Sand & Sea Key West Charters · Up to 6
Lobstering & Spearfishing
The lowest entry price here, and the only listing that pairs lobstering with spearfishing on the same trip.
| 3 hours | $447 |
|---|---|
| 4 hours | $596 |
| 5 hours | $745 |
| 6 hours | $894 |
Florida Keys · Season open through March 31, 2027
Florida Keys Lobster Season 2026-2027: Mini Season Dates, Limits & How to Catch Them
Lobster season in the Florida Keys is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Thousands of divers and snorkelers come to chase the Florida spiny lobster, a clawless crustacean prized for its sweet tail meat.
- Season
- Open to Mar 31
- Keys limit
- 6 per day
- Min size
- 3 in. carapace
Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned bug hunter, know the rules. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers patrol heavily during lobster season, and violations can bring serious fines and even jail time.
Short answer: The regular season is open now through March 31, 2027. In the Keys you can keep 6 lobster per person per day, each with a carapace longer than 3 inches, measured in the water. You need a saltwater fishing license plus a lobster permit. The next mini season is July 28–29, 2027.
When
2026-2027 lobster season dates
Regular season
Aug 6, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027
Open now. Nearly eight months of season.
Mini season 2027
July 28–29, 2027
The last Wednesday and Thursday of July, 12:01 a.m. Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
Mini season 2026
July 29–30, 2026
Closed. Recreational-only, 48 hours before commercial traps go in.
The rules
Bag limits & size requirements
Rules checked against FWC on September 28, 2026.
Where and whenDaily limit
Regular season, everywhere in Florida6 per person
Mini season, Monroe County (the Keys) & Biscayne NP6 per person
Mini season, rest of Florida12 per person
Size
Carapace longer than 3 inches, measured in the water before the lobster goes in your bag. Carrying a measuring gauge is required. Measure from between the eyes to the rear edge of the carapace.
Land it whole
Separating the tail from the body on the water is illegal in state waters. Remove the tail only once you're back on land.
Egg-bearing females
Any lobster carrying orange eggs under the tail goes back immediately.
License and permit
A Florida recreational saltwater fishing license plus a spiny lobster permit, from GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, the Fish|Hunt Florida app or a license agent. Children under 16 don't need a license, but size and bag limits still apply.
Possession
On the water, possession equals the daily bag limit. During mini season, off-water possession equals the bag limit on day one and double it on day two.
Who counts
Bag limits are per person actively harvesting. People on the boat who aren't diving don't count, and you can't go out twice in one day for a second limit.
Go with a captain
Book a lobster charter in Key West
These are private trips priced for the whole boat. Prices and open dates were checked against FareHarbor on September 28, 2026; all four have dates open in October through December.
TNT Charters · Up to 6
4 Hour Lobstering
A half-day session with all gear provided, aimed at families and first-timers.
| Half day, whole boat | $650 |
|---|
Key West Conchlife Charters · Up to 6
Lobster Fishing Charter
Lobstering combined with light-tackle fishing on the flats and patch reefs. Six- and eight-hour versions cost more.
| 4 hours, whole boat | $849 |
|---|
Ben O'Fishal · 17-footer, up to 4
Night Lobster Trip
Lobster move into the open after dark. A private four-hour night trip with lights aboard. (Night diving is banned in the Keys only during mini season.)
| Private night charter | $800 |
|---|
The Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) is the same species you hunt in the Keys; these photos were taken across the Caribbean. Via Wikimedia Commons: Caribbean spiny lobster by NOAA, Public domain; Spiny lobster, Bahamas by Michael Bommerer, CC BY 4.0; Spiny lobster on the reef, Bahamas by Michael Bommerer, CC BY 4.0; Spiny lobster under a ledge, Belize by Adam, CC BY 2.0; Spiny lobster in a reef hole, Honduras by cello caruso-turiello, CC BY 4.0; Spiny lobster, Cayman Islands by Dan Schofield, CC BY 4.0; Spiny lobster at night, Caribbean Netherlands by Dan Schofield, CC BY 4.0; Spiny lobster antennae, Belize by Adam, CC BY 2.0. Licenses: CC BY 2.0, CC BY 4.0.
Closed areas & Keys rules
Where you can't hunt, and Keys-only rules
Closed all year
Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary no-take zones, the Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary, and five Coral Reef Protection Areas in Biscayne National Park.
Closed for mini season
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
No night diving
In Monroe County during mini season only: no diving from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
300-foot rule
No diving or snorkeling within 300 feet of developed shoreline, man-made canals or marinas. When it applies depends on the town: in Key West and Islamorada, from three days before mini season through the first five days of the regular season; in Marathon, during mini season only.
Dive flag
Fly a diver-down flag whenever anyone is in the water. Other boats must go idle speed within 300 feet of a flag in open water and 100 feet in canals.
Finding no-take zones
They're marked with yellow boundary buoys. The free Marine Sanctuary Explorer app shows exact lines on your phone.
Technique
How to catch lobster: tickle and net
Spot it
Look under ledges, in coral holes and around structure. Antennae often poke out of the hiding spot.
Set the net
Place the net behind the lobster. They shoot backward when startled.
Tickle the tail
Tap the tail gently with your tickle stick.
Catch
The lobster darts backward into the net.
Measure
Check the carapace with your gauge while still in the water.
Keep or release
Legal size goes in the bag. Anything short goes back immediately.
Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to hunt. Be patient; rushing costs you lobster. Practice in shallow water before going deep.
Gear
What to bring
- Tickle stick to coax lobster out of holes
- Lobster net to catch them
- Measuring gauge, required by law
- Gloves; the spines cut
- Mesh catch bag
- Dive flag, required whenever anyone is in the water
- Mask, snorkel and fins, a weight belt for freediving, a wetsuit for long days, or scuba gear if you're certified
Where
Where lobster hide
- Patch reefs in 10–25 feet of water
- Artificial reefs and sunken structure
- Bridge pilings
- Ledges and undercuts
- Grass flats at dawn and dusk
Popular areas include the Middle Keys (Islamorada to Marathon), Key Largo and the backcountry. During mini season, expect heavy competition in well-known spots.
Enforcement
Penalties
FWC treats lobster violations as criminal offenses. Fines can be charged per lobster, and taking lobster from someone else's trap is a felony. Officers check divers often during mini season, so carry your license, permit and gauge every time.
Dinner
Cooking your catch
- Grilled tails: split, butter and grill 8–10 minutes
- Lobster rolls
- Lobster mac and cheese, a Keys favorite
- Steamed
- Bisque from the shells
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What's mini season?
Mini season, officially sport season, gives recreational divers first crack at lobster before commercial fishing begins. It's wildly popular: expect crowded waters, busy boat ramps and lots of competition. Book accommodations and boat rentals months in advance.
When is lobster season in the Florida Keys?
The regular season runs August 6, 2026 to March 31, 2027. The next mini season is July 28-29, 2027.
How many lobster can I keep in the Keys?
Six per person per day, in both the regular season and mini season. Outside Monroe County and Biscayne National Park the mini season limit is 12; in the regular season it's 6 everywhere.
What license do I need?
A Florida recreational saltwater fishing license and a spiny lobster permit. Children under 16 don't need a license but must follow size and bag limits.
Can I book a lobster charter from Key West?
Yes. Several Key West operators run private lobstering trips priced per boat, from $447 for three hours; see the charters on this page.
Keep reading
Related articles
Hunt bugs with a local captain
The season runs through March 31. Private charters from $447 for the whole boat.
See the charters