By What is the legal size for spiny lobster?
3 1/4 inches
Spiny lobster taken must measure at least 3 1/4 inches in length and are measured in a straight line on the midline of the back from the rear edge of the eye socket to the rear edge of the body shell.
How big does a lobster have to be to keep?
Lobster fishermen throw back lobsters that are too small and lobsters that are too big. The small ones need to grow, while the large ones add vigor to the gene pool. In Maine, a lobster’s body must be at least 3 1/4 inches to keep, and can’t be over 5 inches. When lobsters mate, the eggs aren’t fertilized right away.
How fast do spiny lobster grow?
It takes them about 2 years to grow to the 3-inch carapace (shell) legal-harvesting size. Spiny lobsters may live 15 years or more, but there is uncertainty regarding this estimate due to the difficulty in ageing this species. They can grow up to 15 pounds and 18 inches.
How deep are spiny lobsters?
65 meters
California spiny lobsters live on rocky substrates, at depths of up to 65 meters (213 ft). Although adults can be found in shallow water, including tide pools, they are more frequent in deeper waters.
How do you measure a spiny lobster?
Spiny lobster must have a minimum carapace length of greater than 3-inches and the measurement must take place in the water. The carapace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns, excluding any soft tissue, and proceeding along the middle to the rear edge of the carapace.
How much does spiny lobster cost?
The price of a locally-caught spiny lobster is much higher than a Maine lobster imported from the East Coast. “Retail price for spiny’s is around $30 a pound,” Schulken said. “And retail for Maine lobster somewhere between $12 and $15 a pound.”
What’s the best size lobster to eat?
Size. While many people think that bigger is better, smaller lobsters are actually sweeter in flavor. The smallest lobster you can buy in Maine will weigh around 1 and 1/4 pound. I recommend purchasing lobsters in the 1 and 1/4 to 2 pound range to get the best tasting meat.
How many legs does a spiny lobster have?
ten legs
Along with true crabs, prawns, and other lobsters, the Caribbean spiny lobster is a decapod; it has ten legs. It is covered with a spiny exoskeleton that provides it some protection from potential predators, but it remains the favorite prey of many species, including nurse sharks and Nassau groupers.
Can spiny lobsters hurt you?
Grab lobsters from the top and back. Grab the lobster from the back and the top, and away from the moray eel (the spiny lobster has no claws to hurt you).
Are spiny lobsters good to eat?
As we mentioned, spiny lobster can thrown in just about anything – macaroni and cheese, an omelette, gumbo – and it tastes delicious. Lobster purists can enjoy just the tail, which is best boiled and then thrown on the grill for a few minutes.
How much lobster do you need per person?
With a yield of around 30 to 40%, you should plan on about on 1 1/2-pound lobster per person, giving you 6 to 8 ounces of actual meat.