Reef, rock and wrecks

Spiny lobster

Panulirus argus

Bugs. Not a fish, but the reason half the Keys is in the water in August.

What they like

  • 1.5–15 musual depth (they tolerate 0.6–50 m)
  • 22–30 °Cwater temperature they feed in
  • clear waterwater clarity
  • rough bottom, drop-offs, sloping edgesbottom they hunt, in order
  • any tidetide
  • daylightlight

Under ledges, coral heads and rock piles in 2-15 m; look for antennae. Mini season in late July in Florida, regular season Aug 6 - Mar 31.

Season by region

Peak months, shaded. Outside them the species may still be around, just less reliably.

Florida and the Gulf
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Caribbean and Bahamas
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Bait and technique

Methods: diving.

Bait and lures: Tickle stick and net, or a snare; gauge every one in the water.

Technique: Free-dive the ledges and look under every undercut; tickle the lobster out backwards into the net.

Rules

Florida: Florida: 3 in carapace minimum measured in the water, 6 per day (12 in mini season), licence + lobster permit. Verify with FWC.

Seasons, sizes and bag limits change every year and differ by zone. Check the current regulations before you keep anything.

Depth maps where spiny lobster live

Depth map preview of Bimini, Bahamas±0.67 m

Bahamas

Bimini, Bahamas

  • ±0.67 mtypical error
  • 1,990laser soundings checked
  • 74 km²of shallows

Updated 5 h ago

Preferences are expert estimates from the fisheries literature and angling practice, not measurements at your spot. The likelihoods on the maps are a planning aid, not a catch prediction.