Any good suggestions/spots in the keys to catch lobsters during the season?

[thierry]

Hi guys,

Any recommendations on the best spots to catch lobsters in the Florida Keys?

Thanks in advance.

Thierry

[NOTANX]

yea, ok

[PatMyGreen]

In the water on the reefs. If you dont' know what spots are likely to be productive you may want to take a charter. Thats a hell of a first quesion to ask, welcome to the board all the same.

[gogators27]

I won't give you the numbers for the lobster hotel, but if you drag behind the boat with a mask and snorkel on you can see the good areas, who knows after a little searching you may find a hotel of your own.

[SwampThing]

under stuff...

[dagodiver]

Originally Posted by SwampThing

under stuff...

Dago.

[mjphawk]

thierry,

It's probably very evident by now, but you have a better chance at winning the lotto than getting real numbers from anyone. There is so much pressure down there that if someone finds a honey hole that isn't over fished, they certainly aren't going to share the info. I myself will be looking for something productive while I am down there this year (few weeks after the commercial season opens). You should probably just drag behind the boat on the Atlantic side and look for productive terrain. Best of luck.

Mike

[thierry]

Ok gang!

I was not expecting too much, just figured out that I will try my luck on the board. We are part of an interesting bread and spearfishing is usually a very close group. I spearfished in Europe and Martinique, now that I relocated to Florida it is time for me to go back to my favorite sport after a 8 years pause. New to the Florida keys I am hoping to get a pointer on where to go or avoid (Islamorada, Key West, Duck Key,..... ) not a GPS coordinate . The spirit is to keep the fun going for all of us.
Thanks for all of you gang that took the time to respond!

Got to go remove the dust on my Cressi fins....

Thierry

[Powerhead]

The reef runs the entire length of the florida keys about 5 mile south of any island your on. Grab a chart from any local dive shop. Most have lots of number already listed. They will also show you where not to dive. (i.e. no-take zones) Look for the depths you comfortable with and start there. Remember there are tons of patch reefs inside the reef line the hold lots of fish without all the pressure the reef sees.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Rick

[Rolo]

Holy Crap. Thierry Henry is a spearboard member . Make sure you get a Florida lobster license. Les Bleus...Les Bleus...Viva Les Bleus

[Shark Byte]

Recommendations? YUP

Here's what I can say... a little cayo hueso sabiduría desde entonces 1966

Don't dive the casitas (illegal since 2004), (see spearboard Sept. 2005)
get the right dive flag(new law 2001) enforced! bring a tape measure for fish and extra lobster guages, stay out of unfamiliar channels (North), if in unfamiliar channel STOP wait and follow somebody bigger, Get Coast Guard courtesy inspection prior to trip (free but tip) (get 2stickers for starboard and larboard) - avoid courtesy inspections f/both sides , Leave all filets on dock and don't clean aboard,(1998 no filets aboard.$300), Don't have your head set to dump overside inspected/enforced, listen to channel 4 to find where the commercial lobster divers are filling traps, If your going to tow diver use a sled that doesn't dive and mow (metal one on line rakes reef)(make ur own wood) when released (save the reef), leave before the storm gets to you your anchor won't hold, don't keep shorts, don't accidentally spear in the sanctuaries (sand key), if you don't want to take a chance of a courtesy boarding stay mostly in Atlantic if you can., bring neosporin and duct tape wrist, nurse sharks never more agressive than last year, keep your crew off duval,
...................................

In terms of where to get the lobster, well, that I really can't say

[Md Spear]

The down side is no one will tell you a secret spot[ why should they?]
Up side is w/ Wilma tearing out the pots , this aug is a one time deal for bugs out the wazoo, 2 wks ago, while diving in KW, I saw Keys bugs almost everywhere, now get out and make it happen. Wade

[Mobile Diver]

What Wade said. The bugs are pretty thick, any decent amount of searching will probably get you a limit.

[nailman]

If you can handle stong current you will find your limit under every bridge to key west. Most people wait to catch it at slack tide when it is easy pickings. If you choose to do it during tide changes an extra 20lbs in a weight belt will help with the effort. Sure you can find bugs with a little scouting before wed/thur.. Best of luck and by all means get a good dive marker/float and DO NOT TIE IT TO YOUR REG as somebody that has never driven a boat will probably run over your line at least once and if it catches your line it will have you in the prop before you can react.

[Grin]

They are everywhere down there man! A good place to start is under your boat. I'm not trying to be a axx here either. I used to have a huge string of lobsters living under my boat right in my canal all year long. Any structure at all holds them. A good way to find them is the old drag a guy behind the boat with a rope and planer idea. It won't take long before he lets go due to spotting a little ledge with antennas sticking out all the way along it. The most obvious spots get hammered. I would stay away from the crowd. But then again you are going to the keys on the busiest day of the year so maybe you like crowds. It appears to me that is part of the reason so many invade that week.