Giant Spiny Lobster

Saltwater Offshore Reports
1

Captain Bruce here. Took the Sea Squaw offshore Saturday to about 100’ of water with my wife and dive buddy Ken. Clear blue water with 70+’ of visibility. First dive, Ken got a few slipper lobsters and a nice hogfish. I managed a nice gag grouper. We found a lot of big spiny lobsters but all of them had eggs so had to be released. Second dive, we set our all-time spiny lobster record bagging a 13.0 lb giant! Great day on and in the ocean. Check out the two attached pics.
PS- we were surrounded by BIG red snapper all day. They seem to have taken over the ledges now. Hope they open that fishery back up soon.

2

Do those really big ones taste any different than a “normal” size one?

“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?

3

Nice job Bruce. I’ve only got 1 13 lb’er, and have only ever seen 1 bigger than that (14lb). That’s a beast…

4
quote:
Originally posted by DFreedom

Do those really big ones taste any different than a “normal” size one?

“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?

I can't tell the difference in taste, but the big ones are a lot of fun to ride.
5

Surprisingly, that lobster was pretty tender. Cooked it on the grill.

6

I’ve gotta start diving. What’s behind the lobster?

7

Very nice Male Bug, my grandchildren thank you for releasing the Females, some divers don’t!I caught a 15lb one two years ago DNR said it was aprox 35 years old.

If it got any better I couldn’t stand it.

8

That’s my wife behind the lobster, although she’s not much bigger than the lobster (ha)!

9

How shallow do those lobster get off our coast? That’s really nice.

10

That is huge!! THose legs look bigger than some snow crabs.

If anything would get me over my fear of a huge shark while diving, I believe a lobster like that could.

Do you do anything with the head or pretty much trash?

“Why Bruce?”

11

I’ve had some epic trips with Capt Bruce aboard the Sea Squaw. I don’t dive, but when he and Ken hand the fish bag up to me sometimes I can barely lift it out of the water. Grouper, Hogfish, lobster… . He makes it looks easy but he has been at it a long time with easily more than 500+ dives under his belt. A true weekend warrior and overall badass on/under the water.

PS: those legs on the large spiny’s make an EXCELLENT lobster salad. Don’t throw them away!

Go get 'em Capt Bruce!

12

Yes, the lobster head is trash. And for some reason, you need to be at least 90’ deep offshore SC in order to find decent numbers of Spiny Lobster. Very different than in the Florida Keys where we have literally caught them in 2’ of water. And thanks so much for the kind words Local Cluster.