Spiny lobster: Florida season, size and bag

As of / last verified: October 14, 2026 against official sources · Source: FWC: Spiny lobster

Spiny lobster limit in Florida: the carapace must be larger than 3 inches, measured in the water. Regular season is August 6 through March 31, at 6 per person. The sport season is printed as July 28-29, 2027, with a bag of 6 or 12 by area. Off-water possession is dated July 29 and July 30, 2026.

Quick answer

Rules in flux: FWC's lobster page mixes years: the sport season is written as July 28-29, 2027, while the off-the-water possession example uses July 29, 2026 and July 30, 2026. Dates below are copied as published.
Size: Carapace larger than 3 inches, measured in the water
Regular season: Aug. 6–March 31. Bag 6 per person
Sport season on the page: July 28-29, 2027. Bag 6 in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park; 12 in the rest of Florida
Sport-season possession off the water: Equal to the daily bag on July 29, 2026; double the daily bag on July 30, 2026
Permit: Saltwater fishing license and lobster permit, unless exempt

Spiny lobster: side view for identification — Spiny lobster. Credit: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC. Public domain

Spiny lobster limits

Waters	Size	Bag	Season
Sport season	Carapace larger than 3 inches, measured in the water	6 per person in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park; 12 per person in the rest of Florida. On the water, possession equals the daily bag	July 28-29, 2027 (last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July)
Regular season	Carapace larger than 3 inches, measured in the water	6 per person. On the water, possession equals the daily bag	Aug. 6–March 31

The sport-season paragraph also says possession off the water equals the daily bag on July 29, 2026, and double the daily bag on July 30, 2026. Those years do not match the July 28-29, 2027 sport-season line. Night diving is prohibited in Monroe County only during the sport season. A measuring device is required at all times. Lobster must be landed whole. Egg-bearing lobster may not be taken. Recreational traps are prohibited.

Rules in flux. FWC's lobster page mixes years: the sport season is written as July 28-29, 2027, while the off-the-water possession example uses July 29, 2026 and July 30, 2026. Dates below are copied as published.

How do you identify Spiny lobster?

The legal check FWC states is the carapace: it must be larger than 3 inches, and you measure it in the water.
You must possess and use a measuring device at all times.
Egg-bearing spiny lobster may not be harvested or possessed. The same ban covers egg-bearing slipper lobsters (Scyllaridae) and furry lobsters (Synaxidae).
The tail may not be separated from the body in state waters. Lobster must be landed whole.

Where and when to catch Spiny lobster in Florida?

FWC's lobster rules page does not describe reef habitat in a species-profile sense. It does list closed areas: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the sport season, and at all times Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary, and five Coral Reef Protection Areas in Biscayne National Park. For sanctuary no-take areas, the page says to call 305-852-7717. The FWC Marathon office listed on the page is 305-289-2320. The Florida Keys region page is the matching region on this site.

Regions

Florida Keys fishing rules

Frequently asked questions

How do you measure a spiny lobster?

The carapace must be larger than 3 inches, and you measure it in the water. You must have a measuring device with you and use it.

What are the sport-season dates on the FWC page?

The season line says July 28-29, 2027, the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July. The off-water possession line on the same page uses July 29, 2026 and July 30, 2026. Both are printed here as written.

What is the regular season bag limit?

6 per person from August 6 through March 31. Possession on the water equals the daily bag.

What is the sport-season bag limit?

6 per person in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, and 12 per person in the rest of Florida.

Do you need a lobster permit?

Unless exempt, a recreational saltwater fishing license and a lobster permit are required. Egg-bearing lobster, recreational traps, and separating the tail in state waters are prohibited.

Official sources

FWC: Spiny lobster

Last verified: October 14, 2026.

Related guides

Disclaimer: This page is a plain-English summary for general information. It is not legal advice. Rules, seasons and boundaries can change at short notice, including by emergency order. Always check the current regulations on MyFWC.com before you fish.