Lobster off our coast

Saltwater Offshore Discussion
1

How deep do you need to be to dive for lobster off our coast? And does depth vary on time of year?

Thanks in advance. :smiley:

2

I would think very minimal 60 feet…Probably 80. Much more knowledgable on this board than me.

3

Thank you redstripe. I was given some numbers this morning in the 80-120’ mark. I don’t dive but I’ve got a friend that’s a retired Underwater welder looking to do it.

4

You would probably get a better answer on the spearfishing forum.

BadBob

Polar 1910 BB 150 Johnson
“Convict Hunter”

If you ain’t the lead dog then the scenery never changes

5

They can be as shallow as 80’ More prevalent past 100’ and lots more around the Pan than anywhere else in the Carolinas.Average tail is over 2 pounds.

6
quote:
Originally posted by Aunt T

They can be as shallow as 80’ More prevalent past 100’ and lots more around the Pan than anywhere else in the Carolinas.Average tail is over 2 pounds.

When you say the Pan, are you referring to the Frying Pan Tower off N.C. in 50’ of water? Of is there another area off our coast referred to as this?

Have another Friend that will take us or ride with us and show a couple of spots but will not give us numbers. And then we are not allowed to mark areas. :smiley: Said it would be a deep dive. :question:

Again thanks for input. Thought about the spearfishing section, but not much activity there.

7

I’ve never seen them less than 90’ here. That being said, I don’t spend a great deal of time less than 85’ and little time deeper than 125’.

Have grabbed them in 80’ off NC. If somebody is willing to take you to grab some, go get em! (as long as you’re comfortable at that depth)

As said above, I see the most 100-120ft.

8

More than likely will be over 100’. I haven’t seen many in less than 85’.

If you are comfortable with the depth, jump in with them and grab some!

9

We have some good Lobster in 60’ out to 120’. Most of our Bugs are caught in 100+ starting May 1st when Grouper season opens because that’s were we start. In the fall when the Big Grouper move in shallow to spawn we catch Bugs in 60’. My biggest is 15lbs but we have had 12 bugs(6 divers)averaging 8 lbs apiece on a good many dives days! Our Grouper Average 20lbs each as we shoot only biguns.
Check out Rob Harding posts over the years. They are there just takes time and effort.
We don’t post much anymore because of the crying wannabees on the site but three years ago we did 90 dives off Chas, that’s 30 days averaging 3 a day at 90’. A lot of diving, time, effort and money! 6 p’s! Proper planning prevents piss pore performance. If you find Limestone ledges in 60’,100’ they are there, unless we have already hit, then crickets. If you hit a good ledge and slay them no need to make a second dive, they are educated very quickly. We wont dive any spots more then once a year because they wont be there after being hit. We have 1500#s and it takes a few years to cycle through them, again, time, effort, money breeds success!

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

10

Dang bug catcher, you’ve got some serious dive time under your belt. 15lbs! Was it tough or did it eat good? Thanks for the info.

11

Bug ain’t no joke if he is who I think he is. Seen him cleaning groceries at the dock.

12

Yes, Frying Pan Tower.Alternatively,there are some nice areas S. of Chas off Savannah. I never found as many directly off Chas as further North or South,same with hogs. They are there,just not as prevalent. I have spots named 100LOBLG,75LOBLG etc… based on how many we saw on a single dive.
I used to dive for them commercially off N FL.We would save the legs and sell the tails.A lot of meat in those grandaddy bugs legs.

13

Yes, Frying Pan Tower.Alternatively,there are some nice areas S. of Chas off Savannah. I never found as many directly off Chas as further North or South,same with hogs. They are there,just not as prevalent. I have spots named 100LOBLG,75LOBLG etc… based on how many we saw on a single dive.
I used to dive for them commercially off N FL.We would save the legs and sell the tails.A lot of meat in those grandaddy bugs legs.

14

I’m surprised skinny beer froth hasn’t responded

After being released, a lot of fish die, but a lot of them live also.

15

I’m surprised skinny beer froth hasn’t responded

After being released, a lot of fish die, but a lot of them live also.

16

We have caught them from 60-180’ The big ones are not tough to eat if you cook them right.
Lobster gets tough overcooked. If you cook the whole tail the outer part is overdone by the time the middle is cooked. Have to take it out and dice it up. Also depending on how long ago the lobster molted the skin under the shell may be turning into the next shell. I always cut that red skin off.
https://youtu.be/XUjfCMXZIJo?t=10

Rob Harding
2660 Sailfish
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hope4cameron/
(Fish not Biting? Try a fast presentation of spring steel)</font id=“green”>

17

180’ is some deep water!

Didn’t realize they were that deep off our coast. Cool video.

Remember this one from a few years back you shared? Never caught a hog fish but did try this with some Dolphin, shark, and sword fish.

Captain Crunch Hogfish
Egg White
Olive Oil
Cap’n Crunch Cereal
grated Parmesan cheese

Crush the cereal, mix in parmesan cheese.
Dip the hogfish in egg whites
“Batter” both sides of the fish with the crushed cereal
Pan fry in olive oil.

Rob Harding
236 Sailfish 250 4s Yam