The Florida or spiny lobster

The spiny lobster also known as the Florida lobster.

Description: also called Florida lobster or crayfish, a beautifully colored crustacean mottled with brown, green and blue, and dotted with light yellow or white spots on the tail sections. It has numerous spines on the body, two large hooked horns over the eyes, a pair of long-jointed antennae and five pairs of walking legs. This species does not have claws like the Maine lobster, instead the meat comes friom the lobster tail.

Availability: Season for catching Florida lobster is from August 6 - March 31 (with license and limits). Available in markets fresh: heavy in August - October; moderate in November; light - December through March. Fresh frozen or “green” lobster tails are available during the lobster season and for a short time after, depending on availibility.

Selection and Care: When purchasing lobster, allow a 1 pound green whole lobster per person. This will yield approximately 5-6 ounces of cooked lobster meat. Handle lobster with care to preserve quality after purchase. Freeze green lobster live for best quality if not used immediately. Since the shell protects the meat from drying out, no glazing or block freezing is necessary unless it is to be kept longer than four months. Cooked lobster will maintain quality in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Frozen shellfish should be used within 3--6 months. The longer these foods are frozen, the more likely they are to lose flavor, texture and moisture.

Nutritional Value: Approximate values for 3.5 oz. (100 gms) of cooked, edible portions: 143 calories; 3 gm carbohydrate; 26 gm protein; 1.9 gm total fat; 0 saturated fat; 90 mg cholesterol; 227 mg.

Information on the regulations on lobster fishing and the no you are allowed to take can be found at the following link.

Regulations for Recreational Harvest in State and Federal Waters of spiny lobsters

Additional information on the regulations regarding fishing for spiny lobsters in Florida can be found at the following web site.This includes all the information on recreational lobstering including diving.

The official portal for the State of Fliorida


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