MIAMI – Lobster Mini Season is upon us and that means good times out on the water and great dinners at night. But if you're new to the "season" or you are not sure of the rules and regulations, here are some key facts that you should know.
First off, it's not really called Lobster Mini Season. The official name is Spiny Lobster Sport Season and it runs from 12:01 AM on Wednesday, July 27 through 11:59 PM Thursday, July 28. And although the season opens in the middle of the night, night diving is not permitted in Monroe County.
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Anyone is welcome to harvest lobsters but you should be well-accustomed to diving. There have many injuries and even deaths during the lobster season and the victims are usually those who aren't experienced divers.
You are allowed to harvest 6 lobsters per day in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, while there's a 12 per person limit each day elsewhere around Florida.
Lobsters must be larger than 3-inch caraspace (dorsal section of the exoskeleton) and divers are required to carry measuring device at all times.
Divers are prohibited from harvesting eggbearing lobsters, or using any device which may puncture, penetrate or crush the exoskeleton.