How To Prepare For Lobster Miniseason In Florida

The Daily Meal Staff|June 19, 2017 2:13 pm EST

Lobster miniseason is July 26 to 27, which means now is the time to make sure you are ready for one of South Florida's biggest events of the summer.

Thousands of recreational divers hit the water for miniseason, because it gives them the first shot at lobsters since the recreational and commercial seasons closed April 1.

Because of the closure, lobsters are usually plentiful, plus the daily bag limit in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties is 12 per person, which is double the regular-season limit.

With all those people diving, waiting until the last minute to get your scuba equipment checked out can leave you stranded. Dive shops have plenty of time to inspect and repair gear now. Wait until the week of miniseason and you might not get it back until the regular season opens Aug. 6.

Matt Stout of Underseas Sports in Fort Lauderdale said that when people bring him their dive gear three days before the miniseason he has to tell them he can't help them "because we're already up to our elbows" working on other divers' equipment.

And just because your gear worked fine last miniseason doesn't mean it'll work if you haven't dived since.