The 2012 recreational and commercial spiny lobster seasons will open July 25-26.
The regular commercial and recreational lobster season starts Aug. 6 and runs through March 31.
The special two-day season occurs on the last Wednesday and Thursday in July each year to let recreational fishermen collect spiny lobsters before commercial lobster traps are placed in the water.
Commercial fishermen may begin putting their traps in the water Aug. 1, and recreational and commercial fishermen may harvest spiny lobsters starting Aug. 6.
Spiny lobsters must have a carapace length greater than 3 inches to be taken during the open seasons, and divers must possess a measuring device.
During the two-day spiny lobster sport season, recreational divers and snorkelers can take up to six lobsters per person daily in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park waters and 12 lobsters per person daily in other Florida waters.
You can possess no more than the daily bag limit of lobsters when you are on the water. When off the water, you can possess the daily bag limit on the first day and double the daily bag limit on the second day.
During the regular season, the daily recreational bag and on-the-water possession limit is six spiny lobsters per person.
You must have a recreational saltwater fishing license and a spiny lobster permit to recreationally harvest spiny lobsters unless exempt from recreational license requirements. Information about these licenses and permits is available online at MyFWC.com/License.
Divers and snorkelers must display a "divers-down" flag (red with a white diagonal stripe) while in the water. Divers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of a divers-down flag on open waters and within 100 feet of a flag within rivers, inlets or navigation channels.
