Key Takeaways
- Two seasons. Florida runs a two-day sport (mini) season, July 29–30 in 2026, plus a regular season from August 6 through March 31.
- The Keys limit is six. In Monroe County and Biscayne National Park you can keep 6 spiny lobster per person per day in both seasons, half the mini-season limit for the rest of Florida.
- Measure the carapace. A legal lobster’s carapace must be greater than 3 inches, measured in the water before you keep it, and egg-bearing females always go back.
- License and permit required. Most recreational harvesters need a Florida saltwater fishing license plus a spiny lobster permit.
- Mind the gotchas. No night harvest during Keys mini season, no spearing, and no taking from no-take zones like Coffins Patch, Sombrero Key, or Looe Key.
You’ve got a Florida Keys trip on the calendar, the water is calling, and one question keeps getting in the way: is Florida lobster season open while you’re here, and what rules actually apply once you’re in the water? It usually starts as a simple date search and turns into bigger questions fast. Mini season or regular season? What’s the six-lobster limit about? Do you need a license and a lobster permit? And which reefs are off-limits even when the season’s wide open?
If you’re planning to harvest around Marathon, Big Pine Key, or Key West, those details matter, because Monroe County rules can differ from what you’ll hear about the rest of Florida. This guide gives you the plain-English answer for the Keys: the current 2026 season dates, bag limits, size rules, license requirements, and the no-take and night-harvest restrictions that can shape your whole day.
The Quick Answer for 2026
Florida spiny lobster season comes in two parts: the two-day sport season, usually called mini season, and the longer regular season. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lists the 2026 sport season as July 29–30, the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July, and the regular season as August 6 through March 31 (FWC).
| Season | 2026 dates | Keys/Monroe County limit | Best plain-English answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport / mini season | July 29–30, 2026 | 6 per person per day | A short recreational head start before regular season. |
| Regular season | August 6, 2026–March 31, 2027 | 6 per person per day | The main open season for recreational lobster harvest. |
So when does lobster season start in Florida? It depends which season you mean. Mini season comes first, at the end of July. Regular season starts August 6. And in Key West, Marathon, Big Pine Key, and the rest of Monroe County, the Keys-specific rules are the ones to plan around.
Mini Season in the Florida Keys
Mini season is the two-day sport season, held on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July every year. For 2026, that’s July 29–30. It gives recreational harvesters an early shot before regular season opens, and in the Keys it’s a genuine event.
In Monroe County, the lobster bag limit during mini season is 6 spiny lobster per person per day. That’s lower than the sport-season limit elsewhere in Florida, where you can take 12 per person per day. If your trip is in the Keys, plan around 6.
One rule catches visitors off guard every year: nighttime diving and harvest are prohibited in Monroe County during the two-day sport season. Mini season in the Keys is daytime harvest only. If you’re building a July trip, pair this rules reference with Captain Hook’s Florida Keys lobster mini-season guide, Marathon mini-season activity ideas, traffic and ramp tips, and Lobster Showdown Tournament details.
Regular Season: August Through March
The regular season runs August 6 through March 31. This is the long window for recreational harvesters, and it covers just about anyone coming down for a fall, winter, or early-spring Keys trip.
The daily limit in Monroe County stays at 6 per person per day through regular season too. So if you’re asking how many lobster you can catch in Florida, split the answer by place and season: in the Florida Keys and Biscayne National Park, it’s 6 per person per day during both mini season and regular season. Elsewhere in Florida, the sport-season number is different.
A late-season trip can still land inside the open season as long as it’s before March 31. Just check the current FWC page for any updates to dates, area rules, or possession details for the year you’re actually on the water.
Bag Limits by Season and Location
The easiest way to avoid mixing up the rules is to treat Monroe County as its own planning category. Key West, Marathon, and Big Pine Key all fall under the Keys/Monroe County rules.
| Where you harvest | Sport / mini season | Regular season | Possession reminder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County / Florida Keys | 6 per person per day | 6 per person per day | Verify current on-water and off-water possession rules with FWC before harvesting. |
| Biscayne National Park | 6 per person per day | 6 per person per day | Park rules and area restrictions can also apply. |
| Elsewhere in Florida | 12 per person per day during sport season | Confirm current regular-season details with FWC | Don’t apply non-Keys sport-season limits to a Keys trip. |
Legal Size: Measure the Carapace in the Water
A Florida spiny lobster has to have a carapace greater than 3 inches to keep. The carapace is the hard shell section from between the eyes back to the start of the tail. Tail length is not the legal measure.
You need a measuring device on you in the water, and the lobster has to be measured before it’s harvested. That protects undersized juveniles and keeps your decision legal before the lobster ever comes aboard. If your gauge reads 3 inches or less, it goes back.
Before your trip, make sure your kit includes a lobster gauge, gloves, legal collection gear, and a diver-down flag setup if you’ll be in the water. Captain Hook’s can help visitors get set up through the snorkel and dive gear store.
Licenses and Permits
Most recreational harvesters need two things before catching spiny lobster in Florida: a Florida recreational saltwater fishing license and a spiny lobster permit. Exemptions exist, including some charter and angler situations, so confirm your own status before you harvest.
If you’re wondering whether you need a license to catch lobster in Florida, assume yes unless you’ve verified an exemption that actually applies to you. “We’re just visiting” doesn’t replace the license and permit requirement.
Keep proof of your license and permit handy while you’re on the water. And if your trip involves a charter, ask the operator what’s covered and what you personally need before the trip date.
Rules That Trip People Up
The dates are only part of a legal lobster day. These are the rules visitors should have clear before they leave the dock:
- No egg-bearing females: If a lobster is carrying eggs, release it immediately.
- No spearing: Spearing lobster is illegal.
- Measure in the water: Use a lobster gauge before harvest, not after.
- No trap raiding: Don’t take lobster from traps you don’t own.
- Use legal methods: Recreational harvest is by hand, hand net, dip net, or bully net.
- Use a diver-down flag: A diver-down flag is legally required when divers or snorkelers are in the water.
- No night harvest during Keys mini season: Monroe County sport-season harvest is daytime only.
Regulations can change year to year, so check FWC before harvesting. If a rule sounds different from what someone told you at the dock, go with the current official rule before you get in.
Where You Can and Cannot Harvest
An open season doesn’t make every reef legal for harvest. In the Keys, location rules can decide whether a lobster is legal before size or bag limit even comes up. Lobster can’t be harvested in Sanctuary Preservation Areas, Ecological Reserves, and other protected or no-take areas. The City of Marathon’s lobster regulations brochure lists Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary closed zones that include Coffins Patch, Sombrero Key, and Looe Key among the Sanctuary Preservation Areas (City of Marathon lobster regulations).
Protected areas may be marked, mapped, or managed under sanctuary, park, state, or federal rules. Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and some other parks have their own closures or limits. Before harvesting, confirm that your exact spot is open to lobster harvest, not just that it sits somewhere in the Florida Keys. If you’d rather enjoy a protected reef without harvesting, Captain Hook’s also runs snorkeling trips and scuba diving trips that let you experience the reef the right way for that location.
Before You Leave the Dock
A simple pre-trip check saves a lot of stress once the boat’s loaded. Confirm the current FWC rules, carry your license and spiny lobster permit, pack a lobster gauge, set up your diver-down flag, and know whether the bottom you’re headed to is open to harvest.
For Keys visitors, local knowledge goes a long way. Conditions, protected zones, boat traffic, and launch logistics can all change the shape of your day. Captain Hook’s has locations in Marathon, Big Pine Key, and Key West, so you can plan from the part of the island chain you’re actually visiting.
Plan a Legal, Easygoing Lobster Day in the Keys
Florida lobster season is a blast when the rules are clear before you get wet. Know your dates, stick to the Monroe County bag limit, measure every lobster in the water, steer clear of protected areas, and confirm your license and permit before you harvest.
If you’d rather skip the guesswork, Captain Hook’s can help you line up gear, local guidance, and the right on-water plan for your group. Check availability for a Keys trip, browse scuba and snorkeling options, or start with your nearest Captain Hook’s location. When you’re ready, Book Your Lobster Trip or Check Availability.