Every year on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July, thousands of snorkelers and divers descend on the Florida Keys for one of the most anticipated two-day events in the state. Locals call it Bug Season. Officially, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) calls it the sport season. Everyone else just calls it mini season.
In 2026, mini season runs from 12:01 AM on Wednesday, July 29 through 11:59 PM on Thursday, July 30. During that 48-hour window, recreational divers and snorkelers can harvest Florida spiny lobster before commercial traps go in the water for the regular season, which opens August 6 and runs through March 31, 2027.
If you have never done it before, here is everything you need to know.
What Is a Florida Spiny Lobster
The Florida spiny lobster is a different animal from the clawed lobsters you see in New England. It has no claws. Instead, it has long antennae and a body covered in small spines. All the meat is in the tail. Spiny lobsters are found throughout the Caribbean and the waters of South Florida, and they tend to hide during the day in rocky crevices, ledges, coral outcroppings, and under structure on the ocean floor. At night they come out to feed, which is why bully netting after dark is a popular technique during the regular season.
The Rules
The FWC regulates mini season tightly, and enforcement is heavy, especially in the Keys. Knowing the rules before you get in the water is essential.
Licensing
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A valid Florida recreational saltwater fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.
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A spiny lobster permit is also required and can be purchased alongside the license. The saltwater license is $17 for residents and the lobster stamp is $5.
Bag Limits
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6 lobsters per person per day in Monroe County (the Keys) and Biscayne National Park
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12 lobsters per person per day everywhere else in Florida
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No pooling catches. You cannot harvest someone else's limit for them.
Size Limits
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The carapace (the hard shell covering the head and body) must measure greater than 3 inches.
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You are required to measure every lobster while still in the water before placing it in your catch bag. A lobster gauge must be on your person while diving. If you are caught without one, your lobsters can be seized and you can be fined.
Egg-Bearing Females
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Any lobster carrying eggs (visible as an orange or dark mass under the tail) must be released immediately.
Allowed Gear
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Hand nets, bully nets, tickle sticks, and lobster snares only
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No spears, hooks, gigs, or recreational traps of any kind
Restricted Areas
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No snorkeling or diving within 300 feet of any residential or commercial shoreline, including canals and marinas, during mini season
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No night diving during mini season in Monroe County (one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise)
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Certain areas are completely closed to lobster harvest, including Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary no-take zones and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
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Tampering with commercial lobster traps is a felony in Florida
How to Catch Them
There are two main methods for catching spiny lobster recreationally.
Snorkeling or diving with a tickle stick and net is the most common daytime approach. You swim over reef, rock, and structure looking for lobster antennae poking out of holes and crevices. When you spot one, you slide the tickle stick (a thin fiberglass rod about 24 inches long) behind the lobster to coax it out of its hole. Spiny lobsters move backward when startled, so you position your net behind the tail and tap the lobster on the head with the stick, prompting it to scoot backward into the net. Once it is in the net, fold the net over quickly. Getting the lobster into your mesh catch bag without it escaping is the tricky part, especially for beginners.
Bully netting is a nighttime technique used in shallow water. You drift or pole across flats and grass beds using a bright light to spot lobsters that have come out to feed. When you find one, you lower a large circular net (the bully net) over the lobster from above and pin it to the bottom. This method is not allowed during the mini season in Monroe County because of the night diving restriction, but it is legal during the regular season and in other parts of Florida.
What to Bring
A basic lobster kit does not require a huge investment.
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Mask, snorkel, and fins
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Tickle stick
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Hand net or lobster snare
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Lobster measuring gauge (required by law)
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Puncture-resistant gloves (the spines are sharp)
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Mesh catch bag
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Dive flag (required when diving from a boat; must be visible from all directions)
If you are going out on a boat, bring a cooler with ice to keep your catch fresh, plus all the usual essentials: sunscreen, water, food, towels, and a hat. Mini season falls at the peak of Florida summer, so hydration and sun protection are critical.
What to Expect During Mini Season
Mini season is intense. The Keys see a massive influx of divers and boaters during the two-day window. Marinas fill up, boat ramps have lines before dawn, dive spots are crowded, and the atmosphere on the water can be chaotic, especially on Day One. FWC officers are out in force checking bags, measuring lobsters, and verifying licenses.
If you are a first-timer, going with an experienced captain or guide makes a significant difference. They know where the lobsters are, how to read the bottom, and how to keep your group safe in what can be busy and unpredictable water conditions.
Lobstering with Us
We offer lobstering charters out of our Florida Keys locations during both mini season and the regular season. Our captains know the reefs, the ledges, and the spots where spiny lobsters tend to stack up. They will get your group to the right water, walk you through the techniques if you are new to it, and make sure you are following every regulation so you can focus on the hunt.
Our boat, the Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin, has the range to reach productive lobstering grounds, a swim platform and ladder for easy water entry and exit, and plenty of deck space and storage for gear and coolers. The enclosed cabin gives your group a place to cool off between dives, and the full bathroom means you are comfortable for the entire trip.
Mini season charters book up fast, especially in the Keys. If you are planning to be in Florida for the July 29–30 window, we recommend reserving your date well in advance.
You can check availability and book online at sea-eo.com.