Lobstering is a beloved pastime for many anglers in Florida. With abundant lobster populations in both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, there are plenty of places to drop a trap or tickle some bugs. While commercial lobster boats focus on offshore grounds, recreational lobster hunters have lots of options to find these tasty crustaceans inshore as well. Here’s a guide to the best places to catch lobster in Florida and tips for finding them.
The Keys
The Florida Keys are world-famous for their lobster fishing, both recreational and commercial. Stretching over 100 miles from Key Largo down to Key West, this island chain offers numerous spots to find lobster. Here are some of the top areas:
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Key Largo: The upper Keys have many shallow inner reef lines, patch reefs, and wrecks holding lobsters. Places like Molasses Reef are prime spots to find concentrations of bugs.
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Marathon Middle Keys spots like Sombrero Reef have excellent lobster habitat The many bridges also provide structure to find lobsters
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Lower Keys: Sites like Sand Key, Rock Key, and Western Dry Rocks are lobstering hotspots. Shallow wrecks and natural bottom make the Lower Keys a lobster magnet.
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Key West: Wrecks like the Vandenberg draw lobster hunters. Shallow flats around Key West harbor also hold good numbers of lobsters.
When lobstering in the Keys, be sure to pay attention to weather and currents. Strong currents can make it tricky to stay on productive bottom structure.
South Florida
The southeast part of the state offers plenty of opportunities for South Florida lobstering between Miami and Palm Beach, Here are some prime areas to find spiny lobster along this coast
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Biscayne Bay: The bay holds juvenile lobsters, while the reefs of Biscayne National Park offer legal-sized bugs. Structures like the Intercoastal Waterway bridges are worth checking.
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Government Cut This manmade channel between Fisher Island and Miami Beach holds lobsters around the jetties and on artificial reefs
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Palm Beach: The many wrecks and reefs offshore Palm Beach County provide habitat for lobsters. The Lake Worth Pier pilings can also produce.
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Fort Lauderdale: The Port Everglades jetties, inner reef line, and shallow wrecks are all good for lobstering.
This part of Florida has more recreational boat traffic. Be extra cautious when diving structures near major inlets and ports.
Gulf Coast
The west coast of Florida hosts abundant lobster populations as well. Here are prime Gulf lobstering spots from the Panhandle to the southern tip:
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Crystal River: This area offers scenic lobstering along the Nature Coast. Places like Three Sisters Springs and Homosassa Springs have clear water to hunt lobsters.
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Tampa Bay: Structures like the Skyway Bridge and nearshore reefs produce lobsters for Tampa area anglers. Egmont Key also holds good numbers of lobster.
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Ten Thousand Islands: This maze of mangrove islands near Everglades City is a unique place to find spiny lobster. Shallow flats and oyster bars yield lobsters.
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Cape Romano: The series of dome homes offshore offer artificial structure that attracts lobsters. Shallow reefs and hardbottom areas are also productive.
When lobstering along the Gulf Coast, be prepared for wide tidal fluctuations. Low tides can make some areas too shallow to navigate.
Gear
The basic lobstering equipment involves masks, snorkels, fins, tickle sticks, and lobster snares. Thicker wetsuits are recommended for comfort while diving. Strong dive lights help illuminate lobster hiding spots. Most people use mesh bags or stringers to hold their catch. And don’t forget a measuring device to check for legal size.
For navigating to lobster spots, small boats like jon boats, skiffs, or kayaks work well. Anchoring systems are important for staying put on fishing spots. Some people free dive from paddleboards too. Offshore lobster boats need more heavy duty equipment to handle deeper water.
Make sure to obtain a saltwater fishing license and lobster permit before the season opens on August 6. Follow the regulations for size limits, bag limits, and protection of egg-bearing females.
Techniques
The classic method for collecting lobster by hand involves using a tickle stick to coax them out of holes. Then quickly grab them behind the horns with a gloved hand. Be careful not to pull their antennae. Stealth and patience are the keys to success.
Another technique is using lobster snares to loop behind a lobster and capture it. Place the open snare behind the lobster and then pull to tighten the loop around the tail. Carefully extract the bug from its den.
Traps are commonly used offshore to passively catch lobsters. Recreational traps need a FWC tag attached and proper buoy markings. Bait traps with pogy fish to attract lobster through the entrance funnel.
Free divers using scuba gear to dive deep waters offshore is another method. Air tanks allow longer bottom times to search for lobsters. Make sure to use dive flags and buddy up for safety.
No matter what method you use, finding areas with good lobster habitat is critical. Look for structures like ledges, coral heads, rocky overhangs, mangrove roots and other hiding spots teeming with lobster.
When to Go
The recreational lobster season in Florida runs from August 6 to March 31. During the first two-day sport season mini-season, lobster hunters hit the water full force. After that, the regular season provides months of lobster catching opportunity.
Peak lobster activity happens around the new and full moons when stronger currents stir bugs up to search for food. Plan trips around these moon phases for your best shot at full bag limits.
Avoid windy days that churn up sand and reduce visibility for free diving. Slack tides are best to access shallow areas. And go at first light to catch lobsters out actively foraging before they hole up.
Want Even More Tips?
This covers the basics of where to find lobster along Florida’s coasts. For even more in-depth tips, be sure to check out our complete lobstering guide:
10 Top Tips for Catching More Lobster in Florida
We share advice on habitat clues, stealthy catching techniques, dealing with currents, recipes, and more lobster fishing wisdom. Don’t head out before reading these insider secrets from seasoned lobster hunters.
The spiny lobster is an iconic species in Florida, supporting one of the most valuable commercial fisheries as well as a treasured recreational pastime. By following savvy locals’ advice on the best places to go and techniques to use, you can enjoy successful and sustainable lobstering for years to come. Florida’s lobster population is plentiful, so get out on the water this season and get your share of these succulent crustaceans. Just remember to be safe, respect the resource, and have fun finding dinner on a lobstering adventure!
Lobster Diving In Florida
Every year there is a mass migration of lobster hungry scuba divers to the waters of Florida. Each trying their hand at catching the evasive lobster and bringing home a tasty meal. There are two separate seasons which happen. The mini season, is on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July. It begins on the Wednesday at 12:01 am and ends Thursday at midnight. The main season runs from August 6 – March 31st of each year.
The Tools You’ll Need
- Lobster gauge: You have to measure the lobster while it’s underwater before putting it in your game bag.
- Try to find a mesh game bag that is easy to attach to your gear, easy to open and close, and has a way to lock it. Lobster are quick and escape!.
- Dive Light
- Dive Flag
- A short-handled lobster net and a tail snare. Nets work best on sand flats, while tail snares work best on reefs.
- A thin fiberglass stick about 2 feet long can work wonders to get lobsters out of holes without damaging the reef. It doesn’t have to be fancy.
- Gloves
Florida’s coasts are full of places to catch spiny lobsters, but some are better than others and you should stay away from others.
Monroe County has the largest population of lobsters in the state and also draws the most lobster divers. About 70 percent of all lobster collected in Florida come from the reefs in Monroe County. During the mini-season bag limits are smaller here and diving at night is illegal. Plan ahead if you want to stay in a hotel or camp during the mini-season; they fill up fast!
There are no go zones in this area as well. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, John Pennekamp State Park, and a few Sanctuaries as well.
The lobster can be found in waters as shallow as 3 feet down to more than 100 feet.
Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach reefs aren’t as busy as the Keys’ reefs, but there are still places where there are a lot of lobster. During the mini season, there are no rules against diving at night, so some dive shops in the area offer charter service 24 hours a day.
From Vero Beach to Jacksonville, lobster hunting season is a big deal to local hunters. Locals won’t tell you about secret spots where there are still plenty of lobster. There are a lot of shore dives where you can catch a good amount of fish, and offshore three-tank trips that go to more remote and less-fished spots.