Florida Lobster Regulations for Divers in 2020-21

Know before you go and don’t get caught with an illegal catch. These are the must-know Florida lobster regulations in 2020-21.

Ethics. Legality. Science. And downright morals. These are just a few of the reasons why we should abide by the regulations around spiny lobster in Florida.

After all, the FWC isn’t establishing these rules out of nowhere. They’re backed by hard scientific data designed to sustain healthy populations of spiny lobster. Healthy populations that maintain coral reef health, ensure ecosystem coherence, and avoid population collapse.

Additionally, as hunters seeking sustainable food sources, it’s important that we act as stewards to the environment we depend on. We owe it to the animal. And we owe it to the other hunters doing the same. We all need to be on a level playing field.

Below, you’ll find the considerations you need to take to ensure a legal and sustainable catch. Additionally, you’ll find all the rules and regulations for catching spiny lobster in Florida during the 2020 – 21 season.

Happy Hunting!

Abiding by the Rules and Regulations for Spiny Lobster in Florida

Catching lobster in Florida isn’t as simple as going out and doing it. You must abide by a specific set of rules. Consider the following:

• Time of year. Know when it’s lobster season and when it’s not.
• Purchase a license. Hunters must purchase a permit before catching lobster.
• Bag limits. Know how many lobsters you can catch per day.
• Legal length. Not all lobster are created equal.
• Spawning lobster. Ensure you’re not catching a lobster with eggs.
• Legal areas. Some areas are off limits to lobster hunters.
• Returning to shore. Know how to bring back a legal, intact catch.
• Legal device. Know which tools you can use to legally catch lobster.

When is spiny lobster season in Florida?

As recreational divers, you can catch lobster during two separate time periods: regular season and mini season.

Regular Season

Every year, regular lobster season runs between August 6 and March 31. Lobster can only be harvested between these dates.

Mini Lobster Season

Mini season is essentially a holiday in Florida. Boats flock to the Keys and offshore sites in South Florida with eager divers clamoring for their share of lobster. It’s a fantastic spectacle.

Mini-season falls on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July. We highly recommend planning your travels to Florida around this time for a true Florida experience!

Where can you purchase your lobster license?

Lobster permits are cheap and easy to purchase right on the FWC’s website. You must purchase a saltwater fishing license and add the necessary lobster tag afterwards.

The importance of purchasing a fishing/lobster license

State agencies like the FWC are entirely funded by revenue made from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. So in essence, the purchase of your permit directly aids in the conservation of the environments we all love and enjoy.

How many lobster can you catch in one day?

Bag limits are an essential measure taken to ensure lobster numbers aren’t depleted. Recreational divers are limited to 6 lobsters per day in regular season.

As for mini-season, divers in the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay are limited to 6 lobster per day. However, the rest of Florida allows 12 lobsters per day over the two day bonanza.

What is a legal length for spiny lobster in Florida?

A carapace of 3 inches in length. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Situate your measuring tool on the hard surface between the eyes and span it towards the lobster’s tail along the hard shell. If your measuring tool falls off the back of the carapace, the lobster is too small and you need to throw it back. If it doesn’t, you just caught dinner, my friend.

Measuring Underwater

It is a legal requirement to measure your lobster underwater. So technically speaking, an undersized lobster at the surface is illegal!

What about egg-bearing lobster?

Every so often you’ll accidentally catch an egg-bearing lobster. It happens. Just check underneath the tail for the orange or black eggs latched together. If they’re present, simply release the lobster without harming the eggs. No harm, no foul!

Where can you legally catch lobster in Florida?

Not all dive sites are created equally for lobster hunting. In fact, some are completely off limits. Per the FWC,

Harvest of lobster is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the sport season and in 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 during both the 2-day sport season and regular season.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

So plan your lobster hunting trip accordingly and know before you go!

Returning to shore

All lobster in your possession must be fully intact. You cannot kill and clean your lobster before returning to shore or the dock.

Legal methods

The FWC mandates no puncturing devices can be used to catch spiny lobster. No spearguns, no polespears, and no knives.

READ MORE: How to Catch Spiny Lobster in Florida

Lobster Regulations in Florida: Final Thoughts

As underwater hunters, we have the opportunity to be at the forefront in conservation. To stand as a gleaming example of how to eat sustainably, protect our environment, and act responsibly. In our opinion, this is what hunting is all about.

Well founded and easy to follow, there’s no excuse to dismiss Florida lobster regulations. And truly, you have the duty to know the rules of the game before you swipe up your first bug. It’s the legal, ethical, and moral thing to do.

DISCLOSURE: this post is based off the the most recent regulations via FWC’s Spiny Lobster info page. These are subject to change so the guidelines laid out here should not be treated as rule of law. Always check with the official statutes listed by the FWC.