Lobster miniseason is July 29-30. Here are the rules to know before the hunt

Thousands of boaters, divers and snorkelers are expected to take to the South Florida waters for two days next week to catch their limit of spiny lobster.

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The annual lobster miniseason, which begins at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, gives anglers a brief chance to catch the clawless crustaceans before a week lull until the regular eight-month recreational and commercial season begins on Aug. 6.

While many look forward to the event, it is highly regulated, so expect a large law-enforcement presence on the water, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard and other police agencies conducting patrols, checking for safety equipment and inspecting catches.

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Here are the major rules that you need to know before heading out:

• The daily bag limit is six per person, per day, in the Florida Keys and within Biscayne National Park. Anywhere else in the state, it’s 12 per person, per day.
• The carapace, the lobster part that is not the tail, must be greater than three inches long. The lobsters must be measured in the water and must be brought back to land whole. Also, anglers must be in possession of a measuring device at all times.
• Do not start hunting for lobsters any time before the miniseason begins at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Law enforcement will be on the lookout, and violators face arrest.

• Night diving or snorkeling in the Florida Keys is prohibited during miniseason. Night-time anglers in the Keys use bullynets, which are poles with down-facing nets on the ends. Lights are typically shone from boats in shallow water so bullynetters can spot the lobsters on the bottom. Anglers can dive at night in the rest of the state and in the Keys during the regular season.
• All lobster anglers must possess a recreational state saltwater fishing license and a lobster permit.
• Lobstering is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the two-day season and always in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park and certain “no-take” zones in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and no-take areas of Biscayne Bay and the Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary. To find out more about these areas, call 305-852-7717 or go to FloridaKeys.noaa.gov.

• It’s also important to remember that you cannot fish for lobsters with a speargun, pole spear or any device that will crack their shells. And egg-bearing female lobsters must be left alone. Recreational anglers are also prohibited from using traps.
• Puncturing the lobster kills it instantly, which isn’t a humane way of hunting them, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. In addition, it prevents authorities from ensuring all lobsters killed meet the size requirements.

Sadly, lobster miniseason has also been known to be marred by tragedy due to drownings, boats hitting swimmers and boat crashes. The U.S. Coast Guard offers the following tips to keep things safe:

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• Ensure that engines are completely turned off if divers or swimmers are in the water.
• Check all navigation lights prior to launching.
• Don’t overload your boat. Check the capacity plate for the maximum number of people and the maximum weight of people, gear, fuel and the motor itself.
• Ensure that chart-plotters, depth-finders and other marine electronics are properly dimmed for low-light viewing in order to preserve night vision.

• Wear your life jacket (aka Personal Floatation Device – PFD) year-round for all boating activities. Consider the use of inflatable PFDs in Florida’s hot climate.
• While underway, ensure your engine cutoff switch (aka kill switch) link is attached.
• Boat sober. The marine environment accelerates the effects of alcohol.