Floridas two-day Mini Sport Lobster Season

July 30 2009 Last Updated on August 05 2009

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2009 Regulations for Recreational Harvest and Lobster Information for Monroe County, Florida

Lobstering Is Prohibited In The Following Areas:

Artificial Habitats in State Waters
Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Spiny Lobster Sanctuary (closed only to the harvest of spiny lobster)
Everglades National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

The following no-take areas are marked by 30" diameter round yellow boundary buoys:

Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs)
- Carysfort Reef
- Cheeca Rocks
- Elbow
- Alligator Reef
- Key Largo Dry Rocks
- Coffins Patch
- Grecian Rocks
- Sombrero Key
- French Reef
- Looe Key
- Molasses Reef
- Newfound Harbor
- Conch Reef
- Eastern Dry Rocks
- Hen and Chickens
- Rock Key
- Davis Reef
- Sand Key

Special-use Research Only Areas
- Conch Reef
- Looe Key Patch Reef
- Tennessee Reef
- Eastern Sambo

Ecological Reserves
- Western Sambo
- Tortugas (not currently marked, refer to GPS coordinates)

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
- All of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is closed during the two-day Sport Lobster Season to the harvest of spiny lobster.

During the Regular Lobster Season no person shall harvest any lobster species from or within any coral formation (patch reef).

The following “Pennekamp Lobster Exclusion Zones” are closed during the Regular Lobster Season to the harvest of any lobster species and are marked with white and orange spar buoys:
- Turtle Rocks
- Basin Hills North
- Basin Hills East
- Basin Hills South
- Higdon’s Reef
- Cannon Patch
- Mosquito Bank North
- Mosquito Bank South East
- Three Sisters North
- Three Sisters South

This is not an official publication of lobster season rules and regulations.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

For questions on regulations or to report a violation
Division of Law Enforcement (888) 404-3922
Marathon Office
(305) 289-2320
Division of Marine Fisheries
(850) 487-0554

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
(843) 571-4366

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
(888) 833-1844

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
(305) 451-1202

Everglades National Park
(305) 242-7700
24-hour Dispatch
(305) 242-7740

Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges
(305) 872-2239

NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Upper Region Office
(305) 852-7717
Administrative Office
(305) 809-4700
Lower Region Office
(305) 292-0311

Islamorada Village of Islands
(305) 664-2345
City of Key Colony Beach
(305) 289-1212
City of Marathon
(305) 743-0033
Monroe County
(305) 289-2805

Facts For All Seasons: What To Know Before You Go. . .

Bag Limits: The federal bag limit cannot be combined with the state bag limit.

Possession: Lobster must be of legal size before they are in possession.

NOTE: You may not have lobster in your possession in Everglades National Park.

Egg-bearing (berried) lobster regardless of species must be released unharmed. Stripping egg-bearing females of eggs, and possession of spiny or ridged slipper lobster tails from which eggs have been removed is prohibited. Eggs are an orange, yellow, brown, or red mass found covering the underside of the lobster’s tail.

Coral is protected from damage and removing in state and federal waters. Do NOT touch, hold on to, stand on, break or otherwise harm coral. It is a fragile living animal.

Gear such as spears, hooks, wire snares, and any device which could puncture, penetrate, or crush the shell of the lobster is prohibited. “Bully-netting” is defined as using a circular frame attached at a right angle to the end of a pole and supporting a conical bag of webbing. Possession of bully nets is prohibited in Everglades National Park.

“Hoop-netting” is defined as using a frame, circular or otherwise, supporting a shallow bag of webbing and suspended by a line and bridles. Possession of hoop nets is prohibited in Everglades National Park.

“Artificial Habitat” is material (e.g. wood, metal, concrete, plastic) that has been placed to provide cover and habitat for spiny lobster. Does not include fishing gear allowed by FL FWCC, Florida-DEP or Army Corps permitted artificial reefs (e.g. Duane, Eagle, Thunderbolt).

License Requirements: Recreational harvesters are required to possess a valid Florida Saltwater Fishing License with a current crawfish endorsement. Consult your license agent for exemptions to licensing requirements.

Spanish and slipper lobster are closed year round to harvest in Key Largo and Looe Key Existing Management Areas, Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Ecological Reserves, Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Special-use Research Only Areas. During the Regular Lobster Season, they are closed to harvest in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Lobster Exclusion Zones and from or within coral formations (patch reefs) within the Park.

Commercial Lobster Traps: It is a felony to molest, damage, or take lobster from traps in state or federal waters.

Dive Flag: All divers and snorkelers in the water are required to prominently display a diver down flag. Slow to idle speed within 300 feet of a dive flag.

Sport Season

The two-day Sport Lobster Season is always the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. Begins at 12:01 a.m. on the last Wednesday in July. Ends at 12:00 midnight on the last Thursday in July.

State and Federal Waters

Bag Limit: Six (6) per recreational harvester per day. The two-day total of twelve lobster per recreational harvester in Monroe County, adjacent Federal waters, and Biscayne National Park can only be possessed when transporting your catch by car on, or after, the second day.

Diving at night for lobster is NOT permitted in Monroe County and adjacent Federal waters. Bully-netting and hoop-netting is permitted at night. “Night” is 1 hour after official sunset to 1 hour before official sunrise.

Prohibited Areas:

Artificial Habitats in State Waters
Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Spiny Lobster Sanctuary (closed only to the harvest of spiny lobster)
Everglades National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary The following no-take areas are marked by 30" diameter round yellow boundary buoys:

Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs)
Special-use Research Only Areas
Ecological Reserves (Tortugas E.R. not currently marked, refer to GPS coordinates)
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

All of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is closed during the two day Sport Lobster Season to the harvest of spiny lobster.

The following areas are under local jurisdiction and subject to the following:

Unincorporated Monroe County
Islamorada, Village of Islands
City of Key Colony Beach **
City of Marathon No diving or snorkeling within:

300 feet of improved residential or commercial shoreline
any manmade or private canal
any public or private marina

** In the City of Key Colony Beach this rule applies during the 4 days preceding Sport Season and continues until 10 days have elapsed after the opening of Regular Season.

Regular Season

The Regular Lobster Season is always August 6 through March 31.

Begins at 12:01 a.m. on August 6.
Ends at 12:00 midnight on March 31.

State and Federal Waters

Bag Limit: Six (6) per recreational harvester per day

Diving at night for lobster is permitted.

Prohibited Areas:

Artificial Habitats in State Waters
Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Spiny Lobster Sanctuary (closed only to the harvest of spiny lobster)
Everglades National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

The following no-take areas are marked by 30" diameter round yellow boundary buoys:

Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs)
Special-use Research Only Areas
Ecological Reserves (Tortugas E.R. not currently marked, refer to GPS coordinates)

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
- During the Regular Lobster Season no person shall harvest any lobster species from or within any coral formation (patch reef).
- The following “Pennekamp Lobster Exclusion Zones” are closed during the Regular Lobster Season to the harvest of any lobster species and are marked with white and orange spar buoys:
  - Turtle Rocks
  - Basin Hills North
  - Basin Hills East
  - Basin Hills South
  - Higdon’s Reef
  - Cannon Patch
  - Mosquito Bank North
  - Mosquito Bank South East
  - Three Sisters North
  - Three Sisters South

City of Key Colony Beach
- No diving or snorkeling within:
  - 300 feet of improved residential or commercial shoreline, any manmade or private canal, any public or private marina
  - This rule applies during the 4 days preceding Sport Season and continues until 10 days have elapsed after the opening of Regular Season.