Sport Lobster Key Largo (late report….): 7/28 – 9/2

[Big Bend Brian]

Late report ………..it’s been back-to-back late summer trips with the kids with only hours between trips to write up reports. I’m catching back up now….. Unfortunately there are no underwater action photos this time as my 2 year old U/W camera flooded and I had to use the wifer’s land camera.

This is our annual family get together and marks our 12th year in Key Largo. And our best one regarding lobster numbers.

Monday & Tuesday: Pre-scouting we hit our old numbers and then searched new areas finding additional spots. Afterword we prioritized our spots based on lobster coming up with a good plan for tomorrow’s opening morning.

Wednesday: Opening morning and we were out before sunrise as are a few other boats. Unlike previous years we did not have any huge “hotels” scooped out as in big numbers of bugs but we captured our 36 by 8:50 am. At one point I stopped lobstering and counted the boats I could see on the horizon…125! In the afternoon we went back out with the three girls who did not go out earlier and got another 18.


Sunrise


Zach who had never lobstered before quickly became a “Lobster Hoover”. Here’s his first bug.


Uncle Steve putting one in the boat….


Nicky with a double!


Daughter Kaitlyn


Quick group shot before getting more bugs
L to R: Kaitlyn, Uncle Steve, Nicky, Zach & Jason


Am storm but wasn’t too bad


Happiness is a 30 gallon live well full of lobsters…..


Banner year for bugs
L to R: Nicky, Kaitlyn me, Zach & Jason


“Screaming Seamen” the second boat with our group


Thursday: Back at it but starting a bit later at 9 am. We hit our numbers previously scouted that only had ones and twos; finishing with 38 (8 divers).


Boys with a bag full


Daughter & I


PM storms
L to R: Uncle Steve, me, & Rich Wray


Reconfirming our count


Lobster duty…..

Friday: We spent the morning yellow tailing and the afternoon pole spearing for hogfish. Gotta love the Florida Keys!!



Results of the kids hogging with pole spears

With my having to leave for Canada w/Casey for a Boy Scout Northern Tier canoeing/fishing trip early Sunday morning we packed up the boat in the afternoon for heading back home on Saturday morning. Seemed like a quick trip but we had a TON of fun!

Hoo Yah!!

Brian

[Hit-n-Miss]

Your family has awesome adventures. How deep are the lobsters? I cant hold my breath long . Post up pics of the canadian adventure.

[2true]

A family that hunts bugs together stays together....

[Pirate]

Makes me want to be there! We went for a bunch of years when the kids were younger and we always had a blast. The lobsters can be in two feet or a hundred feet. Easy to get just snorkeling, but as BBG stated, you need to scout and find good places, because an hour before daylight it is every man for themselves. Lots of fun and should be a must for everyone to try once. The tough part is planning the trip. Needs to be done way in advance. Thanks for the report. Makes me homesick!

[Big Bend Brian]

Your family has awesome adventures. How deep are the lobsters? Post up pics of the canadian adventure.

Thanks for the nice comments!
Since we snorkel I keep the depth no deeper than 11 feet. Any deeper and I hear about if from the snorkelers (too funny). Kids from 13 years of age to uncles to 63. Deeper is possible but harder to work breath holding for some.

Working on the Canadian post but have been working on the 500 photos trimming things down. It'll be a long post w/a ton of photos. Great Canadian trip too.
Brian

[Hit-n-Miss]

I'm guessing it's clear enough to see them from the surface and you dive to get them? I might could do that. Can't wait to see the canadian adventure post.