Page 106 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2017

SPORTS & OUTDOORS a lobster tale
FRANK WILEM with egg bearing female lobster.
story by Frank Wilem photos by David Gross and courtesy of Frank Wilem
et the type of lobsters
found in Florida and the Caribbean are called spiny lobsters, and have no claws. And it’s a good thing,
as otherwise it would throw an entirely different light on hunting them. As Derik Conerly said, “If Florida lobsters had claws like Maine lobsters, I would probably be missing most of my fingers.”
The fact that spiny lobsters are not armed with such weapons doesn’t mean they are easy prey. They are typically found poised at the opening to coral caves which frequently extend far into the
reef. When threatened, the lobster simply retreats into the cave where it cannot be reached. They are also very quick and it’s amazing how fast they can move backwards by flapping their tails once out in the open.
“Without question, my favorite outdoor activity is diving for lobsters. It’s the tastiest game of hide and seek you could ever play,” says Jarrid Cecil.
The first step to catch them while diving is to approach very slowly. The next step is to coax them out of their hiding place by making them curious or by using a tickle stick
to bump them in the back of their
body. As they emerge from their cave, the trick is to them ease them into a small net, or if you’re fast enough, simply grab them. (I’m not that fast.)
I’ve also used a snare with a loop designed to slide up and over their tail. Of course, one little bump and they can escape before you have time to close the noose. Once the lobster is captured, it’s into the catch bag if it’s legal, or to be set free.
On our recent trip, we had a bizarre experience when trying to release an egg-bearing female. As soon as I removed it from my net,
I released it. Immediately, it went jetting away backwards and into the catch bag of my dive buddy, David Gross, who was some 20 feet away! So we had to release it twice. (You can watch the video of this
on YouTube at: https://youtube/ vplnaA7R8GU)
I have seen divers spear lobsters but always viewed this as unsportsmanlike. Indeed, Florida has now banned the practice as it’s impossible to confirm they’re legal before killing the creature.
You must have a measuring gauge in your possession when hunting for lobster to ensure the carapace exceeds three inches in
The word lobster, evokes a vision of a crustacean
with large snapping claws in the minds of most folks; well, that or a a ramekin of melted butter beside a plate filled with the succulent meat of a crustacean.
106 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2017
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