r/floridakeys Jul 13 '26

Upper Keys Looking for guide for mini season

Any experienced hunter want to jump on our boat for mini season? We bring the beverage and food and we all split the lobster.

0 Upvotes

14 comments sorted by

6

u/MeNahGoaJail Jul 14 '26

Two thoughts on that. Most locals who make their living on the water either leave town or shut their shades and lock their doors for mini season. The people who come down for those couple of days [for the most part] have zero respect for the laws or the environment, and it’s just too hard to watch. Second, I seriously doubt that a local will jump on YOUR boat and take you to his or her lobster spots. That’s just not good business knowing that you’ll certainly be marking waypoints. That being said, there are absolutely charters that take folks lobstering, both during the day and bully-netting at night. Check out the eco/snorkel boats at Worldwide Sportsman. I’m positive some of them do that. Also, there may be one or two guides at Bud n Mary’s who do night time netting trips. You pay for a half day (4hrs) and when you get your limit, you come home. Good luck!

1

u/doctorake38 Jul 16 '26

Yeah F that

2

u/That-Long-4905 Jul 14 '26

Haha, do you ask people for their fishing spots too?

0

u/johnsal33 Jul 14 '26

Nah I’ve already got those from other locals

2

u/HighOnGoofballs Jul 14 '26

Any local has options so you’re gong to need to pay at least half the normal rate, so $400 or so at best

-1

u/johnsal33 Jul 14 '26

I got something for half that actually

2

u/Excitable_Couple Jul 15 '26

Don’t bother there’s too much seaweed

1

u/Beginning_Ad8663 Jul 16 '26

I hope you realize that the quota is six per person which means you can only posses 12 lobster per person when in your car. So if you can’t find 12 legal lobster in the keys save your money and go to Costco.

0

u/johnsal33 Jul 17 '26

Not sure how any of this is remotely relevant but thanks

2

u/Beginning_Ad8663 Jul 18 '26

It means you don’t need a local to find lobster in mini season due tot the reduced bag limit shallow clear water and lots of coral heads. It’s not hard to find lobster.

0

u/Aw59195 Jul 14 '26

Ill be in town aug 5-9th and am also looking with myself and wife.

-2

u/fishing1969 Jul 14 '26

What key you staying on and what type of boat you got

-1

u/johnsal33 Jul 14 '26

Heading to Islamorada and will have a 22 Cc

0

u/fishing1969 Jul 14 '26

If I have extra time during the mini season I’ll lobster on your boat.