The Best Places to Buy Live Lobster in Maine

As a seafood lover and frequent visitor to Maine, I’m always on the hunt for the best places to get my hands on fresh, delicious live lobster. There’s nothing better than cracking open a freshly cooked lobster with butter dripping down your fingers. So if you find yourself in Vacationland, where should you go to get the best quality live lobsters?

I’ve tried lobsters from all over the Maine coast and spoken to locals and fishermen to get the inside scoop. Here are my top picks for the best spots to buy live lobster in Maine

1. Directly from a Lobster Pound

This is hands-down the best way to source your lobsters Maine’s lobster pounds receive shipments of live lobsters directly from local fishermen, Then they are held in saltwater tanks to await purchase Buying direct from a pound means your lobsters took the shortest journey from sea to table,

Some recommended lobster pounds:

• Cape Porpoise Lobster Co. in Kennebunkport – Situated right on the pier, you can even watch the lobster boats unloading their catches.

• Beals Jonesport Co-Op – Run by local fishermen in Jonesport. Super fresh lobsters.

• Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co. in Hancock – A family owned pound with different sized lobsters available.

• Greenhead Lobster in Stonington – Overlooking the harbor, with cooked lobsters available too.

2. Local Seafood Markets

Many seafood markets in coastal towns of Maine also sell quality live lobsters from the nearby pounds. Stop by any of these trusted markets:

• Browne Trading Market in Portland – A prime spot to grab lobster in Maine’s biggest city.

• Day’s Crabmeat and Lobster in Rockland – A market popular with locals for its fresh seafood.

• Harbor Fish Market in Portland – A great option right in the Old Port downtown area.

• Maine Shellfish in Ellsworth – This market has a tank full of lively lobsters to choose from.

3. Directly Off a Fishing Boat

For the freshest lobsters possible, you can try to buy directly from a lobsterman unloading the day’s catch at a harbor or pier. This takes more effort and timing, but nets you the absolute freshest catch.

Some piers where you may be able to directly buy from lobster boats:

• Portland Fish Pier – Arrive early when boats start coming in after sunrise.

• Stonington Commercial Fishing Pier – Get there around 2-3pm when boats come back.

• Ship Harbor in Winter Harbor – Small fishing village with boats selling off the dock.

• Fisherman’s Wharf in Boothbay Harbor – Ask politely if any fisherman have lobsters for sale.

4. Live Lobster Delivery Services

If you aren’t able to make it up to the Maine coast, you can still enjoy live lobsters through overnight delivery services that ship anywhere in the US.

Two reliable services I recommend are:

• LobsterAnywhere – Over 20 years experience overnight shipping live lobsters.

• Cape Porpoise Lobster Co. – Ships live lobsters caught right from their pier.

Make sure to order early in the week for next day delivery!

What to Look for in Live Lobsters

Now that you know the prime lobster sources, here are a few tips on picking the best specimens:

• Look for lively activity like flapping tails – this means they are healthy.

• Opt for hard-shell vs soft-shell lobsters – hard shells have more meat.

• 1 to 1.5 lb lobsters are the perfect size for most eaters.

• Females tend to have richer meat – look for wide tails.

• Avoid lobsters with cracked shells or missing appendages.

How to Cook Your Live Lobster

Once you’ve selected the perfect lobster, it’s time to get cooking! Here is my easy method:

• Fill a large pot with several inches of salted water and bring to a rolling boil.

• Hold the live lobster from behind and plunge it headfirst into the boiling water.

• Cook for 9-11 minutes per pound then remove promptly.

• Serve with melted butter for dipping and enjoy your fresh Maine lobster feast!

So there you have it – the inside guide on scoring the best quality live lobsters in the State of Maine. Whether you’re dining dockside or having one shipped to your home, you can’t beat the sweet taste of a juicy Maine lobster straight from the cold Atlantic waters. Cracking open these claws is a quintessential culinary vacation experience.