Hunting lobster in Florida via a scuba tank or freediving is one of my favorite things to do.

There's something very primal in being in direct contact with the food we eat.

After diving in South Florida for the past four years, I wanted to put together a guide to hunting Florida Spiny Lobster, so you can do it legally and properly, on your own time.

Lobster Season

Lobster can only be harvested when they're in season.

Lobster Mini Season, is a holiday of sorts down in Florida.

In 2026, this will be July 29th and July 30th.

Considering lobster have been off limits for over 3 months, in theory, these days have the most legal size lobster left in the ocean, making it the easier to hit your limit.

Lobster Hunting Equipment

There’s two main ways divers catch lobster in Florida, being a tickle stick + net, or via a lobster snare.

I prefer a snare as it’s less equipment, but a tickle stick and net will give most newbies a higher success rate.

Ticklestick and Net

If you'd like to go the ticklestick and net route, I would buy this. It also comes with dive gloves, a catch bag, and lobster gauge which we'll get to later.

A ticklestick is used to touch the underbelly of a lobster, causing its reflex to crawl forward out of its hole.

Place the net behind the lobster, where it'll get caught inside.

I find it frustrating getting the lobster out of the net when its spines get tangled and caught on the lines, but perhaps if you're more patient than me, it won't be an issue.

Lobster Snare

A lobster snare is my preferred method to catch lobster, as it’s just one piece of equipment.

Using the snare as a ticklestick, you can cause the lobster to leave their holes, where you then slot the snare in an expanded state behind the lobster. Once it's around the midsection, contract the snare, and it will immobilize the lobster.

I hook my lobster snare onto my BCD using a double ended snap.

Some models of lobster snares don’t have an attachment point, so I attach a zip tie to it, with the double ended snap can then clip onto.

Measuring Lobster

From the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, "Carapace length must be larger than 3 inches, measured in the water. Possession and use of a measuring device required at all times.”

The most common method divers use to ensure lobsters are of the legal size, is a lobster gauge.

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They’re inexpensive, and are best secured to a string or lanyard for easy maneuverability underwater.

You should also secure this to your gear so that it’s not lost underwater.

After catching a lobster, you’ll need to measure them underwater, making sure they're a legal size.

Storing Lobster

After catching you need somewhere to store it.

Mesh catch bag: Lightweight, clips to your BCD, and holds multiple lobster easily. The mesh allows water flow so they stay alive during the dive.

Zookeeper: This is overkill for just lobster, but if you also hunt lionfish or spearfish, it's worth having. It's a hard-sided containment tube. Bulkier than a mesh bag, but safer if storing lionfish.

Safety Gear

Dive gloves: Lobster spines will cut you, rocks will scrape you, and fire coral will ruin your day. I use the Hammerhead gloves spearfishing.

Licenses, Permits, and Limits

A recreational saltwater fishing license and a lobster permit are required to harvest spiny lobster. It's relatively inexpensive and renewed yearly, or a lifetime license can be purchased. https://gooutdoorsflorida.com/ViewPackage.aspx?pid=35&lrtid=1&annual=1