Fishing, Hunting and Camping
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Lobster Fishing Tips
When hunting for lobster, one of the most important things that you should remember us that they are incredibly fast. Besides speed, the spiny lobster has spines, which is another strong defense mechanism. If you would like to fish for lobster in Florida Keys, it is important to ensure that you are properly outfitted.
The following is a list of the essentials for lobster hunting
- Tickle stick
- Mesh net
- Lobster gloves for protecting your hands from sharp spines
- A proper measuring gauge
- Saltwater fishing license and lobster stamp
- Underwater lighting for looking in crevices and holes as well as blinding lobster temporarily so that they do not flee
- If you are snorkeling or diving for lobster in Florida Keys, you need the proper snorkeling and/or diving gear as well as a diver down flag
Here are some of the items mentioned above you will need in your lobster quest. You are free to search for other items you might require using the search bar below each section.
When fishing for lobster, you will often find them traveling in large numbers and in a single file. Movement usually happens at night and during the commercial/regular lobster season, night harvesting for lobster is allowed and very productive. If all this seems to much you can just order lobster and enjoy it without the hassle of catching it.
Florida lobster can be spotted on the mode during the day occasionally. However, it is when they are usually holed up under rocks, in caves, and in the nooks and crannies of the coral reefs. If you are snorkeling or diving for lobster in the Florida Keys, check for antennae poking out from the potential hiding spots. Finding a spiny lobster increases your chances of finding more hiding within and increases the chances of finding one or more within the legal bag limit.
One of the more frustrating features of lobster fishing is that last year’s hot spot is not necessarily this year’s hot spot. The spiny lobster is constantly searching for food, which means that they are always traveling. Lobster hunters should also be constantly on the move, searching for suitable lobster habitat along with tell-tale antennae poking out.
Once you encounter a ‘lobster den’, you shouldn’t eagerly reach in using your hands since more dangerous creatures may be lurking inside. A cautionary rule of thumb is that once you notice an antennae pointing outward while the other one points backward, it is highly likely that something less friendly lurks inside.
If you find a lobster hiding in a crevice, bling it temporarily by shining a light at it and then reach behind it carefully using your tickle stick and tap it lightly on its tail.
At this juncture, the lobster is likely to start moving forward and you will have to be quick and grab it fast using the gloved hand in a back to frontal motion for protecting the hand from its spines.
Once you capture the lobster, ensure that you measure its length from above its eyes between the horns to the middle rear edge of its carapace. If a spiny lobster measures more than 3 inches according to the gauge, you are free to put it in your bag, starting with the tail, intact, and without forgetting to secure the bag.
If the lobster manages to escape from you after it has left its hiding place and you are either unwilling or unable to grab it using your hand, use the tickle stick. Touching on its forehead lightly automatically propels it backwards into your awaiting net.