The forbidden fruit of lobster Mini Season. My top regular lobster season spots, packed with lobster

This episode I take to you to spots that are closed for the 3 days preceding mini season, the 2 days of mini season plus the first 5 days of regular season. So if you can't make it to the Lower Florida Keys for mini-season, don't fret, we will help you find lobster the entire season.
Know the rules for lobstering in the Florida Keys:
myfwc.com/media/13224/monroec...
#FloridaKeysBridgeFishing

[@davecavanaugh66]

Thanks! My uncle has a place on Little Torch but he is also having challenges finding them. I passed on your channel to him. Thanks again.

[@lowerkeysliving]

Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@mikehamm648]

We live on Big Pine, thank you for sharing the rules to visitors, safety rules keep folks safe. Well done

[@lowerkeysliving]

Thanks for watching. We're always trying to provide a little education for visitors. Especially during the craziness of mini-season.

[@winstonsmith4003]

Man this really opened my eyes to other possible places to look. I've never even considered looking in ledges around canals, but it makes total sense. Looks like the 300ft rule only applies to the sport season in Marathon! For the first time we are going down there starting the Saturday after mini season and staying for 2 weeks, so we'll get a few days with the regular season.

[@lowerkeysliving]

@winstonsmith4003 - so glad you found the information helpful. Thanks for watching.

[@firefightergarcia]

BPK here thanks for giving out some great info. Some people don't seem to look up all the rules prior to heading out. Remember some of us live here year round please be respectful.

[@lowerkeysliving]

Thanks for watching, I'm going to do a full "short" episode on all the rules for mini and regular season next week.

[@davecavanaugh66]

Great videos! Really appreciate you sharing spots, but whats super helpful to me are the principles you are teaching. I have been down several times and never had much luck. Now I know where to go and what to look for no matter which key we end up on. For some reason, I always thought those shoreline rules applied all season which is why I never bothered to look in the cuts/canals. I assume some home owners still get upset when you’re snorkeling in their back yard 😊.

[@lowerkeysliving]

@davecavanaugh66 Thanks for watching. I stay away from spots right in front of peoples homes, but I've actually had home owners on their bay front docks telling where they can see lobsters - as in everything else some people are super nice, others not so much.

[@JohnnyQuesting]

These are my stomping grounds. Thank you for helping keep us all up to date on the fwc rules. Lots of rules change w dates and different things. Thanks again for all the input. Maybe ill see u on the water

[@lowerkeysliving]

Thanks for watching, some of the best stomping grounds to have!

[@SeaSquatchFishing]

Good, informative vid! 👍

[@lowerkeysliving]

@SeaSquatchFishing Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@wyattchurch4257]

Love your channel and videos! They’re all very helpful and informative. I have a question about this video though. The first location you talked about where you found the lobsters on the channel ledges, what’s the easiest/ fastest way to get to that spot by kayak?

[@lowerkeysliving]

Unfortunately there is no public boat ramp on Summerland Key that's close. I put in at the very South End of Spanish Main on Cujoe Key and paddle across. Its just over 1.5 miles, but a beautiful paddle. Or, if you're renting at Venture Out you can just use their ramp to launch and paddle over. There is one boat ramp on Summerland that is close, but it is marked a "just for residents".

[@TimNye850]

Glad I found your channel! I used to hunt BPK in the 90's and 2000's. Now I migrated to Marathon and have been learning areas there. I have a honey hole in BPK that you haven't shown- yet. LOL So don't know if you're holding out on us or if I have a legit secret spot. LOL Happy bug hunting! See ya in Sept!

[@lowerkeysliving]

@TimNye850 - Thanks for watching! I'll have to admit, you've got your own spot on BPK!!

[@tedhendy1325]

Hi, another great video. Thank you. Is there a convenient public kayak launch point for the first location at the tip of Summerland Key?

[@lowerkeysliving]

On the Northern tip there is a great launch point at the end of Niles Road. It is great access to protected water on the Gulf side with some good lobster spots nearby. On the south side, most of the access points/boat ramps that are for "residents only".

[@tedhendy1325]

@@lowerkeysliving thank you, I appreciate the information. Ted

[@ashleyk2841]

Hello! Recently found your channel and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the info you are providing!! I will be down there this Sunday-Tues. Weather doesn’t look so great, but if we get the chance, we are definitely going to do some lobstering. Question about the spot at the end of Spanish Main Dr.. I looked at it on google street view and it doesn’t look like theres any parking. Can you park right there in front of the end of road signs?? Any advice is appreciated!!

[@lowerkeysliving]

@ashleyk2841 - Thanks for watching! Yes you can park along the road on Spanish Main. There is also a large boat/trailer storage yard right there that belongs to Venture Out. You can park on the grass along side that area as well. Good luck!

[@ashleyk1227]

@@lowerkeysliving THANK YOU!

[@RM-rh3mz]

Hey hey! Love the channel. I would like to come down to lobster the back country area like this on my little bay boat. Any tips on where to stay, park and launch from etc ? I’ve gone before out of keywest years and years ago with a buddy it was a little bit of a nightmare with the trailer ! Thanks man! Subscribed !

[@lowerkeysliving]

Thanks for watching. A few suggestions for you: Parmer's Resort on Little Torch is a nice place to stay and launch from, also there are a lot of VRBO properties on the water at Venture Out on Cudjoe (it has the best boat ramps (my opinion) in the Lower Keys (prices come down after mini season). On Sugar Loaf the KOA Campground has great access to the Gulf and Atlantic (but no hard T top's - you would not be able to get under the Bow Channel Bridge) and they just opened an onsite motel, plus Sugarloaf Lodge has great access to the Gulf side.

[@DavisDinh]

Hi im planing to go for the mini season its my first time going any suggestions? im looking for a shallow spot to enjoy and get lobster if lucky that have less people. Im gonna be snorkeling maybe 10ft 8 ft for lobster any info would help.thankyou 🙏

[@lowerkeysliving]

@@DavisDinh Where are you staying? One of these places may be helpful. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4TZmKSteMZqjsk

[@irishsurfer70]

we're coming to tavernier have any spots near there small boat or beach access?

[@lowerkeysliving]

@irishsurfer70 I have to be honest and say I do not know the Tavernier spots well. I've only been lobstering up there once with friends. I do hear the lobstering is more consistent up there than down here in the Lower Keys. Are you going during mini-season? I'm planning to take the flats boat up in September to check out the Gulf side up there. I'll definitely be posting results. Absolutely bring a chart or portable GPS to the local dive or tackle shops. They should help you out with some specific spots. Thanks for watching!

[@irishsurfer70]

@@lowerkeysliving we will be down the first week of October , renting a small boat for gulf side I will for sure watch your update in September and share what I find in October , be safe and thanks fo the great content ...from Melbourne Florida

[@exfolios]

What map are we looking at? Fort Lauderdale? Tampa? Where?

[@lowerkeysliving]

This is off Summerland Key in the Lower Florida Keys

[@capnstevoanythinggoes]

Been peeking at your vids and subscribed. I caught my first fish in the Keys in 1966, (also caught Keys disease then), grabbed my first lobster in Marathon area in 1968, lived in Key Largo in 1997/98. I moved back home to Big Pine Key the beginning of April this year. Just getting geared up for bug season and all the rest of the goodies available. I appreciate all the local info, and yes it does excite me to see the lobster. I also love Atlantic offshore fishing and jigging. Been out to Carlson 2 humps last October out of Bahia Honda. Caught a couple 5 lb Blackfin Tuna and a nice Cerro Mackerel on the trip to the humps. Let me know what you find out about the "man made cover" of the roofing piles from the storms. Seems to me they are an act of Mother Nature, not hand placed. Same applies to abandoned and sunk boats. Are they considered artificial reefs now, and legal for harvesting lobster from them? I'll be watching for your next vids, and thank you.

[@lowerkeysliving]

Wow, I'm jealous of your Keys history! You've been able to see so many changes, both good and bad. Thanks for watching. I plan to stop by FWC to ask those questions on Monday.

[@capnstevoanythinggoes]

@@lowerkeysliving Great, that was one of my concerns years ago about the lobster in artificial cover. Let us know when you find out. Maybe some day we'll meet, maybe fish together. I've got a 1995 23 ft project cabin cruiser, (my ghetto boat), but she runs good. That's the boat I went to the humps in. Got a carry on generator to run air conditioning if I choose. I'm hoping Bimini and/or Dry Torguas triips soon. Plan to upgrade to twin outboard, maybe pilothouse boat later. Love to fish, snorkel, and PADI certified to 60 ft, got full gear.

[@guns4fun2]

Mini season 2023: Unfortunately, we have idiots who come here and do not follow the rules. Watched a group who are renting a home on Jolly Roger on Cudjoe Key take multiple trips back to their dock with lobsters and handed them to someone and went right back out for more. They were well within 300 feet of homes, no dive flag, multiple undersized lobster and over the limit by far. It's a sickening shame. I called them out and they went back to their rental and hid out. And yes, I reported it to FWC. I do have pics of the boat and people but could not figure out how to post them here with my comments.

[@lowerkeysliving]

You'll enjoy tomorrow's video.

[@miamiwax5504]

I thought you cant take lobster off man made structures

[@lowerkeysliving]

Correct, the roofing debris, sunken boats, etc, whether placed intentionally for lobster or not is off limits all season. Canals are off limits in Monroe County for the 3 days preceding mini season, the 2 days of mini season and the first 5 days of regular season. There are a few exceptions where they are always off limits. Check the bottom right hand corner of the FWC brochure. I was given this by FWC during a visit to their Marathon office: myfwc.com/media/13224/monroecountylobster.pdf

[@wesleypedroni]

🤿🪄💥🦞🦞🦞💨

[@lowerkeysliving]

Time to get some! Thanks for watching.