Lobster season for Maine lobster in Maine and some parts of Canada is year round with soft shell lobster season (the peak) happening in late June through August. The Florida spiny lobster season happens from August 6 – March 31st with a brief mini season happening the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday each July. And California has one from October to March. These seasons matter because the price and way to cook the lobster will change based on if they are caught on or off season.
During the peak season, lobsters tend to be cheaper because they’re more abundant and closer to the shore. This reduces the fuel costs and it’s faster to get to and from the fishing grounds. During this time they’re easier to catch and harvest, but there is also a more likely chance they will have softer shells.
Peak season is when Maine lobsters begin molting (when they shed their shell to increase in size). The reason hard and soft shell lobster matters is that soft shell lobsters tend to cook faster than hard shelled lobsters as the shell is thinner making it more permeable, and harder shells trap heat making the meat continue to cook more efficiently once you pull the lobster from the source.
A good rule of thumb for cooking hard vs. softshell lobster is:
- Remove the soft shell lobster from heat a minute earlier than normal cooking times.
- Pull the hard shell lobster from the heat on time, but a few degrees less than the FDA recommended 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
But make sure the lobster reaches the safe-to-eat temperature of at least 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
One thing that is important to know is that the Lobster seasons change depending on water temperatures and food availability as they are migratory animals. Here’s some more information by each region and where to learn about the requirements and fishing zones.
Fun fact: The easiest way to tell which type of American lobster you are eating is by the claws and taste. Maine lobsters have claws and taste sweeter, Spiny lobsters do not have claws and are a bit less sweet.
The Northeast and Mid-atlantic Maine Lobster Peak Season
The Northern US Maine lobster season changes based on how cold the water is and how quickly it warms up, but the peak is always during the summer months of June and July. The colder the winter, the longer the coastline takes to warm, and the slower the lobsters migrate back so they can molt their shells, hatch eggs, and continue other lifecycle events.
While there is no way to predict the actual date the lobster season starts in the northern US and Canada, the fishing boats notice the traps begin filling in abundance with soft shell lobsters around June if a warm winter and July if a colder than normal one.
With that said, in both the Northeastern United States and some parts of Canada, fishing boats fish for lobster year round. Prices go up for winter catches as the boats have to go further out to sea where the hard shell lobsters retreat to, and they need to fish deeper. The added work, fuel, and less availability make this the “slower season”, even though there really is no set time frame.
Maine, which is the largest lobstering state, has regulations set by the Maine Department of Marine Resources and you can learn about their current regulations and requirements here.
Fun fact: The squeeze test will tell you if you have a soft or hard shell lobster. Gently press the sides of the body and if it indents with light pressure, it is a soft shell lobster caught in peak season, if it remains firm, it is a hard shell lobster.
In addition to continuing to cook after being pulled from the heat source, hard shell lobsters have less water weight and more meat. However soft shell lobsters tend to be sweeter and more tender than hard shell lobsters. This is why knowing the time frame your lobster was caught matters, you can better determine the flavor and which one to buy.
Florida and Caribbean Spiny Lobster Season
The Florida spiny lobster season happens from August 6 – March 31st each year and a brief two day mini season occurs the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. The lobsters migrate to their nurseries in October and November in deeper and warmer reefs for breeding, molting, and eating so they can avoid the dropping temperatures on the coast line.
Fun fact: The lobsters form a single line during the migration which is sometimes nicknamed a “conga line”.
Florida’s lobster season is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission who also sets the limits on the schedule, the size allowed, and how many can be harvested.
California Spiny Lobsters
While Florida is known for its Spiny lobster season, California has one as well lasting from October to mid-March and it is regulated by their Department of Fish and Wildlife. Click here to learn more about the California lobster fishing requirements.
Canadian Lobster Season
While Maine fishes lobster year round, Canada has strict season and zone limitations. Canada has what they call LFAs or Lobster Fishing Areas in more than 40 separate zones managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Each has different regulations which you can read about here.
LFA 34 for example is one of the largest fisheries and lobster destinations in the world with an active season from the end of November through the end of May. LFA 23, 24, 26A/B are the opposite with their seasons starting in mid-spring and lasting through mid-June to the end of July. LFA 41 which is one of the offshore fisheries operates year round just like Maine.
The peak lobster seasons change based on the temperature of the water and migration patterns, and the rules and regulations are created around these by the individual territories governments. Knowing when your lobster was caught and trying the squeeze test will help you know how to cook it and what to expect taste wise. If you’re looking for the freshest live Maine lobsters, click here to have us ship direct to your door.