The Conch Connection

Florida Lobster.......

Every July the coastal areas of Florida are flooded with lobster hunters trying to get their share of this year's bounty, when the official mini lobster season kicks off. There are two Florida Lobster Seasons, the 2 Day Mini Season and the 8 month regular lobster season. The mini lobster season is always the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. Make sure to always verify dates and regulations with Florida Fish and Wildlife. It begins at 12:01 am on Wednesday and ends at 12:00 midnight on Thursday.

The regular 8 month lobster season is always August 6 through March and is open to both recreational and commercial fisherman.

Commonly referred to as the Florida Spiny Lobster, the Caribbean spiny lobster inhabits tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico.

Photo Credit: Rob O'Neal / Florida Keys News Bureau

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Video Credit: Visit Florida

Lobster is a famous Florida Keys seafood specialty.   Spiny Lobsters are different than their distant relative, the Maine or North Eastern Lobster. Since the Spiny Lobster has no claws, meat is located in the tail of the animal and is delicious whether prepared by itself with melted butter or in creations like lobster salad, ceviche or  a Lobster Benedict.

If you're not up to the challenge of donning snorkeling or SCUBA gear to catch your own, then the Key West Lobsterfest is the place for you.  Imagine 4 mouth watering  days filled with delectable lobster being chopped, diced, cooked or "ceviche'd".  Key West's Lobsterfest typically happens in mid August, each year and includes happenings, such as:

• Lobster Boil at the Sunset Tiki Bar & Grille
• Reef & Ritas - a 3 hour catamaran snorkel and sail trip
• Duval Crawl
• Street Fare - Arts, Crafts and LOBSTER!!!!!!!
• Finally, on Sunday is a Lobster Brunch hosted at the Smokin Tuna Saloon

Image Credit: LobsterFest

Looking for more great things to do in Key West? Key Lime Festival, Fantasy Fest, Hemingway Days and more...  Check out all these great things to do all year long.

Hero Image Photo Credit: Georges Jansoone (JoJan), CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons