Coast Guard and FWC prepare for Lobster Mini Season, July 14, 24 and 25

The Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are ramping up preparations for safety inspections and fishery boardings during the 2024 Lobster Mini Season along the Florida coast, when Coast Guard and FWC boarding team members will be patrolling coastal waters and conducting boardings to enforce state and federal fishery laws and safety regulations during the short, but popular fishing season.

There are two mini seasons this year. The first is for Florida residents only, on July 14. The second mini season is July 24 and 25. Boaters are reminded to check with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for regulations related to spiny lobster fishing.

The Coast Guard encourages boaters participating in Lobster Mini Season to:
• Ensure that engines are turned off if divers or swimmers are in the water.
• Check all navigation lights prior to launching.
• Ensure that chart plotters, depth finders and other marine electronics are properly dimmed for low light viewing to preserve night vision.
• Wear your life jacket year-round for all boating activities.
• While underway, ensure your engine cutoff switch (also called the kill switch) link is attached.
• Boat sober! The marine environment accelerates the effects of alcohol.

“Lobster Mini Season is a popular event – boaters should be prepared and make it as safe as possible,” said Scott Szczepaniak, Seventh Coast Guard District Recreational Boating Safety specialist. “It is so important that boaters keep a proper lookout and maintain good situational awareness. When in doubt – slow down! One of the more common ways we’ve seen people get hurt is a result of running into other boats, into things like bridges or the bottom.”