Florida Keys Lobster Mini Season 2026

If you've never experienced Lobster Mini Season in the Florida Keys, you're missing one of the biggest traditions of the year. For two days, the Keys come alive before sunrise as boats head to the reef, dive flags fill the water, and friends and families spend the day searching for Florida spiny lobster.

This year's Florida Keys Lobster Mini Season takes place on Wednesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 30, 2026. It always falls on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, just before the regular lobster season opens in August.

Whether you're a lifelong local or visiting for the first time, Mini Season is about much more than catching lobster. It's about spending time on the water, sharing stories at the dock afterward, and enjoying everything that makes the Florida Keys unique.

If you're planning to participate, remember to:

• Know the current Florida Fish and Wildlife regulations.

• Carry a lobster measuring gauge.

• Respect protected reef areas.

• Slow down around dive flags and always put boating safety first.

• Help preserve our coral reefs by leaving them exactly as you found them.

Even if you're not planning to dive, Mini Season is an exciting time to be in the Keys. Waterfront restaurants are busy, marinas are full of activity, and you can feel the energy throughout the island chain.

For many of us who call the Florida Keys home, Mini Season marks the heart of summer. It's another reminder that life here revolves around the water, family, friends, and enjoying this incredible place we get to call home.

If you're visiting during Mini Season, be patient, be courteous, and most importantly—have fun and stay safe. Good luck out there!