Can you eat caribbean lobster

They are harvested for their tail meat. Caribbean spiny lobsters grow by molting — they vacate their old shells while simultaneously absorbing water, expanding their body size. 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. Females can reproduce when they reach 2.

They spawn from March through August in the Florida Keys on offshore reefs, and spawn throughout the year in the Caribbean. The male spiny lobster deposits sperm packets on the underside of the female. She scratches them to release sperm as she releases her eggs between , to 2. Most of the spiny lobster larvae found in U.

Young spiny lobsters feed on soft-bodied plankton tiny floating plants and animals. Juveniles and adults are carnivores, preying on snails, crabs, and clams. They are nocturnal, inhabiting coral reefs, burrows, and dens during the day and foraging for food at night.

Many predators feed on juvenile and adult spiny lobster, including groupers, snappers, sharks, skates, turtles, and octopuses. Caribbean spiny lobster are found along the continental shelf of the southeastern United States from North Carolina to Texas, in Bermuda, throughout the Caribbean Sea, and south to Brazil. Fishermen must have a permit to harvest spiny lobster. Annual catch limits in place. Bag limits for commercial and recreational fishermen, depending on where they are harvested.

Fishing season closed from April 1 through August 5 off Florida and the Gulf states to protect spiny lobsters during peak spawning season. Local News. Recommended for you. Ban on conch fishing and consumption has begun: July 1st — October 31st. The Caribbean Spiny Lobster has extremely long antenna on top of their head and pretty much a nonexistent claw. They are found in warm waters of the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

Some people say the Caribbean Lobster has a more fishy taste to it than then Maine Lobster. That might because the cold water helps keep the salt out of the meat. But on the plus side, the Caribbean Lobster has more meat in the tail than a Maine Lobster of the same size. I would describe the taste to you but the Havana Club Pina Coladas made my memory a little fuzzy.

Did you notice that Star is pointing? I told you it would be a thing! Caribbean Lobster meat can be cooked in a number of ways and there is no shortage of amazing recipes out there. From lobster salad and ceviche, to Lobster Thermidor and Lobster Bisque.

Spiny lobster tails are traditionally grilled and basted with butter. They are also excellent steamed and roasted. Grilling your catch is probably the easiest and most common way to prepare lobster. All you need is a grill or open fire, some garlic butter, and a little lemon juice. Here is a simple recipe that will dazzle your guests and will have them calling you a grilling god.

Remove the meat from the tails by cutting down the center of the underside with heavy shears. Coat all sides of the tail meat with the garlic butter. Place on a medium heat grill. Grill for minutes on each side depending on the size , basting every few minutes.

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