LOBSTER LAWS

Know Your Limit

With miniseason right around the corner its important to know exactly how many lobsters you are allowed to legally possess. The laws actual vary in different areas of Florida ,so first off you need to know where you are fishing. You are on your own on that one.

Most of Florida allows each diver to catch12 lobsters per day of miniseason. Meaning, you are allowed to be in possession of 12 lobsters on the first day and 24 on the second day. You are NOT allowed to be in possession of 24 on the first day. Nice try though!

You must also be aware that while you are on the water you are only allowed to be in possession of the daily limit. This means that if you don't catch your limit the first day you are not allowed to go out the second day and have more than your allowed 12 lobsters on the boat. 

However there are exceptions to the 12 lobster rule and that is in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park. In these two lobster havens each person is only allowed to possess 6 lobsters per day. 

It can be easy to lose count of your catch if you have a lot of people on board so make sure you have a system in place and if you aren't sure, always recount. The FWC will be out in full force and the last thing you want is a big fine to ruin your bug killin' vacation.

PREPARING FOR MINISEASON

Fishing License Renewal

With miniseason only a few weeks away its time to start preparing so that you are ready to go at that first slack tide. The most important thing every lobsterman needs (after their net and tickle stick) would be their lobster license.

Available at a variety of locations a fishing license is an essential requirement if you are planning on catching some bugs this July. Prices can be found at the FWC's website, but for a cost analysis breakdown the only place to go is... right here. 

For out-of-state residents its pretty simple, if you are only planning on fishing in FL for miniseason the most logical option is the $17, 3-day saltwater fishing license with the added $5 lobster permit. Obviously, if you'll be here longer the 7 day or Annual licenses are also available.

For Florida residents the age old question lingers... to buy the lifetime license or not? Well here is our completely unscientific breakdown:

Current Rates (assuming you are over 13, because if not just buy the damn lifetime license):

Lifetime: $301.50

Annual License: $22 ($17 + $5 lobster permit)

Basically, if you were to continue buying the annual license you would break even after 13 years of miniseasons. However, if you take into account increases in license costs (in 2010 the lobster permit increased $3),  inflation, and online purchase surcharges, and you are more likely to break even in about 9 or 10 years. 

Of course 10 years sounds like a long time, but seeing as how this is my 6th year I'm kicking myself for only buying the lifetime license last year. Plus if you add in the added benefit of not needing to remember to renew your license every year, it just starts making sense.

As a bonus the money spent on lifetime licenses actually goes to a really awesome conservation program. The money collected is not allowed to be spent, but all of the interest that it earns goes to funding fish and wildlife programs. 

P.S. I have totally lost count of how many years I've gone, but I think 6 is pretty close.