Lobster hunters, and law enforcers, hit the water as miniseason starts in Florida Keys
A few minutes after midnight Wednesday, dozens of boats with bright lights shining in the water dotted Cowpens Cut in Islamorada.
On board, people were sticking long poled nets in the shallows and bringing up lobster from the bottom. The process is known as bully netting.
It was the start to this year’s lobster miniseason, a two-day event held every year during the final Wednesday and Thursday in July that sees thousands of people head to South Florida and the Florida Keys to catch spiny lobster. The crustacean is a delicacy locally and as far abroad as Asia.
Just minutes before, officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission patrolled through the night in the Keys backcountry searching for people trying to get in on the action early.
Lobstering just one minute before the start of miniseason is a third-degree misdemeanor, which could land violators in jail for up to 60 days and a fine of up to $500. And, Keys prosecutors are known for seeking stiff penalties for rule breakers.
“We’re just checking to make sure everybody stays within the rules and regulations and does it right,” said FWC Officer Joshua Stallings.
In the final hours of Tuesday night, FWC officers found most people obeying the law, and no arrests were made in the Keys.
Some waited patiently on their boats for the clock to strike midnight. Brian Parsons, Stephen Hansman and Cory Gallagher from Fort Myers planned to wait even longer. That’s because instead of bully netting, they planned to snorkel for lobster, and the law prohibits night diving for the hunt.
The friends sat in Parson’s 31-foot Contender open fisherman boat patiently waiting for the sun to come up.
“It’s what we’ve been doing for 10 years,” Parsons said.
There were no initial reports of injuries or boat accidents, which is welcome news for law enforcement and first responders. In years past, the event has been notorious for people getting hurt and even killed.
Recently, however, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other law enforcement agencies have increased patrols, especially in the Keys. FWC Lt. Paul Hein, 33, who rode along with 30-year-old Stallings late Tuesday and early Wednesday, said up to 20 officers assigned to other counties were sent to the Keys for this year’s miniseason to make sure people stayed safe and followed the rules.
“We’ve really stepped up our presence out here,” Hein said.
In the Keys, the bag limit for spiny lobster is six per person, per boat. In the rest of the state, with the exception of Biscayne National Park, the limit is 12 lobsters per person, per vessel. Lobsters must be measured in the water, and their carapace — the part that is not the tail — must be long than three inches long. Tails must measure 5 1/2 inches long.
All lobsters must be brought back to shore in one piece.
It didn’t take long for some lobster hunters to reach their limit early Wednesday. They included local father-and-son team Steve and Reece Jahn of Plantation Key Colony.
“I think we got it in 30 minutes. We got lucky this year,” Steve Jahn, 44, said.
To get a better view of the crustaceans below, Steve and Reece, who is 16, installed a step ladder on the deck of their flats boat, similar to vessels called tower boats.
“I had a little time on our hands and a ladder. And, we wanted to do well, so when it was a little slow, he climbs up there and looks, and then I crawl down and grab one,” the elder Jahn said. “We do it safe and slow, too. It’s pretty cool, man.”
Judging from traffic in Florida City heading south along the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1 into Key Largo Tuesday night, it’s looking like it will be a busy miniseason.
At the Race Trac gas station in Florida City, almost all the fuel pumps were occupied with cars and trucks pulling boats on trailers.
Orlando friends Josh Yablon and his 12-year-old son Dylan, Tory Veigle, Drew McGucking and Trey Krits were filling up a large center console boat, as well as an RV. They were heading down to Lower Matecumbe Key for the week, not just to limit out on spiny lobster, but also to fish.
Veigle’s 6-year-old son Beckham, though, wasn’t too jazzed on catching lobster. He had his sights set on something more toothy.
“Barracuda,” he yelled out when his dad asked him what he wanted to fish for.
