Always start with the safety first school of thought and plan your dive in advance. So stick to your plan. The monster locusts have a plan to stay safe and so do you. Check your equipment and local dive shops for diving conditions.

Every now and then, you can dive through a monster lobster in a good visibility situation, but more often you will pocket these monsters in very low visibility. Check areas with deep cracks and ledges for hiding. Usually around 10 to 30 feet, but these 10 to 30 feet have low to zero visibility with large swells and currents.

Found monster lobsters under the ledges with sleeping nurse sharks. The largest I found was at a 0 to 5 foot view, with medium swell, at a depth of 25 feet, and an offshore swim of about 175 yards. The tools needed are your hands, a bag, a tickle stick, and an extra pair of hands.

When you come across a lobster hiding in a hole, if you can’t reach in, stick the tickle stick under its tail and tickle it. It will start to move forward and then once you catch it, wait. They tend to get angry and hit you with their tails. Be soft but firm so as not to break the legs, these are the sweet meats.

Lobsters live in rocky areas and artificial reefs where there is an ample food supply and an easy route to deeper water for upcoming storms. They choose low visibility areas to avoid predators from sight and prefer deep holes and deeper ledges.

The spiny lobster varies from the Maine lobster and is quite different. They seem sturdier, faster and smarter. Maybe it’s the water temperature that keeps them jumping. The biggest similarity is that they both taste good.

Diving in the areas where the Spiny Lobster monster lives is not for the beginning diver. Typically involves a shore dive with visibility limited to zero, light to strong swell, and rocky outcrops and natural outcrops.

If you don’t mind the sharks at Sebastian Inlet, the strong surf and strong currents, the most famous site is Monster Hole. Many divers have caught the greats here. Wabasso Beach at Vero Beach will bring fewer sharks and a lot less current. If you take some time here, you can bring home a monster.

Spiny monster lobsters live along the entire coast of Florida and the Caribbean. There is a limited season to dive in search of these beauties. From April 1 to August 5, except the sports season which is the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July of each year. The sports season is special because you can carry more than the usual daily limit of six per person per day, but it can vary from year to year.

Monster Lobster is an adventure to find. Enjoy the dive, stay with your buddy, take a planned dive, and stick to your plan. Bring home your own monster lobster.

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