Blog

May 16, 2024

THE MINI

The staff at the Keys Weekly welcome our visitors and residents alike to enjoy a safe and productive mini-season here in the islands. With that being said, let’s be honest – there are PLENTY of

The staff at the Keys Weekly welcome our visitors and residents alike to enjoy a safe and productive mini-season here in the islands. With that being said, let’s be honest – there are PLENTY of misconceptions about what’s legal and what’s not when it comes to securing a harvest that’ll make your friends jealous. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

LOADING THE BOAT DOESN’T UP YOUR LIMIT

The bag limit is six lobsters per ACTIVE HARVESTER per day. So no, a boat carrying eight people catching a tan on the bow while two divers do all the work is not entitled to 60 lobsters. And once the limit is reached, it’s illegal to offload your catch and head back out. Possession of over-the-limit quantities is still against the law.

DIVE FLAG DILEMMAS

When the Keys’ reefs and gulfside holes turn into marine parking lots, it’s crucial to proceed with extreme caution. Assign extra lookouts, especially in high-traffic areas. While dive flags should be avoided whenever possible – more than 300 feet in open water or 100 feet in canals – boats may at times need to traverse these areas. While it’s not illegal to approach, vessels must slow to IDLE SPEED when closer than the distances listed above to a dive flag. Dive flags are required whenever divers or snorkelers are in the water, and MUST BE TAKEN DOWN when the boat gets underway.

IF THE GAUGE FITS, TOSS IT (THE LOBSTER, THAT IS…)

Spiny lobster must have a minimum carapace length greater than 3 inches, and the measurement must take place in the water. The carapace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns, excluding soft tissue and proceeding along the middle to the rear edge of the carapace. If a lobster gauge can FIT over the end of the carapace, EVEN SNUGLY, the lobster is TOO SHORT. All recreationally harvested lobster must remain in whole condition while at sea.

STAY AWAY

Most Keys cities have invoked special rules to cut down on neighbor-on-neighbor – and especially resident-on-visitor – “turf wars.” Essentially, local rules establish a “no-go” zone to keep lobster hunters away from private property. In the following areas, there is no diving or snorkeling within 300 feet of enhanced residential or commercial shoreline, any man-made or private canal, or any public or private marina.

In Islamorada, Key West and unincorporated Monroe County, the rule applies during the three days prior to the sport season (July 23-25 in 2023), the entirety of the sport season (July 26-27) and the first five days of the regular season (Aug. 6-10). In Marathon, the rule only applies during sport season, and in Key Colony Beach, it applies from the four days preceding sport season through 10 days after the opening of regular season. The city of Layton has a prohibition on harvesting lobster any time from waters within city limits. The exception to this rule is if divers and snorkelers are on the shoreline of their own private property.

THE OTHER DETAILS

• Egg-bearing (berried) spiny lobster must be released unharmed. Stripping egg-bearing females of eggs, or possessing tails with eggs removed, is prohibited.

• Gear that could puncture, penetrate or crush the shell of the lobster, including spearing, is prohibited.

• Possession of bully nets or hoop nets is prohibited in Everglades National Park.

• Recreational harvesters can purchase the required Florida saltwater fishing license with a lobster add-on at gooutdoorsflorida.com or by calling 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356).

• It is a felony to molest, damage or take lobster from commercial traps in state or federal waters.

• It is illegal to intentionally create “artificial habitat” for lobsters using items like cement blocks, pipes and other debris.

• Recreational trapping is prohibited.

THE SEASONS

DON’T GO THERE…

Many areas are protected by a special set of rules. Know where you’re going before you head out.

Don’t lobster in these areas:

Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs)

Upper Keys

• Alligator Reef

• Carysfort Reef

• Cheeca Rocks

• Conch Reef

• Davis Reef

• Elbow Reef

• French Reef

• Grecian Reef

• Hen and Chickens

• Key Largo Dry Rocks

• Molasses Reef

Middle Keys

• Coffins Patch

• Sombrero Key

Lower Keys

• Eastern Dry Rocks

• Looe Key

• Newfound Harbor

• Sand Key

• Rock Key

Ecological Reserves

• Western Sambo

• Dry Tortugas

Special-Use Research Only Areas (No entry)

• Conch Reef

• Tennessee Reef

• Looe Key Patch Reef

• Eastern Sambo

Other Closed Areas (Year-Round)

• Everglades National Park

• Dry Tortugas National Park

• Biscayne Bay Card Sound Spiny Lobster Sanctuary

• City of Layton

• Artificial habitats in state waters

Other Prohibitions (Seasonal)

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