Be aware of changing regulations on Lobstering in the Florida Keys

The spiny lobster sport season will fall on July 25th and 26th for 2007. The bag limits are 6 per person per day for Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, and 12 per person per day for the rest of Florida. The possession limit on the water is equal to the daily bag limit, and off the water is equal to the daily bag limit on the first day, and double the daily bag limit on the second day. Possession limits are enforced on and off the water. Spiny lobster has a minimum size limit that must be larger than 3" carapace, measured in the water. A reminder that possession and use of a measuring device is required at all times, and night diving is prohibited in Monroe County (only during the sport season). A recreational saltwater license and a crawfish permit are needed for harvest. Regular spiny lobster season is August 6 through March 31. The bag limit is 6 per person per day. Harvest of lobster is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the sport season. Harvest is also prohibited during both the 2-day sport season and regular season in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and no take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Call (305) 743-2437 or visit http://floridakeys.noaa.gov for information about no take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Please call the FWC Key West office at (305) 292-0311 or click here for lobster harvesting regulations for Monroe County. Recreational trapping of lobster is prohibited.

LOBSTER BAG LIMITS
	Monroe County	Biscayne National Park	Elsewhere
2-Day Sport Season	6 per person per day	6 per person per day	12 per person per day
Regular Season (August 6 - March 31)	6 per person per day	6 per person per day	6 per person per day

Regardless of what species you are fishing for, bag limits are only for properly licensed individuals and those people exempt from license requirements who are actively harvesting, and those people harvesting may not exceed their individual bag limit and take someone else's bag limit. That is, people (including children) who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for purposes of bag limits.

This information was taken from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Website
Please visit this page on thier site at: http://myfwc.com/marine/lobster.htm

Sugarloaf Marina - Mile Marker 17 sells licences for Lobster Season, plus bait, tackle, lobster kits and gas. 305-745-3135
Murray Marina - Stock Island Mile Marker 5 - Sells lobster kits, bait, tackle and gas.