When is Maine lobster season? A lot of people are surprised to learn this. While most may assume that it’s during the summer months, the answer is that lobster season is year-round. But even though lobstermen and women in Maine can fish all year, the catch changes with the seasons. There is a hard shell season, a soft shell season, and an old shell season. It’s better to say that there isn’t really a lobster season, but rather a peak season when most of the lobster is caught. This peak season depends on the time of year, the lobster’s growth, and its migration patterns.
Maine is synonymous with lobster. Every year, thousands flock to Vacationland to indulge in the state’s famous crustaceans. But when exactly is the best time to visit Maine for fresh-caught, straight-from-the-ocean lobster? As a seafood lover and travel writer, I set out to uncover the nuances of Maine’s lobster seasons.
It’s Lobster Fishing Year-Round
The first surprise – there is no true “season” for lobstering in Maine! Lobster fishing occurs year-round thanks to hardy lobstermen and women willing to head offshore in the winter months. However peak lobster season in Maine runs from late June through late December.
Several factors make summer and fall the prime lobstering time in Maine
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Lobsters are more active in warmer months, leading to higher trap yields for lobstermen.
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Tourist season creates high demand for lobsters at restaurants and lobster shacks.
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Lobsters migrate closer to shore in summer, making them more accessible to lobster boats.
So while you can find fresh Maine lobster any time of year, late spring through fall is when bountiful supplies enter the lobster supply chain.
Two Types of Shells: Hard vs. Soft
Here’s a lobster fact many don’t know – lobsters actually shed their shells to grow larger! After molting, a lobster’s new shell starts out soft until it hardens over the next weeks.
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Hard shell lobsters have completed the molting process and have tough outer shells. These are most common in colder months.
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Soft shell lobsters have recently molted and their new shells are still pliable. You’ll see more soft shells in summer and fall.
Both shell types offer sweet, delicious meat. Soft shells just require a bit more care when cooking. Many seafood connoisseurs love indulging in the ephemeral soft shells!
From Inshore to Offshore Fishing
Lobsters migrate seasonally from offshore wintering grounds to shallower inshore waters in summer and fall. This impacts when and where lobstermen can catch them:
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Inshore fishing occurs in coastal waters up to 3 miles out. It peaks from early summer through fall when lobsters are abundant near Maine’s shores. Inshore lobsters tend to be hard-shelled.
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Offshore fishing takes place in deeper Atlantic waters in winter months. Lobsters retreat offshore but hearty lobstermen follow! Offshore lobsters are usually hard shells.
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Inshore fishing accounts for around 80-85% of Maine’s annual lobster harvest. Offshore fishing makes up the remaining 15-20%.
Why Summer is Peak Lobster Season
Now we know Maine lobsters are caught year-round, mainly from inshore waters in summer/fall and offshore in winter. But what makes summer the undisputed peak?
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Air and water temperatures warm up, energizing lobsters’ appetites and activity levels. They wander into traps more readily.
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Lobsters have molted and sport delicious new shells to grow into. Their summer feasting helps harden their shells.
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Tourists flood Maine, driving up demand for lobster rolls, bisques, bakes, and more. Restaurants showcase lobster prominently on summer menus.
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Long daylight hours allow lobstermen to fish more trap hauls. They start earlier and end later.
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Favorable weather enables lobster boats to safely access offshore grounds where some lobsters migrate in summer.
So in essence, everything aligns perfectly for an incredible lobster harvest each year from June through October or so. From supply to demand to ideal fishing conditions, it’s the sweet spot for Maine’s lobster industry.
When to Plan a Lobster-Loving Trip to Maine
Given all the factors surrounding Maine’s lobster seasons, when should you plan your ultimate lobster trip?
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Early Summer (June) – The first fresh hard shells are hitting the docks after limited winter fishing. Lobster shacks start reopening for the season.
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Summer (July/August) – Lobster supply soars. Restaurants showcase lobster dishes. Weather is ideal for cruising the coast. Don’t miss the Maine Lobster Festival!
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Fall (September/October) – Cooler months with fewer tourists. Enjoy peaceful sightseeing and lobster bakes in the vibrant fall foliage.
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Off-Season (November-May) – The lowest crowds. Hotel rates drop to budget-friendly levels. Heartier types can still enjoy lobster, just likely hard-shelled from offshore winter fishing.
While any time is right for lobster in Maine, peak season offers the quintessential experience. Come see what all the fuss is about! Just leave room in your suitcase for shipping home some fresh lobster.
Where to Eat Fabulous Lobster in Maine
From humble lobster shacks to fine dining restaurants, options abound for lobster feasting in Maine. Here are some top spots:
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Portland – Eventide Oyster Co., Scales Restaurant, Luke’s Lobster
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Bar Harbor – Thurston’s Lobster Pound, Stewman’s Lobster Pound
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Kennebunkport – Clam Shack, The Ramp Bar & Grill
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Rockland – Primo, Atlantic Baking Company
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Camden – Long Grain, Cuzzy’s Bar & Grill
Ask locals for their favorite spots too. There are wonderful hidden gems dotting the coast waiting to be discovered.
How to Catch Your Own Lobsters
For the ultimate hands-on experience, head out on a lobster fishing trip to haul up traps yourself. While you can’t legally take lobsters from the traps, you’ll gain an authentic taste of a Maine lobsterman’s life.
Highly rated lobster boat tours depart from:
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Bar Harbor – Lulu Lobster Boat Tours
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Portland – Lucky Catch Cruises
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Kennebunkport – Rugosa Lobster Tours
Observe seasoned pros measuring, banding, and notching lobsters before throwing back illegal catches and ones under the minimum size. The real fun comes when you get to eat your catch later!
The Takeaway: Maine Lobster Any Time!
Lobstering continues year-round in Maine, but late spring through fall offers peak action. While summer sees the motherlode of lobsters enter the supply chain, you can enjoy Maine lobster on any trip. Just brace for possible higher prices and more limited offerings off-season.
The main thing is to savor the briny sweetness of a fresh Maine lobster, whether you’re dining at a dockside lobster pound in August or a cozy restaurant with a fireplace in February. Any chance to crack into these coveted crustaceans is a special opportunity.
When is Maine Lobster Season?
Consumers may only know that there is a hard-shell lobster season and a soft-shell lobster season. They may not know which is which or when, but know there is a difference. It’s likely that they will take part in a lobster feed or an old-fashioned lobster bake sometime in the summer, when it’s nice outside. It is also the height of the bulk haul. That’s when the lobster harvest picks up, and trawlers are out from dawn to dusk.
Today’s Live Maine Lobster Special
If there is one thing that makes each lobster season unique, it is the difference between fishing inshore and fishing offshore. The second one is usually out at sea in the winter, while the first one is usually in the summer and fall. This seasonality of lobster fishing is closely related to the thickness of a lobster’s shell.
The density of a lobster’s shell varies during the year as it grows. It gets really hard in the winter for lobsters, and it stays that way until early summer, when they are ready to shed their shells. From late November to early December, lobsters move out to the North Atlantic’s deeper, warmer waters to get used to their hard shells. As summer approaches, as the waters along the coast warm, lobsters migrate back inshore to molt. They wiggle out of those hard, old shells and grow into the new, soft shells.
Molting is essential for lobsters to grow, and that growth rate is affected by the water temperature. A lobster needs warmer coastal water to molt. People who watch lobsters often eat their calcium-rich exoskeleton after they shed their shell to speed up the process. The new shell can take up to ten days to form. From late July through early November, a lobster’s shell remains soft as it grows into it.
When Is Maine Lobster Fishing Season and When is the Best Time to Catch Lobsters?
FAQ
What is the best month for lobster in Maine?
What month is lobster cheapest?
What is the price of lobster in Maine?
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Lobster Size
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Price
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1 1/4 lbs
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$28.99$23.99
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1 1/2 lbs
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$33.99$28.99
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1 3/4 – 2 lbs
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$39.99$34.99
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2 – 2 1/2 lbs
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$48.99$43.99
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Are Maine lobsters caught year round?
When is lobster season in Maine?
Maine lobster season occurs year round, but the best lobsters are usually caught in spring and fall. However, there are better times to visit Maine than others, and more factors should be considered when planning a trip. While catching lobster is a year-round occupation, most lobsters are typically caught in the summer and fall months.
Are there lobster festivals in Maine?
Maine has three lobster festivals that are worth planning a visit around. The big kahoona is the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland. This isn’t just a chow-down but a full-blown festival, with crownings and parades, fun races and games, exhibits, arts and crafts, music, and, of course, lobster (we’re talking more than 17,000 pounds served).
When is the best time to Cook Maine lobster?
As the weather continues to warm into May and June, heading toward the summer Maine lobster season, this early prep will start to pay off. For consumers, spring is the perfect time to learn how to cook live Maine lobster via boiling, baking, grilling, and more before the bounty of summer sets in.
How much lobster did Maine Lobstermen bring to shore in 2019?
In 2019, Maine Lobstermen brought 100.7m pounds of lobster to shore. The sustainability practices implemented by the industry ensures the resource and high-yield catches will be available for years to come. “Landing numbers ebb and flow, but there are always lobsters there, and there always will be for generations to come.”