It's almost that time again... Florida's annual Lobster mini-season is just around the corner! The two-day mini-season (which falls each year on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, beginning at 12:01 A.M. on Wednesday and ending at 12:00 midnight on Thursday) gives sport divers a chance to catch spiny lobsters before the eight-month commercial season begins in August. This year, mini-season will be July 26th and July 27th. As always, a current saltwater fishing license AND a crawfish permit is required!

If you are planning to dive for lobster -- with SCUBA equipment or without -- be sure to read-up on all applicable rules and regulations. There are a few new regulations in effect in the Florida Keys and in State and Federal Waters. Enforcement is everywhere and locals are watching for "Lobster Mobsters". So be mindful and be careful. Some important points to remember are:

• The Bag Limits are: Six (6) per licensed harvester per day in Monroe County; six (6) lobsters per person per day in Biscayne National Park (Note that this is a change implemented during the 2003-2004 season that brings the park into consistency with the rest of the Florida Keys); twelve (12) per licensed harvester per day throughout the rest of Florida where the harvest of lobster is permitted.
• The two-day total of twelve lobster per licensed harvester in Monroe County 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. Only bully netting and hoop-netting is permitted at night. "Night" is one (1) hour after official sunset to one (1) hour before official sunrise.
• Carapace of lobster must be greater than three inches in length before they are taken into possession. Lobsters in catch-bags are in possession.
• Female lobster with eggs may not be harvested.
• Harvesting is prohibited in Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Spiny Lobster Sanctuary, the Everglades National Park, the Dry Tortugas National Park, John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park, all Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs), and other marine sanctuaries. Check with your local dive shop for details.

Remember that lobsters may only be taken using hands, hand-held nets, bully nets, or other means which permit the lobsters to be released unharmed if not of legal size. For complete and current regulations, visit the Fish & Wildlife Commission website.

Some important safety tips to remember:

• Ensure you have a dive plan and are diving with a buddy.
• File a float plan with a family member or a nearby marina.
• Mark the area in which you are diving with a dive flag.
• Stick to a time frame while diving, and let someone know if it changes.
• Remember, taking all the basic safety precautions will facilitate an increased chance of helping or finding a diver in the event Coast Guard assistance is needed.

So, are you really ready? Don't wait until the last minute to make sure your dive gear is up to date. Are your tanks due for a visual? Has your regulator been examined lately? Got extra o-rings? Also, be sure the safety equipment on your boat is current. There is a very good chance that Marine Patrol will board your vessel to make sure you are catching within the limits. When they do, they will check that you have current flares, a fire extinguisher, flotation devices, etc. Be ready. Don't forget to pack plenty of drinking water, food, and other essentials.

See you out there!

Useful Links:

• http://www.nps.gov/bisc/maps/lobmap.pdf
• http://floridakeystreasures.com/lobster/lobsterbiology.shtml
• http://myfwc.com/marine/lobster.htm
• http://myfwc.com/marine/Fishing_Measurement.htm

Comments:

	Posted by rjdive, Jun-19-2006 @ 08:22 PM CDT RJ Diving Ventyres is running 4 trips per day on both days, so there's plenty of opportunity for those who don't have boats! Last year we caught our limit on both days with them.
	Posted by raf, Jun-29-2006 @ 08:19 AM CDT Don't forget: You'll need a valid saltwater and crawfish license. Get them online at http://myfwc.com/license/
	Posted by marcosnapper, Jul-17-2006 @ 09:01 AM CDT If anyone is looking for a place to stay during the 06 lobster season, I have a water front campsite on SunShine Key. My family and I have a camper, but we also have a brand new 6 person tent that we are going to rent for $100. per night, or if you want a whole week, $400 from the Monday before the mini-season thru the two day season and check out on Sunday after the mini season. Send me a email if you are interested....sungraphics@aol.com. Put in Lobster or something like that in the subject line so that I wont delete it as I get about 100 junk email per day! Thanks...
	Posted by Richesb, Sep-4-2006 @ 11:11 AM CDT As a resident of Monroe County (Keys) i would like to tell ALL bug hunters; you are GUESTS, not tourists. I live here year round and dive year round I too am frowned upon as a bug hunter. Let's all make a conceryed effort to change the way we are looked at by locals who have no direct economic involvement with us. Courtesy, obeying rules & laws, not diving on someone's trap lines is a good start.
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