What is the Largest Lobster Ever Caught?

Lobsters are iconic crustaceans that have become synonymous with delicious seafood dinners Their large claws packed with sweet, tasty meat are a luxury item that many seafood lovers crave But beyond being a coveted delicacy, lobsters also hold the fascination of being able to grow to enormous sizes as they get older. This leads many to wonder – what is the largest lobster ever caught?

As lobsters grow by molting their hard external skeletons, they are able to increase in size dramatically over their long lifespans. Lobsters have been known to live over 100 years, continuing to grow the whole time. The American lobster is the heaviest arthropod (invertebrate with an exoskeleton) in the world thanks to its ability to live so long and keep growing to epic proportions.

While lobsters can theoretically live and grow indefinitely, their huge size eventually works against them. The older and larger they get, the harder it becomes for them to molt their rigid shells. Many succumb to the exertion and energy required for shedding their massive armor as they reach impressive sizes. Their unwieldy bulk also makes them slower to evade predators. So while lobsters have amazing growth potential, very few make it to record-breaking weights.

The Biggest Lobsters Ever Found

Lobsters exceeding 20 pounds are extraordinarily rare. Any lobster over 10 pounds is considered a trophy, but there have been some enormous bugs hauled up over the years that have shattered records. These are some of the most phenomenally massive lobsters ever captured

51.5 Pound Lobster – Maine, 1926

The largest lobster ever found was caught off the coast of Maine in 1926. It was reported to weigh an incredible 51.5 pounds and measure 33 inches long. Its massive claws spanned over 4 feet across. This beast is believed to have been over 100 years old. A photo shows it being transported, possibly to a private museum, but it did not survive the journey.

44 Pound 6 Ounce – Nova Scotia, 1977

This massive 44 pound 6 ounce lobster is the official record holder for the “Heaviest Marine Crustacean” according to Guinness World Records. It was caught in 1977 off Nova Scotia, Canada. At over 3 feet long, this enormous lobster was estimated to be around 100 years old.

27 Pound “Rocky” – Maine, 2012

In 2012, a 27 pound lobster dubbed “Rocky” was pulled up in a net off the coast of Maine. Rocky measured over 40 inches long and had claws so huge that experts warned they could break a person’s arm. Lobstermen are required to release lobsters over 5 inches long back to sea, so Rocky was returned alive.

22 Pound “Louie” – New York, 1990s

A 22 pound lobster named Louie was kept as an attraction at Peter’s Clam Bar restaurant on Long Island for over 20 years. In 2017 the owner decided to release Louie into the wild after a customer tried to pay $1,000 to eat the beloved mascot. Releasing giant captive lobsters gives them a fighting chance to keep growing.

20 Pound Lobsters – Maine & Canada, 2000s

Several lobsters in the 20 pound range have been recorded over the years, with many having to be set free after being hauled up in nets. A 20 pounder caught in Canada in 2015 and a 20 pound lobster caught in Florida in 2016 were thankfully released rather than eaten due to their enormous size.

Why So Few Lobsters Get So Big

Lobsters seem capable of growing to weights not seen in other arthropods. So why don’t more ever max out their size potential? There are some key factors working against them:

• Molting Difficulty – To grow, a lobster has to shed its rigid shell. The bigger they are, the harder it is to wrestle out. Often their shells will show damage from failed attempts.

• Decreased Mobility – Bigger lobsters are slower, making them easy targets for predators like sharks, fish, seals, and other lobsters. Their bulky size impairs their ability to hide effectively as well.

• Fewer Hiding Places – As juveniles, lobsters can tuck into tiny rocky crevices. But mega lobsters outgrow the size of typical lobster lairs.

• Reproduction Challenges – Carrying and bearing eggs may take an extra toll on giant female lobsters. The males may also find mating unwieldy.

• Fishing Pressures – Historically, legal and illegal overfishing depleted supplies of the largest, most reproductively prolific lobsters.

Protecting Lobster Giants

Fisheries now employ strict size regulations and catch limits to preserve lobster populations, especially reproductive adults and oversized lobsters. Laws prohibit landing lobsters over 5 inches long and egg-bearing females. Fishermen now often tag and release giant lobsters themselves. Conservation efforts help give these mammoth crustaceans a fighting chance at smashing size records and reproducing.

The largest lobster ever caught highlights the incredible growth potential of these lengthy-lived sea creatures. While few ever achieve such titanic proportions due to the many hazards they face living life in the slow lane, giants still lumber along the ocean bottom, waiting to be hauled up, weighed, and returned as record breakers once more. The ocean may yet reveal even more lobster leviathans reaching mind-blowing proportions.