:

1. Spot the lobster tucked under a ledge or in a hole, antennae out.
2. Set the net flat at the opening of the hole, right where the lobster would exit.
3. Slide the tickle stick in behind it and gently tap the tail. The lobster instinctively crawls forward, away from the stick and toward the net.
4. Lay the net over it and fold the net up over the frame so it can't tail-flip back out.
5. Measure it in the water and bag it or release it.

It works best on sand, grass, and open structure where you have room to set a net and the lobster has a clear path forward.

Snare, step by step

The snare shines where a net won't fit, on reef and in tight, deep crevices:

1. Ease the open loop toward the lobster from the tail end, using the handle like a tickle stick to keep it settled.
2. Work the loop over the tail (and ideally up around the body).
3. Cinch it tight with a smart pull, and draw the lobster out backward, the direction it wants to go anyway.

Because it reaches into spots a net can't, the snare is the tool of choice on reef and in deep rock, where lobster wedge in tight.

When to use which

A simple way to choose:

• Tickle stick and net: open sand and grass, grass ledges, shallow nearshore rock, and anytime you're teaching a beginner.
• Snare: reef, coral heads, and deep crevices where you can't lay a net flat or the lobster is jammed in tight.

Most experienced divers carry both and switch depending on the spot. There's no single "best" tool, just the right one for the hole in front of you.

Catching by hand

Where a lobster is out in the open or only loosely tucked, you can take it by hand: a gloved hand, coming over the back from behind, gripping near the horns. Never grab the antennae, which lobster shed to escape, and never reach in blindly (eels and other critters share those holes). For most situations a net or snare is faster and surer.

Technique that lands more bugs

The tool matters less than these habits:

• Always approach from behind. Lobster watch their front and shoot backward to escape. Come at them head-on and they're gone in an instant.
• Be gentle, not aggressive. Soft taps coax; jabbing spooks. Patience fills the bag.
• Team up. One diver tickles the lobster out, the other nets or snares it. It's far more effective than going solo on a tricky hole.
• Measure immediately, in the water. Carry a gauge and check every lobster before it goes in the bag.
• Don't waste time on shorts or deeply buried bugs. Learning to leave the undersized ones and the un-gettable ones, and move to the next spot, is what makes you efficient.

Frequently asked questions

How do you use a tickle stick and net?

Set the net at the hole's opening, slide the tickle stick in behind the lobster, and gently tap its tail so it crawls forward into the net. Lay the net flat over it and fold it over the frame so it can't escape. The tickle stick must have a blunt tip.

Is a snare or a net better for catching lobster?

A tickle stick and net is the most beginner-friendly and works best on open sand and grass. A snare works better on reef and in deep crevices where a net won't fit. Many divers carry both.

Can you catch lobster by hand?

Yes, where one is accessible, with a gloved hand from behind, near the horns. Never grab the antennae (they shed them), and never reach in blindly. A net or snare usually gives a higher success rate.

Regulations change. Always confirm the latest rules on the FWC spiny lobster page before you dive. Last updated June 2026.