THE OUTPOST - entry 003 - Lobster Mini Season 2026

Early wake up calls, left the dock by 6:30, sun just peering over the horizon as we’re drinking our coffee: all for the highly sought after Caribbean sea cockroach we call spiny lobster

Lobster mini season takes place for a 48 hour stretch on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July every year just days before the true lobster season opens up in August (August 6th this year). The sole purpose of this mini season is to give recreational divers and fishermen the chance to get their fill before commercial boaters are allowed to set their traps. You can find these spiny lobsters all throughout the coastal waters of Florida but the true density of them lie in south Florida, the Keys, and the Caribbean. The previous season ended in April allowing them the end of spring and majority of summer to spawn, so mini season gives these boaters the opportunity to get them at their most abundant state. 

Spiny lobsters aren't like the typical lobster you order in the restaurants. Rarely will you be able to find them consistently on any menus, aside from specials or in South Florida and the Keys where they are found the most. The key difference between these Caribbean spiny lobster and the lobster you see from the North Atlantic are the claws or rather lack thereof and their habitat (shallow warm water reefs opposed to deep cold water territories). Overall spiny lobster, in my opinion, has a much more appealing flavor profile than Maine lobster. While still being very rich they tend to have a sweeter and brinier taste to them in comparison to Maine lobster

Note: if you were lucky enough to be down there with us and got your limit on them, I suggest broiling the tails with some bacon then cubing it up and putting it in some mac and cheese or soaking small pieces of it in lime juice and making a ceviche which is my personal favorite. 

As stated in the beginning of the article, our day began at 6:30am as we were pulling out. We were fortunate enough to tag along with a good buddy of ours, Landon, who has recently dug his roots into Key West alongside his wife and their family. Landon took us out on their family boat to a spot he had marked. As we were breaking the canal out into the open water, what we saw took us by no surprise: dozens of boats running to their respective spots, right along with us. 

Early starts often led to late returns, but with the plentiful amounts of lobster seemingly waiting for us to get there and take them home for dinner, we were able to get our bag limit before noon. All our spots were within 8-12 ft of water and the shallow water of the Keys is particularly warm this time of year so while we would rather be spending a day out on the water than in the office: the early return wasn't unwelcomed.  

It was such a blessing to be out on the water, up before the sun, out before (most) people are on the water, and participating in a tradition that is inherently Floridian. It felt like a very Daybreak type of day. If you were lucky enough to be participating in the mini season along with us - we hope you got your bag limit, because we sure as shit did

Till next time

George

P.S: Check out our most recent Instagram reel we filmed during our day, it rocks.