Lobster Mini Season (Florida): All You Need to Know
Last Updated on June 9, 2025 by Boatsetter Team
Lobster Mini Season, officially known as the Florida spiny lobster sport season, is a beloved two-day event that draws thousands of lobster enthusiasts to the Florida Keys and beyond. In 2025, the season will be held on Wednesday, July 30, and Thursday, July 31 — the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July, as is beloved tradition among Key West natives and divers around the world.
Find available fishing boat rentals for Lobster Mini Season in the Keys
Lobster Mini Season rules & regulations
We strongly suggest fully reviewing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spiny lobster webpage.
- Licenses and permits: A recreational saltwater fishing license and a spiny lobster permit are required.
- Bag limits: 6 lobsters per person per day for Monroe County and Biscayne National Park. Rest of Florida: 12 lobsters per person per day.
- Size limits: Carapace must be larger than 3 inches, measured in the water. Use a measuring device at all times.
- Prohibited areas: No harvesting in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during Lobster Mini Season. Year-round no-take zones include Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, certain areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary, and the five Coral Reef Protection Areas in Biscayne National Park.
- Possession limits: Possession limits on the water are equal to the daily bag limit. Off the water, the possession limit on July 30 is equal to the daily bag limit, and on July 31, it is double the daily bag limit. Possession limits are enforced both on and off the water.
- Night diving: Prohibited in Monroe County (ONLY during sport season). Diving is defined as swimming at or below the surface of the water.
- Dive rules: If diving, the boat must display a “Diver Down Warning Device” including a flag and/or dive buoy. Divers must stay within 300 feet of their dive flag in open waters and within 100 feet in a channel.
- Review our fishing safety guide before heading out
How to go out with a local angler for Lobster Mini Season
Want the easiest way to find lobster this sports season? Book a fishing boat rental with a local Captain who knows exactly where to go. Many boats come with fishing gear and amenities like live wells — so all you have to do is show up at the dock, dive in, and start collecting. Here’s how to find the right setup in just a few steps:
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Browse fishing boats in Key West
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Apply the “Captain” filter to find rentals with a local guide
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Scroll to “Amenities” and select what you need (e.g., live well, cooler, snorkeling gear)
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Tap “See Results” and choose the perfect boat for your lobster adventure
Find available fishing boat rentals in the Florida Keys
Going solo? Here’s how to prep for lobster mini season on your own
If you’re renting a boat without a local Captain, you’ll need to be a bit more hands-on but with the right gear, knowledge, and prep, you can still have a fun and successful Mini Season.
Pro tips for solo-anglers this Lobster Mini Season
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Measure lobsters in the water before bringing them on board. It’s required by law.
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Never touch or anchor on coral. It damages the reef and is illegal.
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Release any lobsters with eggs (called “berries”) on the underside of the tail.
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Watch for yellow buoys, they often mark no-take zones.
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Night diving is prohibited in Monroe County during Mini Season.
How to catch lobster
You’ll need two tools: a tickle stick and a net. Here’s how the technique works:
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Spot your lobster hiding in a hole or under coral.
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Gently tap its tail with the tickle stick to coax it out.
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Position the net behind the lobster.
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Tap it on the head — it will shoot backward straight into your net.
If it doesn’t go in the first time, be patient and try again. Practice makes perfect!
Important reminders for snorkelers & divers
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Always fly a “Diver Down” flag or buoy from your boat — it’s required whenever someone is in the water.
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Most rental boats won’t come with this gear automatically, so bring your own or double-check before booking.
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Review your route, know the protected zones, and make sure all your safety equipment is working before heading out.
A must-do while you’re in the Keys
After a big morning of lobstering, unwind like a local with a cruise out to one of the Florida Keys’ iconic sandbars. These shallow, sun-soaked spots are perfect for floating, sipping, and soaking in the views — and best of all, you can hire a local captain to take you straight there.
Explore our favorite sandbars in the Florida Keys and make the most of your mini season getaway.
With over three decades of experience in marine journalism, Lenny Rudow has contributed to dozens of boating and fishing publications and websites ranging from BoatU.S. Magazine to BDOutdoors.com. Rudow is currently the Angler in Chief at Rudow’s FishTalk, he is a past president of Boating Writers International (BWI), a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design, and has won numerous BWI and OWAA writing awards.
