Jeff Torode, owner of South Florida Diving in Pompano Beach, Florida, provided insights into the upcoming lobster mini-season.
South Florida Diving has been in operation for 26 years, offering diving services with three boats in Pompano Beach and one in Boynton Beach. The company focuses on reef and wreck diving. The lobster mini-season is scheduled for July 24-25, changing annually as it falls on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July.
Torode emphasized the importance of caution during this period due to the presence of egg-bearing female lobsters and advises divers to inspect lobsters for eggs before attempting to catch them to avoid reducing future lobster populations. Identifying egg-bearing lobsters can be challenging, especially if they are deep in holes. He suggested using a tickle stick or loop to gently tap the lobsters and observe if they have eggs when they move.
The lobster season is significant for the dive industry in Florida, with the mini-season attracting many participants. The regular season runs from August 6 to March, providing an economic boost.
For the mini-season, participants need a fishing license and a lobster stamp from Florida Fish and Wildlife, obtainable online. Proper equipment includes a tickle stick, net, catch bag, and a measuring device to ensure lobsters meet the minimum size requirement of 3.5 inches on the carapace. Torode advised against catching lobsters by hand due to potential risks from other marine creatures.
It's important to minimize the environmental impact by avoiding damage to corals and reefs. Torode recommended leaving lobsters that are difficult to reach undisturbed and monitoring air supply to avoid accidents.
Lobsters must be measured underwater before surfacing, as possessing undersized lobsters on the surface is a violation. The minimum carapace size is 3.5 inches.
2024 Limits
In Monroe County, the limit is six lobsters per person per day, while in the rest of the state, it is twelve per person per day. Torode noted that divers cannot make multiple trips to exceed the daily limit.
Fishing licenses and lobster stamps are available online from the Florida Wildlife Commission at myfwc.com. For more information about South Florida Diving, visit southfloridadiving.com.
South Florida Diving
101 N. Riverside Dr.Suite 111
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Phone: (800) 771-DIVE (3483) (Toll Free in U.S.)
Phone: +1 (954) 783-2299 (Outside U.S.)
E-mail: info@southfloridadiving.com
