Lobster diving?

[Panhandler]

I overheard a table talking about lobster diving at breakfast this moring. I know you can do it South Florida, but is this a SoWal activity? If so, when and where? Are there rules or regulations?

[Franny]

I don't believe we have the lobster in our area.

[Miss Kitty]

I think you would have better luck dumpster diving.

[jessifunn]

yes we do have lobster and they are huge. my step dad use to go diving right off the savannah pavilion and he would bring in huge lobster. like the ones on the red lobster commercials. i can't tell you how far out he went but i think it was about 5 or 6 miles. there was some sort of reef maybe:idontno:
call a dive shop they will tell you i'm sure

[Smiling JOe]

The Choctawhatchee Bay used to be filled with lobsters way back in the days gone by, but I haven't heard of any lobsters in the area, other than in the restaurants.

[KISH7374]

The Choctawhatchee Bay used to be filled with lobsters way back in the days gone by, but I haven't heard of any lobsters in the area, other than in the restaurants.
Hey S.J., where do they find all of the lobsters for Lobsterfest at Schooners? It would be interesting to find this out and maybe try to get some.

[Sandcastle]

yes we do have lobster and they are huge. my step dad use to go diving right off the savannah pavilion and he would bring in huge lobster. like the ones on the red lobster commercials. i can't tell you how far out he went but i think it was about 5 or 6 miles. there was some sort of reef maybe:idontno:
call a dive shop they will tell you i'm sure

I can confirm this. They’re out there and they’re HUGE.:lolabove: You just have to go out a ways and dive deep. JFUNN’s step dad’s diving buddy had one mounted and it’s on display in his office in Panama City.

[aquaticbiology]

rock shelves about 90ft and the dead coral at the bottom of the ditch off the oclub (if there's any left, that is) - yuuuummy!

[Sandcastle]

I believe that lobsters breed in the Keys. Some of them swim north. Most don’t survive long enough to make it to our area, but those that do are GIANTS buy the time they get here.

[Santiago]

Actually they can be found on the natural reefs off of Inlet Beach.

[yippie]

We have lobster here. My friend's husband brings them home all the time. He says he find them in the bay as well as the jetties in Destin.

[OnMackBayou]

This is from floridasportsman.com, July 2005

Shovelnose Lobster (Scyllarides nodifer)



Shovelnose lobster are found in all Florida salt waters, but the largest population may be in the Panhandle. That’s the only place in our state where shovelnose probably outnumber spinys. The species is also found in decent numbers along the northeast coast.



Shovelnose lobsters are a pretty rare catch outside the Panhandle, but I’m sure there are more than you think. They are masters of camouflage and love dark caves and the underside of ledges. They have no large antennae— sure giveaway for other lobsters—so they just sit there and look like a rock.



The meat is very sweet and tender, almost too tender and it is for that reason I try to avoid freezing them. If you are lucky enough to catch one, get that baby on a grill that night and you will thank me later.

[Beachlover2]

This is from floridasportsman.com, July 2005

Shovelnose Lobster (Scyllarides nodifer)



Shovelnose lobster are found in all Florida salt waters, but the largest population may be in the Panhandle. That’s the only place in our state where shovelnose probably outnumber spinys. The species is also found in decent numbers along the northeast coast.



Shovelnose lobsters are a pretty rare catch outside the Panhandle, but I’m sure there are more than you think. They are masters of camouflage and love dark caves and the underside of ledges. They have no large antennae— sure giveaway for other lobsters—so they just sit there and look like a rock.



The meat is very sweet and tender, almost too tender and it is for that reason I try to avoid freezing them. If you are lucky enough to catch one, get that baby on a grill that night and you will thank me later.



Thanks for the info - next time I am down there diving I will pay more attention, probably swam right past them - sounds delicious.