Scientific Name
Panulirus argus
Common Name
Rock lobster
Stock Status
Overfishing – No
Overfished – Unknown
2022 Regulations
Recreational | Commercial | ||
Season | Open August 6 – March 31. Open in federal waters off the state of Florida for 2-day mini-season the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. Open in federal waters off Gulf states other than Florida during the last Saturday and Sunday of July. | Season | Open August 6 – March 31. |
Minimum Size | 3 inch carapace. Divers must measure lobster in the water. ![]() |
Minimum Size | Carapace more than 3 inches or tail more that 5 ½ inches. Divers must measure lobster in the water. |
Bag Limit | 6 per person. Lobsters with eggs may not be possessed. During the Florida mini-season the bag limit is 12 per person in the federal waters off Florida other than Monroe County. | Trip Limit | 250 per day/vessel for spiny lobster harvested by bully net from federal waters off Florida. 250 per day/vessel for spiny lobster harvested by diving from federal waters off Broward, Dade, Monroe, Collier, and Lee Counties in Florida. Lobsters with eggs may not be possessed. No more than 50 undersized, live lobsters may be retained aboard a vessel for use as a trap attractant. |
Permit | State issued recreational license | Permit | Spiny lobster federal vessel permit or Florida commercial harvester license and certificates. Additionally, a federal tail-separation permit is required for vessels to possess spiny lobster tails. |
Gear | Spiny lobster may not be taken with a spear, hook, or similar device. No recreational trapping allowed. | Gear |
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Harvest Limits
Sector | Annual Catch Limit | Annual Catch Target |
Stock | 9,600,000 pounds | 8,640,000 pounds |