A summary of information collected from nearly 2,000 recreational lobster fishers during
the lobster season
by Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
During the late summer months, Florida Keys residents usually enjoy a reprieve from
the typical, continuous deluge of visitors. The hotels lower their rates; residents leave
the Keys for vacations of their own, and the buzz of mosquitoes can be heard in the night
air. However, on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, all of this laid-
back Keys quiet time suddenly changes. These two days are perhaps the busiest
boating days of the year in Monroe County. It is the time of the Special Two-Day Lobster
Sport Season
The Special Two-Day Sport Season draws snorklers and divers from all walks of life to
South Florida, but primarily to the Keys, to fish for spiny lobster. The influx of visitors to
the Keys is reminiscent of the great land rush by American Pioneers scrambling to
settle the old west. Recreational lobster divers are not much different, except they arrive
in SUVs, towing boats, not prairie schooners. Scientists Rod Bertelsen and Bill Sharp
from the South Florida Regional Laboratory are responsible for monitoring the
recreational lobster fishery in Florida that includes the Special Two-Day season and the
regular lobster season (August 6 through March 31). They have developed a system
using information gathered during saltwater fishing license purchases and through the
sale of lobster licenses, both of which are required to recreationally fish for lobsters. The
recreational lobster survey, conducted each fishing season, begins by randomly
selecting 5,000 individuals who purchased lobster licenses. Each person selected is
then mailed a survey to the address they listed when they purchased their license. The
survey asks an assortment of questions to assess the regions of the State fished,
number of people fishing with the surveyed person, satisfaction of fishing experience,
individual and group fishing success and overall impression of the lobster season.
Since the inception of the recreational survey in 1991, Bertelsen and Sharp have
consistently had over 60% of those surveyed respond. Those responding to the survey
provide a critical link to assist in the management of this fishery and their efforts are very
much appreciated. The following is the summary of information collected from the nearly
2,000 respondents about the Special Two-Day Sport Season and the first month of the
regular season for the 1999–2000 fishing season.
TRAVEL
The Florida Keys were the most popular destination for survey respondents. About 57%
of the respondents that resided outside the Keys and participated in either the Special
Two-Day Sport Season or first month of the regular season, fished in the Keys. The
Keys were an especially popular fishing destination with those respondents that
resided on the northeast and west coasts of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, the central
inland portion of the state, and non-Florida residents. About 75% of respondents
residing in those areas fished in the Keys. Respondents that resided along the
southeast coast of Florida typically divided their fishing efforts between their local waters
and the Keys. Most respondents that resided in the Keys and fished, did so in the Keys.
Respondents that fished in the Keys during the Special Two-Day Sport Season were
generally evenly disbursed from Key Largo to Key West, and most fished close to shore.
RECREATIONAL FISHERS
Most survey respondents were either relatively new to the sport (about 47% had fished
for lobsters fewer than six years) or highly experienced (22% of respondents indicated
they had fished for lobsters more than 14 years). We asked recipients of our Special
Season Survey to describe the vessel they used. More than 92% of those that
responded to that question fished from their own boat and about 7% fished from a rental
boat. A few respondents fished from shore.
SATISFACTION
Most survey respondents indicated they were satisfied with their fishing experience
during the Special Two-Day Sport Season. Almost 70% of respondents that fished
indicated that they were either somewhat or very satisfied, whereas only 14% indicated
that they were somewhat or very dissatisfied. Satisfaction levels were slightly lower
during the first month of the regular season. About 64% of respondents indicated that
they were somewhat to very satisfied, and 20% indicated that they were somewhat to
very dissatisfied with their experiences.
THE LOBSTER HARVEST
Our preliminary harvest estimates are that approximately 432,000 lobsters were caught
statewide during the Special Two-Day Sport Season and that approximately 1.5 million
lobsters were caught during the first month of the regular season (opening day through
Labor Day). Nearly 47,000 people fished during the Special Two-Day Sport Season and
approximately 57,000 people fished at some time during the first month of the regular
season. Most of the lobster harvest occurred in south Florida. About 70% of the lobsters
harvested during the Special Two-Day Sport Season and 61% of those harvested during
the first month of the regular season were caught by people fishing in the Keys. Most of
the remaining portion of the lobster harvest during both the Special Two-Day Sport
Season and regular season occurred in Dade and Broward counties.
Recreational lobster fishers catch nearly 2 million pounds of lobster each year,
averaging about 22% of the total lobster landings. In recent years, the combined
commercial and recreational landings of lobster has averaged approximately 9 million
pounds. In 1999, 1,030 commercial lobster fishermen landed almost 7 million pounds
of lobster, primarily through the use of lobster traps, although an increasing percentage
of commercially caught lobster are landed by divers.
RECREATIONAL LOBSTER FISHERY ISSUES
Almost half of the respondents of our Special Two-Day Sport Season survey believed
that the season should continue under the current regulations. However, almost 16% of
the respondents believed the Special Two-Day Sport Season should be discontinued
entirely. Recipients of our regular season survey had virtually identical opinions. About
49% indicated that the Special Two-Day Season should continue under the current
regulations, and 16% felt it should be discontinued.
The recreational lobster harvest provides an opportunity for everyone with a license to
join the excitement in pursuing these tasty crustaceans. Although there is a multitude of
fishers who travel to the Keys and South Florida towing expensive boats and staying in
comfortable hotels, there are just as many families who are traveling on a shoestring
budget and snorkling from a 14' jon boat they carry on the roof of their car. The challenge
of lobster fishery managers is to balance the enthusiasm of the recreational effort and
the intense commercial pressure on lobsters from professional fishermen with the even
greater importance of protecting and managing the unique ecosystems of South Florida
and the Keys. Finding and maintaining this balance in the steadily and rapidly growing
coastal communities of South Florida is a delicate process. Scientists at FMRI are
dedicated in developing sound scientific information to effectively manage the Spiny
Lobster fishery.
the lobster season
by Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
During the late summer months, Florida Keys residents usually enjoy a reprieve from
the typical, continuous deluge of visitors. The hotels lower their rates; residents leave
the Keys for vacations of their own, and the buzz of mosquitoes can be heard in the night
air. However, on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, all of this laid-
back Keys quiet time suddenly changes. These two days are perhaps the busiest
boating days of the year in Monroe County. It is the time of the Special Two-Day Lobster
Sport Season
The Special Two-Day Sport Season draws snorklers and divers from all walks of life to
South Florida, but primarily to the Keys, to fish for spiny lobster. The influx of visitors to
the Keys is reminiscent of the great land rush by American Pioneers scrambling to
settle the old west. Recreational lobster divers are not much different, except they arrive
in SUVs, towing boats, not prairie schooners. Scientists Rod Bertelsen and Bill Sharp
from the South Florida Regional Laboratory are responsible for monitoring the
recreational lobster fishery in Florida that includes the Special Two-Day season and the
regular lobster season (August 6 through March 31). They have developed a system
using information gathered during saltwater fishing license purchases and through the
sale of lobster licenses, both of which are required to recreationally fish for lobsters. The
recreational lobster survey, conducted each fishing season, begins by randomly
selecting 5,000 individuals who purchased lobster licenses. Each person selected is
then mailed a survey to the address they listed when they purchased their license. The
survey asks an assortment of questions to assess the regions of the State fished,
number of people fishing with the surveyed person, satisfaction of fishing experience,
individual and group fishing success and overall impression of the lobster season.
Since the inception of the recreational survey in 1991, Bertelsen and Sharp have
consistently had over 60% of those surveyed respond. Those responding to the survey
provide a critical link to assist in the management of this fishery and their efforts are very
much appreciated. The following is the summary of information collected from the nearly
2,000 respondents about the Special Two-Day Sport Season and the first month of the
regular season for the 1999–2000 fishing season.
TRAVEL
The Florida Keys were the most popular destination for survey respondents. About 57%
of the respondents that resided outside the Keys and participated in either the Special
Two-Day Sport Season or first month of the regular season, fished in the Keys. The
Keys were an especially popular fishing destination with those respondents that
resided on the northeast and west coasts of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, the central
inland portion of the state, and non-Florida residents. About 75% of respondents
residing in those areas fished in the Keys. Respondents that resided along the
southeast coast of Florida typically divided their fishing efforts between their local waters
and the Keys. Most respondents that resided in the Keys and fished, did so in the Keys.
Respondents that fished in the Keys during the Special Two-Day Sport Season were
generally evenly disbursed from Key Largo to Key West, and most fished close to shore.
RECREATIONAL FISHERS
Most survey respondents were either relatively new to the sport (about 47% had fished
for lobsters fewer than six years) or highly experienced (22% of respondents indicated
they had fished for lobsters more than 14 years). We asked recipients of our Special
Season Survey to describe the vessel they used. More than 92% of those that
responded to that question fished from their own boat and about 7% fished from a rental
boat. A few respondents fished from shore.
SATISFACTION
Most survey respondents indicated they were satisfied with their fishing experience
during the Special Two-Day Sport Season. Almost 70% of respondents that fished
indicated that they were either somewhat or very satisfied, whereas only 14% indicated
that they were somewhat or very dissatisfied. Satisfaction levels were slightly lower
during the first month of the regular season. About 64% of respondents indicated that
they were somewhat to very satisfied, and 20% indicated that they were somewhat to
very dissatisfied with their experiences.
THE LOBSTER HARVEST
Our preliminary harvest estimates are that approximately 432,000 lobsters were caught
statewide during the Special Two-Day Sport Season and that approximately 1.5 million
lobsters were caught during the first month of the regular season (opening day through
Labor Day). Nearly 47,000 people fished during the Special Two-Day Sport Season and
approximately 57,000 people fished at some time during the first month of the regular
season. Most of the lobster harvest occurred in south Florida. About 70% of the lobsters
harvested during the Special Two-Day Sport Season and 61% of those harvested during
the first month of the regular season were caught by people fishing in the Keys. Most of
the remaining portion of the lobster harvest during both the Special Two-Day Sport
Season and regular season occurred in Dade and Broward counties.
Recreational lobster fishers catch nearly 2 million pounds of lobster each year,
averaging about 22% of the total lobster landings. In recent years, the combined
commercial and recreational landings of lobster has averaged approximately 9 million
pounds. In 1999, 1,030 commercial lobster fishermen landed almost 7 million pounds
of lobster, primarily through the use of lobster traps, although an increasing percentage
of commercially caught lobster are landed by divers.
RECREATIONAL LOBSTER FISHERY ISSUES
Almost half of the respondents of our Special Two-Day Sport Season survey believed
that the season should continue under the current regulations. However, almost 16% of
the respondents believed the Special Two-Day Sport Season should be discontinued
entirely. Recipients of our regular season survey had virtually identical opinions. About
49% indicated that the Special Two-Day Season should continue under the current
regulations, and 16% felt it should be discontinued.
The recreational lobster harvest provides an opportunity for everyone with a license to
join the excitement in pursuing these tasty crustaceans. Although there is a multitude of
fishers who travel to the Keys and South Florida towing expensive boats and staying in
comfortable hotels, there are just as many families who are traveling on a shoestring
budget and snorkling from a 14' jon boat they carry on the roof of their car. The challenge
of lobster fishery managers is to balance the enthusiasm of the recreational effort and
the intense commercial pressure on lobsters from professional fishermen with the even
greater importance of protecting and managing the unique ecosystems of South Florida
and the Keys. Finding and maintaining this balance in the steadily and rapidly growing
coastal communities of South Florida is a delicate process. Scientists at FMRI are
dedicated in developing sound scientific information to effectively manage the Spiny
Lobster fishery.
| Lobster Sport Season |
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