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Florida Spiny Lobster (Crawfish)

Panulirus Argus

The Florida spiny lobster is one of 4 species of spiny lobsters that live in the tropical and subtropical waters of the southern Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. In terms of dollars and cents, the Florida Spiny Lobster industry is the largest of all of the commercial fishing industries in the state of Florida.

The name comes from the “spines” that point forward from its body. Two spines or antennae over the eyes are used to scare prey, while other smaller antennae, called “antennules” are used to sense movement and detect chemicals in the water.

Florida Spiny Lobsters can vary in color from almost white to dark red. Two spots on the top side of the second segment of the tail easily identify this warm water species of lobster.

Spiny Lobsters spawn from March through August. Once eggs are fertilized, and hatch, they can be carried thousands of miles with the ocean currents until they find grassy areas where larvae can stay out of harms way of predators.

As the Lobsters grow older, they venture out into the sea, and live in coral reefs, sponge flats and other hard-bottomed areas. Lobsters stay hidden during the day, but venture out of their “caves” several hours after dark to hunt for snails, clams, crabs and sea urchins. Being scavengers lobsters will eat anything, including other lobsters.

There are only 2 days in the State of Florida that one is allowed to hunt for Florida Spiny Lobsters. For commercial fishermen, the season runs from August 6 through March 31. It takes a lobster 2 years to grow large enough to be legally harvested. Florida Spiny Lobsters can grow as large at 15#.

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Gary's Source:  Florida

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