Annually, lobster season opens to the public on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July before the opening of regular season on August 6th when both recreational and commercial are able to partake in harvesting this crustacean. Properly licensed snorkelers and divers are able to take up to six legal lobsters per day in Monroe County waters. Mini lobster season, aka sportsman season, falls on July 28 and 29, 2021 this year.
About 25,000 lobster lovers visit the Florida Keys to try and catch these critters. Some people charter boats to take them out while many, many others come down with their own boats. With so many boats on the water during these two days, please be careful out there. Be sure to have a dive flag and dive or snorkel with a buddy. And make sure to follow the rules; check out the FWC brochure on Lobster regulations: FWC_spinylobster_brochure. Twice the number of Florida Fish and Wildlife officers including undercover agents and police dogs will be patrolling the area on and off the water to make sure that people stay safe and honest. Please do not pillage our waters by taking too many lobsters or lobsters that are undersized. Chances are you will be caught and prosecuted top the fullest extent of the law.
If you are lucky enough or skilled enough to catch a lobster or six, there are many ways to prepare them. Check out some of our lobster recipes for some great ideas on cooking the Florida Spiny Lobster. You can also take your lobster to a restaurant here in Key West and they will cook your catch for you; check out my restaurant reviews. And if you don’t get out there or you are not successful in your lobster hunting, then you can always enjoy them at one of the local restaurants that has them on the menu!
Key West Lobsterfest is an awesome event for lobster fans! Look for that coming up in August after the start of regular season. Local restaurants set up booths up and down Duval Street and serve lobster and other yummy treats. You might even find my Maltese, Indiana Bones, walking me around!
To see what else is happening on the island during your visit, check out our Key West Events Calendar. For more information about the fun side of Key West, things to do and see in our island city, go to our Key West Web Site.
