Driving out of the keys yesterday (saturday) i witnessed the hoards trailering in their boats and crews from Miami etc. etc. I feel un-informed and I'm sure there is someone on this board who can give me closer to the "real deal" on why mini-season exists. It makes me sick to think of what the ocean looks like after the 2 day rape happens, devoid of lobsters and fish (in many cases undersized), etc etc... in short- a desert.

I understand the economic justification for the local economy of the Keys, I just wish there was another way... Any opinions?

mini season is a way to give recreational lobster hunters a chance before the thousands of commercial traps RAPE the waters.
Trust me. The people at mini season barely put a dent into the lobster population in two days.
Then the traps are dropped and pulled daily for months on end.

And somehow the lobster reproduce and repopulate every nook and cranny and reef by next miniseason. They are highly prolific.

Now ask my opinion of the devastation the jewfish population has done to lobsters north west of the keys!!!

Mini-season is a chance for recreational guys to get a decent haul of lobster before the commercial guys catch them for the rest of the country. And it is certainly a boost for the local economy- and not just the Keys. My wife and I used to fly down there from just for the mini-season (we don't bother anymore).

I think for a lot of people, it's like opening day for any other sporting event- it's a party as much as anything.

I've always wondered why people from miami find it necessary to go to the keys to get lobster, i haven't really noticed a shortage of them in miami:D.

Mini Season is an economic boost to SOME people here in the Keys. It is a big pain in the a.. to most because they have to deal with the all of the downsides with no benifit whatsoever (this is the majority).
A large percentage of the people who come down here are really nice, courtious and obey the law. But there are enough people who come here with total disregard for the fact that we actually live here, have laws, have jobs and have to clean up the mess left behind and watch the rape & pilage of a living resource that most "locals" would like to see it end.
Very good question, why come here (Keys) when any other part of Florida you can take twice as many lobsters per day and the size is at least twice as big??? Could part of the "lure" be that you rent a house with a 6 person limit for $1,200, put 10 people in it, dive in shallow water close to your private dock, take 60 lobsters, run home, ice them and go back out, a few times?

The timing of Mini Season is such that the recreational divers catch lobsters - prior to the 1 week "soak" of commercial lobster traps. This is the period that the traps are 1st set but no harvest till the 6th. There used to be a problem with "recreational divers" stealing the lobsters out of the un attended traps.

I am not a commercial lobster fisherman, only a diver/spearfisherman and I will tell any and all of you; No lobster fishermen actually sets a trap on a reef here. They are set on the breaks, reason simple, they would lose the trap from being hung up on the reef and lobsters only go in a trap when it sits flat on the bottom (hence cement trap bottoms). Yes they do lose traps due to error and storms. A very small percentage comared to what they set.

Side fact 70% of all Keys lobsters are caught within the 1st month or so of the season.

One good reason peopke come to the keys for lobster is water temp and vis not to mention the fact lobster are plentifull.As far as cleaning up after divers leave,your not cleaning after I leave thankyou theres nothing to clean.Now im only speaking for myself but In my opinon the keys isnt a very clean place to begin with.They should be happy people come there for mini season and spend the money they do its a good boost to the keys economy for those couple of days.Just my opion,Not trying to offend anyone.

Stranglehold

I am glad if you had a nice time in the Keys. And yes the economy did take a boost from mini season. Most of the people come here for a good time and catch bugs. And most clean up after themselves and in my opinion are welcome. Except for the ones that blocked my street working on there unprepared boat at 4 in the morning ( ever tried to get sleep with someone reeving a 2 stroke all night )and the group that was partying until 3 in the morning the next morning across the street from my house.

Not offended at all. But the last time I came to the Tampa or Palm beach (which I have owned a home for 28 years in Palm Beach County )the diving was not that good. And yes it was dirty. And the people in the hotels and Marina were lets say not nice.

Thanks for the Boost, If it is such good diving there maybe you could stay there next year and no comment would be needed.

Not trying to offend anyone.

Thank you and have a nice Day.

Didnt mean to hurt your feelings and sorry to hear about the unprepared boat on your street and the party.Im pretty sure that kind of stuff happends everywhere.And I didnt say the diving was bad here in the Tampabay area actually the diving is great here .The biggest spearfishing torny is held here.Theres just no lobster to be found.And we are very happy to have all the divers that want to come join the torny to come.Plenty of hospitality is given.Come join the fun sometime.

I see both sides of the argument. Call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye...I think the Eagles sang it best.

Stranglehold,
Thanks for your visit to the Keys. Wish there were more people like you, who enjoy it for what it is and don't leave the place worse than how they found it. Unfortuneately there are too many who come here trash the Keys, disrespect others rights, etc. Those are the ones who leave the bad impressions that are remembered.

Interesting point of fact, that will be supported by all members of this board who live in the Keys;
Mini Season - Dirtiest time of the year in the Keys - trash dumped on roadsides and other people's property in huge quantities. Followed by summer season - weekenders from mainland.
The road sides are cleaned and "grass" cut on a regular schedule year round. Winter time November till May (our busy season) roads are cleanest.

Guess that's the price we pay for "living in paradise" - Born in Miami, moved to the Keys 30yrs ago because it was and still is a nicer, cleaner, friendlier place

funny one of things I noticed when I first moved down here, the hugs amount of trash by the roadsides around Miami

that happens everywhere, but I never saw so much so far outside a major city

Reality is: The Keys is largly a tourist based economy. Very few decent livings being made outside of tourism and/or comercial fishing. Yes it has changed somewhat in the last 5-15-25 years. Most either live there for a year or two and then boogy, or they are retirees, and a very few are Natives. Most Natives are comercial fisherman/lobster trappers or living off the tourism that rooted itself in the Keys many, many years ago. There isn 't much else to do there.

There is nowhere else a person can easily go and have a million rentals, with water access, to water that allows family type snorkling of lobsters. Yes you can scuba up limits in the rest of the state, and there are a few small areas where freediving lobsters works a little.

The Keys have lots of contradicting topics between residents.
Some hate toruism. Most live by it.
Most hate comercial fishing there. But comercial fishing is huge in the Keys.
Many residents complain about alot of everything only to live there for a year and then leave. Many of the people who live by tourism complain about the tourists :rofl: . Local conversations are often so rediculous you can only leave laughing. I can see Keys resident retirees complaining as thats what old people do:D. But virtually everyone else down there needs the tourists like Disney land needs kids. Sorry but you moved to Disneyland(the Keys) and
kids(tourists) are not a option to try to remove.
I lived in Marathon in the mid 90s for three years and it was a great experience. But, as many before me have done, I woke up one day and couldn't get out of there fast enough. I had a great job and my boat right there on the canal and everything. But, within my age brackett, I seemd to be the only one. The people who replaced me(after I escaped), lasted about a year each, and that contract was finally abandoned. It's like living in Disneyland. Everyone you meet leaves after their week of vacation. And not many return next year(as per one of the Keys main concerns continually in the newspapers trying to figure out why). That place has tough issues that probably cannot be resolved. Great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there again.

It's still a absolutly great place for a late summer family rental, and a week of snorkling up a bunch of lobsters though! That's probably the best thing the Keys has to offer IMO. Take away the toruists and what's left. Disneyland with no Kids!

Reality is: The Keys is largly a tourist based economy. Very few decent livings being made outside of tourism and/or comercial fishing. Yes it has changed somewhat in the last 5-15-25 years. Most either live there for a year or two and then boogy, or they are retirees, and a very few are Natives. Most Natives are comercial fisherman/lobster trappers or living off the tourism that rooted itself in the Keys many, many years ago. There isn 't much else to do there.

There is nowhere else a person can easily go and have a million rentals, with water access, to water that allows family type snorkling of lobsters. Yes you can scuba up limits in the rest of the state, and there are a few small areas where freediving lobsters works a little.

The Keys have lots of contradicting topics between residents.
Some hate toruism. Most live by it.
Most hate comercial fishing there. But comercial fishing is huge in the Keys.
Many residents complain about alot of everything only to live there for a year and then leave. Many of the people who live by tourism complain about the tourists :rofl: . Local conversations are often so rediculous you can only leave laughing. I can see Keys resident retirees complaining as thats what old people do:D. But virtually everyone else down there needs the tourists like Disney land needs kids. Sorry but you moved to Disneyland(the Keys) and
kids(tourists) are not a option to try to remove.
I lived in Marathon in the mid 90s for three years and it was a great experience. But, as many before me have done, I woke up one day and couldn't get out of there fast enough. I had a great job and my boat right there on the canal and everything. But, within my age brackett, I seemd to be the only one. The people who replaced me(after I escaped), lasted about a year each, and that contract was finally abandoned. It's like living in Disneyland. Everyone you meet leaves after their week of vacation. And not many return next year(as per one of the Keys main concerns continually in the newspapers trying to figure out why). That place has tough issues that probably cannot be resolved. Great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there again.

It's still a absolutly great place for a late summer family rental, and a week of snorkling up a bunch of lobsters though! That's probably the best thing the Keys has to offer IMO. Take away the toruists and what's left. Disneyland with no Kids!

Well put. And everyone there knows it's the truth. If not for the tourists, there would be no way for 95% to make a living. But most of the locals that read this will huff and puff, all the while knowing it's the truth. I have heard them do NOTHING but complain about the tourists.:moon:

The funny thing is, as much as keys people bitch about mini season (do keys people ever stop bitching, if not mini season, they would find something else to bitch about), it is a mere fraction of what it used to be. Back in the 80's, when mini season was on a weekend, you could walk from boat to boat, never touch land, from Key West to Ocean Reef.

I went to mini season at my folks house at MM93 last year, and to be honest with you, the crowds were bigger over your average 4th of July weekend.

If gas prices keep going up, unemployment keeps going up, NMFS keeps cutting the fish take, tourisum will go down and the majority of the keys residents may have thier wish! Then maybe I'll move there and become one of those crochety old men.:p

Then maybe I'll move there and become one of those crochety old men.:p

I thought you were already!:smthumbup:

Wonderful comments:toast:

As a new central florida resident (moved from upstate NY), I love listening to the constant complaints. You cannot truly appreciate this place unless you have spent a few years diving(and living) in the frozen mud.

Since I got here I have been diving both coasts, and the experience and the people have been awesome. I haven't even made it down to the keys yet!!

I will be one of those "annoying" tourists in September for sure!!:smthumbup:

As a new central florida resident (moved from upstate NY), I love listening to the constant complaints. You cannot truly appreciate this place unless you have spent a few years diving(and living) in the frozen mud.




Silly, from your perspective isn't it. :D I don't really know of a place in the US I'd rather live than Florida if you enjoy the water. I've lived here all my life and wise enough to realize it's beauty. Matter of fact, I fixing to take my 4 young nephews out on the boat to wade the flats and collect dinner. It will probably consist of some fish and assorted shellfish.

Then maybe I'll move there and become one of those crochety old men.:p


let me know if you need a room mate brother.:toast:

I agree with Keys Divers. I worry about the future of the Keys; both economically and in terms of the natural resources. Unfortunately, the two are directly correlated which is where the "contradictions" come in. On a side note, mini-season disgusts me.

I agree with Keys Divers. I worry about the future of the Keys; both economically and in terms of the natural resources. Unfortunately, the two are directly correlated which is where the "contradictions" come in. On a side note, mini-season disgusts me.

If mini season disgusts you, why were you down there during mini season? Just curious, how long have you lived in Florida?

I wasn't, nor would I ever be on the water for mini-season. I was leaving a day or two before it began, so i witnessed the hoards pouring in. I am not a permanent resident of Florida, i spend three months out of the year in the Keys visiting my mom/vacation- not sure of the relevance but that's the answer. I have nothing against the individuals who treat the ocean and the keys specifically with respect, because it's the one place in the world that i've been where i feel completely at home. Just not for me, and i can't stand thinking about the beer guzzling law-breakers going to and fro from their docks stashing limits and undersized fish and heading back out for round two... and three (don't deny that it happens- more then you may care to imagine).
I'm not attempting to direct my ill-feelings toward anyone, i just can't help but become a bit emotional about something i really care about... regardless of whether i'm "justified" or not.

I wasn't, nor would I ever be on the water for mini-season. I was leaving a day or two before it began, so i witnessed the hoards pouring in. I am not a permanent resident of Florida, i spend three months out of the year in the Keys visiting my mom/vacation- not sure of the relevance but that's the answer. I have nothing against the individuals who treat the ocean and the keys specifically with respect, because it's the one place in the world that i've been where i feel completely at home. Just not for me, and i can't stand thinking about the beer guzzling law-breakers going to and fro from their docks stashing limits and undersized fish and heading back out for round two... and three (don't deny that it happens- more then you may care to imagine).
I'm not attempting to direct my ill-feelings toward anyone, i just can't help but become a bit emotional about something i really care about... regardless of whether i'm "justified" or not.

How can you care at all with the screen name of DILLIGAF? Not trying to cause trouble, for once, just pointing out the major contradiction.:D

Hah funny... I won't take that beyond face value. At any rate i'm glad i see the different viewpoints which is what i wanted to get out of this thread.

not to defend people breaking the law, but most legal lobsters in the keys NOT taken during mini season or the first week by recreational guys will end up in a commercial trap within a months time.
Trust me,ive been down in September and keeper lobster are scarce and traps are lined up as far as you can see.

in limited experience , lobsters are really easy to find the first couple months of the season, and even though there are not hoards of people hand picking them, the traps clean them out

often times you will see traps with few lobster in it , times that by thousands

Chuckd,
Fact is that most lobsters in the state of Florida are caught within the the 1st month or so. This is not because of "abundance" and them being wiped out. It is because of the migration pattern of lobsters, which is well documented.
Actually the best time to dive for lobsters is around a full moon. Lobsters don't go into traps on the bright moon (commercial harvest falls off dramatically)
This is only one of the reasons lobsters get scarce.

No problem with mini season here. Of course you are going to have the bad apples that abuse the resource but I feel that most people that come into town for the event are just here for a good time with their families. Having spent my life down here and lobstering I have had no problem getting lobster whenever I want to. I can go spearfishing any time during lobster season and grab a handful of tails for dinner - no need to limit out. If others want to partake in the lobster madness Im fine with that - those lobster dont have my name on them. Tourism doesnt affect my salary one way or another, I get paid by taxpayers of the community - but I am enlightened enough to know that tourism is needed for the keys to survive. I know that the little restaurants I eat at wouldnt be there if not for tourists, and my buddies who run charter boats wouldnt be living here either. In my opinion, if people bitch and moan about mini-season and how out of towners are taking their lobster, they arent skilled enough to go find their own spots or beat the crowds.

On a side note....as a local I would love to see Bartenders Week abolished, what an absolute s#!t fest that is. Its should really be called "how many dirtbags can we cram onto our property week". I dread that weekend all year being a fire/medic and have seen some of the most repulsive and disgusting things over those 3 days.

When was the last time you checked rental houses during mini season??????

Double the number of people staying in a house than it's licensed for is the fairly common.
I too do not depend on tourisim for my livelyhood. Have no axe to grind with anyone who comes down here to enjoy what we have. Only ask to be treated with respect, obey the laws.
I don't p.ss on your lawn, throw beer cans/bottles in your yard. Park a boat,truck in the middle of your street. Don't think it's too much to expect from others.