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Mark your calendar for the City of Port St. Lucie’s 11th annual Hurricane Preparedness Expo on June 3 at the Civic Center – where residents and businesses can get crucial storm-related information from more than 50 vendors at one convenient location.
The Hurricane Expo is the City’s premier storm preparation event that connects residents with businesses and emergency services providers. Being prepared is the key to protecting your home and loved ones during a severe storm. This year’s Expo will focus on education and will include informative presentations from meteorologists and key community organizations. Organizers also expect more than 50 hurricane preparedness vendors will participate in the event.
WEEKEND OF JUNE 9TH THRU 11TH .....but this post is early so you don't miss the chili cookoff next Thursday!
35th Annual Chili Cook-Off to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County
PORT ST LUCIE -- Thirty teams of chili chefs are preparing for the 35th Annual Chili Cook-Off to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County and there’s still room for a few more. This year’s Chili Cook-Off takes place at the Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce on THURSDAY July 15 from 11 a.m.6 p.m.
The Cook-Off is a popular event, drawing nearly 10,000 visitors throughout the day. In addition to sampling chili, guests can participate in a variety of activities, including some geared especially for kids – including PSL Rocks, an organization that focuses on the positive energy and community-building that can come from painting, hiding and finding painted rocks.
For more information, call (772) 460-9918, visit Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County | Great Futures Start Here or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
If you would like to see some of the best photos taken by local photographers, I encourage you to visit the A. E. Backus Museum & Gallery’s “Through Eye of the Camera” juried photography show.
The opening reception is 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. The show will be open through June 30.
Of the 233 photographs submitted to the annual competition, 93 were selected for display. The photos represent six categories: digital great outdoors (plants, animals & wildlife); digital great outdoors (scenery, structures, cars, boats, etc.); digital color still life/portrait; digital black and white; manipulated imagery (any subject); and film/ traditional raw photography (color and black and white).
The Vero Beach Wine & Film Festival has cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and screenings of more than 70 independent films, starting Thursday and ending Sunday night at various venues in Vero Beach.
Burt Reynolds’ latest feature, “Dog Years,” is about an octogenarian film star who is reassessing his life. It also stars “Modern Family” actress Ariel Winter and will be screened Friday night at Riverside Theatre and again at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa, located at 3244 Ocean Drive.
A variety of passes are available, starting with a one-day pass for $40 all the way up to the premiere pass for $495. For a detailed schedule of events, pass details and to purchase passes, go to Homepage - Vero Beach Wine & Film Festival.
Date night
When is the last time you had a night out without the kids? The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast, located at 1707 N.E. Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach, makes it easy.
Drop off the kids, ages 4-12, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. for dinner, a movie, popcorn and some after-hours museum exploration. That’s a good babysitting deal for $12. Space is limited.
To register, call 772-225-7575.
A beer run
No, not that kind of beer run.
In this funny race you actually drink beer every 1 ⁄ 4 mile or so. Runners will run two half-mile laps around downtown Fort Pierce. The Sailfish Beer Mile, a fundraiser for the Fort Pierce Police Athletic League, starts and ends with a party at Sailfish Brewing Company, 130 N. Second St.. The race starts at 7 p.m. Friday.
Registered racers receive four sixounce pours, a T-shirt and a bottle-opener medal. There also is a root beer option. Registration is $40 in advance for the beer run or $45 for walk-ups. The root beer registrants pay $5 less. Register at www.localraces.com.
Treasure Coast Harley Davidson If dad likes music, beer and motorcycles, or even two out of the three, take him to the dealership located at 4967 S.E. Federal Highway IN STUART on Saturday or Sunday for two special Father’s Day customer appreciation events. He can browse bikes in the beautiful showroom and enjoy food, drinks and music outside.
On Saturday, rock band Driven will take you back to the glory days of hair bands with covers of ’80s favorites, including Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Journey. The event will go from noon to 4 p.m. and also features free lunch, raffles and a free bikini bike wash. Sunday’s event features Carla Holbrook performing from noon to 3 p.m. followed by a DJ until 5 p.m., as well as free lunch and beer. For more information, visit Treasure Coast Harley-Davidson® - Stuart, Florida - Quality New & Used Harley-Davidson® Motorcycles, Parts, Accessories and More.
76 Golf World is offering free mini golf for fathers Sunday when accompanied by a paying child. The family fun center at 6801 S. Kanner Highway in Stuart also offers go-karts, a batting cage, an arcade, bumper boats and more. To view pricing and packages, visit Home.
Celebrate Sir Paul's 75th birthday (for those of you not old enough to know that is Beatle Paul McCartney)
You have to catch the Treasure Coast’s premiere Beatles and Paul McCartney tribute band when you can.
McCartney Mania does not perform often but it will celebrate Sir Paul’s 75th birthday at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sunrise Theatre Black Box, 117 S. Second St. in Fort Pierce. Tickets are $29$35.
The show benefits Family Meals, Inc. For more information, call 772-210-0900 or go towww.familymealsinc.org.
Take dad to the Treasure Coast's only winery and spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon having lunch and sipping award-winning wines or a large array of beers. Summer Crush Winery will have a car show on the winery lawn and live music by Collins & Company in the shady pavilion. The Father’s Day “man cave” event is noon to 4 p.m. at 4200 Johnston Road in Fort Pierce.
If dad has a car he would like to show off, it’s $10 to register at www.summercrushwine.com, otherwise admission is free.
Are you a fan of “Dancing with the Stars”? Why not see some professional ballroom dancing in person at the 'Peace, Love & Ballroom' event Saturday at the Marriott Resort, Hutchinson Island, 555 N.E. Ocean Blvd. in Stuart. A high-level solo student competition goes from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., dancers of every level are welcome to a sexy bachata class, a popular slow dance at salsa clubs. Enjoy a gourmet buffet dinner and one complimentary drink 7 to 8 p.m. The main event starts at 8 p.m. with international and world champion ballroom dancers performing, followed by a dance party until midnight.
Tickets are $95 and include entrance to all activities. The event is a benefit for Second Life Animal Sanctuaries, a nonprofit dedicated to ending euthanasia of healthy cats and dogs in Florida.
For more information, call 561-9517836. To purchase tickets go to www.secondlifesanctuaries.com.
The American songbook Any Frank Sinatra and/or Ella Fitzgerald fans out there? Tribute will be paid to both iconic artists Sunday on the outdoor stage at Terra Fermata, 26 S.E. Sixth St. in Stuart.
The show opens at 7 p.m. with Denny Artache performing songs from Ole’ Blue Eyes. The show continues with the Lady Sings the Blues Band and its tribute to the ladies of jazz, from Ella Fitzgerald to Dinah Shore and Billie Holiday. There is no cover charge. For more information go to Terra Fermata - MUSIC VENUE, DOWNTOWN STUART, FL.
Motorized Kayak Adventures: Fun, relaxing Eco Tour on a Motorized kayak. Daily, Everyday. Stan Blum Boat Launch, 613 North Causeway, Fort Pierce. All ages. $35-$60. Reservation: 772-380-6815; motorizedkayakadventures.com.
Indian River Lagoon Boat Tours: 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. Fort Pierce City Marina, 1 Ave. A, Fort Pierce. $15-$23. Reservations; 772-464-4445; indianriverlagoonboattours.com
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast is kicking off a new program, Shelter Pups and Coffee Cups.
The animal shelter is partnering with Starbucks in Palm City and is looking for volunteers that can take a shelter dog to Starbucks one Thursday a month from 9:30 to 10 a.m. (or later) and treat them to a Puppuccino!
(Puppuccinos are basically just whipped cream in a cup. The best part: they're free!)
Volunteer to take a shelter dog to Starbucks for a Puppuccino, which is whip cream in a cup.
Starbucks also will feature one lucky selected dog to promote at its store for the Pet of the Week.
Are you a dog lover and interested in participating in this new program? Email Sarah Fisher at SFisher@hstc1.org or call 772-600-3217. Before volunteering, however, participants first must attend an orientation. The next one will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the shelter, 4100 S.W. Leighton Farm Ave. in Palm City.
Join the World's Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) and help make a difference by spreading the word - swimming saves lives!
Happening on Thursday, June 22. Registration begins at 9:45 a.m. Spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Lesson are happening at several locations:
Ravenswood Pool: 400 SW Ravenswood Lane, PSL
Lakewood Park Pool: 5990 Emerson Ave, Ft. Pierce
Lincoln Park Pool: 1311 Avenue M, Ft. Pierce
For more info, contact Jonathan Abrahamson @ 772.871.8031
Event benefits Operation 300
Former Stuart resident and Elite Navy SEAL Aaron C. Vaughn was killed in Afghanistan in 2011 when the helicopter he was in was shot down. The family of the highly decorated combat veteran established Operation 300 in Vaughn's honor.
Operation 300 is a nonprofit that hosts adventure camps for children who lost their fathers during military service and seeks to honor the families of the fallen. On Saturday, the sixth annual Aaron Vaughn Frogman Swim and 5K Run at Jensen Beach Park, 4025 N.E. Ocean Blvd., will benefit Operation 300. The 5K run/walk begins promptly at 7 a.m., followed by the open water swim at 9 a.m. Participants may register onsite for either event beginning at 6 a.m.
The 5K fee is $35, the swim is $55 and those wishing to do both pay $75. All proceeds benefit camps for children who have lost a parent fighting for our country.
A fundraising dinner and auction will be Friday at the Stuart Jet Center and will feature author Andy Andrews as the keynote speaker. The cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets for the dinner, email Tara.op300@gmail.com. To register in advance for the 5K or swim event, go to aaronvaughnfrogmanswim.com
One new business, Notes Music Room & Wine Bar, at 872 Colorado Ave. in Stuart, has come up with a creative way to encourage locals to try out its establishment and those nearby. Notes is a cozy and cute bar catering to a mature audience and serving craft beer and wine. The venue features live acoustic, folk, classical, blues and jazz music 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and 4 to 8 p.m. Sundays. On Saturday, Notes will host the “Colorado Crawl,” where guests can stroll Colorado Avenue and casually pop into select businesses offering free samples and refreshments, as well as special discounts and deals on merchandise or services. Participants will start at Notes, where a $10 event fee will include one glass of wine or beer and a glass to keep. Other businesses in a five-block area that are part of the crawl include Stuart Ceramics, Healthy Living Spa, the Crafted Keg, Zweben Law Group and Arc Thrift Shop. An RSVP is not required but is appreciated and can be done via email at notesmusicroom@gmail.com, or on Notes Facebook Page.
On Saturday, enjoy brews from around the world at the World Beer Classic at First Data Field, 525 N.W. Peacock Blvd. in Port St. Lucie. The brews will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. The St. Lucie Mets take on the Charlotte Stone Crabs at 6:30 p.m.Now that the burn ban has been lifted, fireworks once again will light up the skies after the game. Tickets to the Beer Classic include admission to the game and are $25 in advance at www.theworldbeerclassic.com. They are $35 at the gate. If you’d rather forgo the Beer Classic and just go to the game and see the fireworks, tickets are $8 to $10.
Martin County’s master gardeners will be at the Martin County Fairgrounds, 2614 S.E. Dixie Highway in Stuart to answer your questions about how to select, plant, nurture and grow tropical fruits. You also can sample some of the county’s best tropical fruits at the 31st annual Taste of the Tropics from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.For more information, call 772-288-5654 or email martin.ifas.ufl.edu.
A similar event is scheduled at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, 2410 S.E. Westmoreland Blvd. The Taste of the Tropics Plant Sale is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and includes free admission to the garden, tastings and seminars.
The Space Coast Symphony, known as the symphony for everyone because of its affordable prices and fresh programming, will perform a patriotic concert 2 p.m Saturday at The Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave. in Vero Beach. The wind orchestra will play numbers by Alfred Reed, Percy Grainger, John Philip Sousa and more. Attendance is free but tickets are required to reserve your seat. Get tickets by calling 855-252-7276 or go to Home - Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. For more information, call 772-337-1959 or go to Home.
The Lionfish Round-up, a lionfish removal tournament, will take place Friday and Saturday for divers sailing from inlets between Fort Pierce and Lake Worth.
The seventh annual event, this year benefiting the Sea-Life Habitat Improvement Project to build artificial reefs on the Treasure Coast, will kick-off with its divers' meeting and party at 6 p.m. Friday at Jupiter Pointe Marina, 18753 S.E. Federal Highway, Tequesta. Dive teams will vie for cash prizes totaling $5,000 for most, smallest and largest lionfish removed from local reefs.
Lionfish are not native to Florida waters and are voracious predators disrupting the natural balance of the ecosystem in this fragile undersea habitat. State fishery managers encourage their harvest. Lionfish are a delicious item showing up on more seafood restaurant menus. Entry is $65 per diver or $185 per team of four. Not a diver? Organizers welcome people to attend and watch as divers return with their kill. Attendees will be able to sample the delicious lionfish, meet local artists and vendors and enjoy the live tropical tunes by Mark and Rui of Bamboo. A silent auction will be held to benefit future artificial reefs in Martin County. For more information, contact April Price, 772-285-1646, or go to MC Lionfish.
Rowing camps coming up
Intrepid Rowing Club of Palm City will have three week-long Learn to Row camps open to kids from eighth-12th grades.
The first session begins Monday and runs through June 30. The second session is July 17-July 21. The third session is July 24-July 28. Camps will focus on fun, fitness and teamwork, prioritize safety on the water and will teach and develop basic rowing techniques and teach rowing skills. No prior rowing experience is necessary. Camp runs each day from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $150 for one session, $275 for two sessions and $400 for all three sessions.
Intrepid Rowing Club is at 2701 S.W. Cornell Ave. in Palm City. For more information, go to Intrepid Rowing Club or call 888-HIPPO14 or text 772-475-8128.
The Sebastian River High School Sharks Crew is having Summer Racing Camps through July 29 from 5-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost for existing rowing team members is $100. Cost for new rowers is $200. For more information, go to Sebastian River Crew.
Treasure Coast Rowing Club Juniors will have a Learn To Race Camp beginning Monday for all new rowers, even if the learn to row weeks in the beginning of the summer were missed. This camp schedule is 7:45-11 a.m. Monday through Friday. This camp will prepare rowers for the Halifax Regatta on Saturday, July 29 in Daytona Beach. The cost for the Learn To Race Camp is $525 per rower (includes four weeks of training five times each week, and all entry and racing fees for the Halifax Regatta). If signing up more than one child, there is a 25 percent discount on the second child. For more information, go to Treasure Coast Rowing Club.
Friday is the kickoff to the Sailfish Splash Waterpark’s 2017 season of its Splash & Movie Night series where the animated film “Sing” will be shown.
Admission to the special event at the Martin County water park, 931 S.E. Ruhnke St., is $10.95 per person and includes two hours of exclusive access from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. The movie starts after sunset and can be watched while floating on an inner tube. Tickets can only be purchased online at www.sailfishsplash.com/buy and are expected to sell out. Because this is a special event, season passholders need to purchase tickets. For more information, call 772-320-3100.
Party with a purpose in historic downtown Vero Beach Saturday at the second annual Burgers & Brews Festival — An American Heritage Celebration.
The event is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. along 14th Avenue and starts with Indian River County’s Best Burger Competition and slider tasting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside the Heritage Center. Buy a punch card in advance for $30 or $35 at the event to sample 10 sliders and two beverages from chefs at local restaurants including Osceola Bistro, Southern Social, The Patio Seafood Tavern and 14 Bones.
The event’s street festival is from 1 to 7 p.m. and is free to the public and features free music with Ladies of Soul and Tom Jackson Band, family-friendly games, a dunk tank, specialty cuisine and more. The event is a fundraiser for United Against Poverty, which helps people with food, crisis care, job training and more and last year about $25,000 was raised.
Learn more at www.burgersandbrewsirc.org or call 772-564-9365.
Summer Crush Vineyard and Winery is having its annual Red, White & Bluegrass Music Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Tampa-based Highway 41 Band and the Hot Sauce Boys from Stuart will perform Saturday. On Sunday, The Coppertones from Fort Lauderdale and Melbourne’s Penny Creek Bluegrass Band take the stage.
The Fort Pierce winery is at 4200 Johnston Road and the festival will go on rain or shine. There also are lawn games including corn hole, disc golf, shuffleboard and more.
Because July is the winery’s fifth anniversary, there won’t be an admission fee for the festival but a $2 donation is requested to support featured charities, Trident House for Navy Seals and the Port St. Lucie Marine Corp Auxiliary.
For more information, go to www.summercrushwine.com or call 772-460-0500.
***Fourth of July***
pay attention to the dates as these are all different- from the 1st to the 4th!!!
Tradition celebration: 4-9 p.m. July 1. <<<<<<Free children’s games and activities, balloon water toss, hula hoop, spoon and egg race, sack race, bounce houses, craft vendors and more. Fireworks at 9 p.m., weather permitting.
Stuart Community Concert Band: "Independence Spectacular." 3 p.m. July 1<<<<. Blake Library, 2351 S.E. Monterey Road, Stuart; www.stuartcommunityconcertband.org
Music at the Mansion: Fourth of July event. 4-7 p.m. July 2.<<<< Indian RiverSide Park, 1707 N.E. Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach; www.martin.fl.us
Stuart fireworks: There will be live music, featuring Quick Fix, on the Riverwalk Stage in downtown Stuart as part of the Rock’n Riverwalk Concert series from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. The fireworks will start promptly at 9 p.m. ON JULY 4th Learn more at City of Stuart - Home.
Freedomfest: The family-friendly event is 2 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at Port St. Lucie Civic Center, 9221 S.E. Civic Center Place. There’s a VIP party from 7 to 9:30 p.m. featuring a buffet in the Emerald Ballroom and front row fireworks seating, which costs $30 for adults, $10 for kids ages 4 to 12 and is free for kids under 3. For more information, call 772-807-4488 or go to Port St. Lucie, Florida | Events calendar | City news | City Departments | Official Website.
Stars over St. Lucie: The Fourth of July celebration is from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Fort Pierce City Marina Square. There will be music by the Air National Guard Band, a 40-piece military band, food, beer with the fireworks starting at 9 p.m.
St. Lucie Mets game: The St. Lucie Mets take on the Charlotte Stone Crabs at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at First Data Field, 525 N.W. Peacock Blvd., Port St. Lucie. There will be fireworks after the game. Buy tickets at the First Data Field box office or at The Official Site of The St. Lucie Mets | stluciemets.com Homepage. For more information, call 772-871-2115.
Fourth of July Celebration: Vero Beach’s annual Fourth of July Celebration is from 4:30 to 10 p.m. at Riverside Park, 3200 Riverside Park Drive, and includes a “Foodtruck Frenzy” and live entertainment. The firework show is scheduled to begin after dusk.
Sebastian Freedom Festival: There will be a parade, food, crafts, live entertainment, fireworks and more during the festival from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Riverview Park in Sebastian, U.S. 1 and CR 512. The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Sebastian Community Center and the Sebastian Masonic Lodge at 1805 Jackson Street. Learn more at Welcome to the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce - Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce.
Howl at the moon - Don’t be shy. Dancing and singing are encouraged during Riverside Theatre’s Howl at the Moon Experience, which features an interactive, dueling piano concert. Showtimes are 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Get there early and enjoy food, drinks and live music outside and Vegas-style casino games in the lobby. The Vero Beach theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Drive. Tickets range from $16 to $22 but there are special packages such as the Vegas Night Out for $50 per person, which includes a show ticket, one drink, one food ticket, one dessert ticket, $15 in Casino Dollars and a $10 donation to the Children's Scholarship Fund.
The US Sailing Center and the River Kidz have teamed up with local shops Saturday for a day of free family fun and water activities. The Summer Celebration on the Indian River Lagoon event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the sailing center at 1955 N.E. Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach. Ride on a sail boat and learn to use paddle boards. There also will be music and other activities. For more information, call 772-631-0362.
A Patriotic History in Pine Art features handcrafted characters made from pine cones, tree bark, cloth and metal washers depicting Revolutionary War themes. The display is free to view from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, 2410 S.E. Westmoreland Blvd., Port St. Lucie. At right, Pine cone characters are seen depicting the Boston Tea Party.
There are lots of chili cook-offs but after 35 years of hosting them, the Boys & Girls Club of St. Lucie County has it down to a science. Last year’s “Best Chili” award winners, The St. Lucie Mets, will be back to defend its title against more than 30 other fiery competitors from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Havert L. Fenn Center at 2000 Virginia Ave. in Fort Pierce. Other competitive categories include best team spirit and fundraising. Guests are invited to compete for the Fastest Chili Eating in the South award and participate in other contests and games. Parking and admission are free. To taste up to six different chilis, purchase a sampler kit for $5 at the door.For more information, call 772-460-9918.
The fun is in the plunge at the annual Barefoot Beach Ball from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Waldo’s Bar & Grill at The Driftwood at 3150 Ocean Drive in Vero Beach. Guests dress in a combination of black tie and beachwear at this unique event and enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the beach decorated with candelabras. There will be drawings and auctions with several weekend getaways up for grabs. Kids in barefoot black tie attire also are welcome. Waterproof your smartphones and have the camera ready as the evening culminates in a sunset conga line straight into the ocean. It’s all for a great cause, too: The Vero Beach Lifeguard Association. There are a limited number of $50 tickets remaining, which can be purchased at Waldo’s.
The Walking Tree Brewery at 3209 Dodger Road in Vero Beach will celebrate its first anniversary Saturday with a day-long block party. It’s a family friendly outdoor event with kids activities, food trucks and special beer releases. Music goes from noon to 11 p.m. with Rivertown kicking things off. Then it'll be Jerzi, The Coppertones and East Harbor & The Leftovers. Uproot Hootenanny closes out the night. Outside beer sales will be cash only. Additional parking and shuttle service will be available from the grass lot across Aviation Boulevard on Piper Drive. For more information, call 772-217-3502.
If you like folk music or Americana, you’ll like The String Assassins. The band takes the Riverwalk stage from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday in downtown Stuart. Get there early to find a shady spot and shop the green market before the free show. Remember to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket. There’s usually a breeze off the river to help make the heat bearable.
Beat the heat with a free movie.“La La Land,” which famously did not win best picture at the Academy Awards in February, is showing at 3 p.m. Sunday at The Sunrise Theatre, 117 S. Second St. in Fort Pierce. The PG-13 movie starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone is a modern take on the classic Hollywood song and dance movies.Tickets are free and available at the box office two hours before the movie starts. There's a limit of four tickets per person. For more information, call 772-461-4775.
The two-day sprint for a limit of tasty crustaceans in warm Florida waters is nearly here. Scuba divers and snorkelers up and down the Sunshine State are in preseason preparation mode to get ready for Wednesday and Thursday, the dates for the state’s 2017 Spiny Lobster Sport Season.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about one of the most popular events on an outdoor Floridian’s to-do list:
Why is it called mini-season?
The lobster sport season — commonly called the lobster mini-season — is a 48-hour period occurring the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday each July. It precedes the dates that commercial lobster trappers can put their traps into the water, which is Aug. 1. The traps cannot be pulled until Aug. 6, which is the start of the regular lobster season for both recreational and commercial fishing seasons.
When does lobster season end? The regular season runs from Aug. 6 through March 31 of the following year. Many divers “forget” this is the case so there are virtually no crowds on area reefs from about Sept. 1 on. Remember this when we get that warm weather every winter usually around Christmas and New Year’s Day. How about fresh spiny lobster for Christmas dinner?
Do I need to be a certified scuba diver in order to catch lobsters?
No, but it helps. From the Space Coast south to Key West there are actually many coral reefs within a brief swim from the shoreline. Many of these are accessible at public beaches and state parks, too. In the areas off Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Hutchinson Island and Jupiter Island, some excellent reef habitat can be found in 15 to 20 feet of depth. Visibility is generally good in most years. The lobsters will be few in number, but can sometimes make up for it in size. The areas off the coast of South Florida have excellent natural and man-made reef habitats perfect for spiny lobsters. Scuba divers who can remain underwater for significantly longer periods of time than a snorkeler have the benefit of being able to thoroughly inspect under ledges and corals where lobsters like to hide. They can also work in spots out to about 90 feet relatively easily.
Do I need a license and what is my daily bag limit?The short answers are yes, and it depends on where you dive. Licenses required include a saltwater fishing license ($17 if fishing/diving from a boat or no fee if fishing/diving from shore) and a valid spiny lobster permit ($5) for Florida residents. Non-resident saltwater fishing licenses cost $47 for an annual, $30 for a seven-day license and $17 for a three-day license, plus the $5 lobster permit. The sport season daily bag limit is 12 per person if diving in Florida waters outside of Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, and six per person inside those areas. During the regular season, the daily bag limit is six per person throughout the entire state.
What other restrictions are there? Several. First, lobsters must have a carapace which measure longer than 3 inches in length. The carapace is the head section and it must be measured from between the eyes to where the carapace joins the tail. Each lobster must be measured in the water. Each diver must carry a measuring device in the water. Lobsters must remain in whole condition until they are brought to land. Lobsters bearing eggs may not be removed from the water at all. Divers in Monroe County may not dive at night during the miniseason. Divers may not dive for lobsters in Everglades National Park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and in the Biscayne Bay/Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary during both the twoday sport season and regular season. Also, daily bag limits may not be shared or transferred between divers and tey are enforced on and off the water.
What happens if I get pinched by a lobster claw? Spiny lobsters have no claws like their Maine cousins. But they are spiny, which makes them hard to handle without thick gloves, so be prepared. Also, the tail is pretty much the only part which is eaten by humans. Sometimes the knuckles of the antenna and legs are large enough to get a little meat out of them.
What other tools do I need? A tickle stick, a measuring device and a mesh bag with a top which is easy to open and easy to keep closed. A tickle stick is a fiberglass stick about two feet in length which can be inserted under a ledge or coral head to “tickle” the lobster from behind and trick it into coming out into the open where it can be grabbed on the sea floor, measured and put into a net.
What else is good to know about lobster diving? It’s fun, but it requires a lot of swimming and that can tax a person physically. Each year, one or two lobster divers suffer incidents or accidents, and some lose their lives. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, about 280,000 lobster permits are paid for each year, although many never go. In 2015, an estimated 60,000 divers statewide went out during lobster mini-season with nearly 40,000 in the Florida Keys. As for divers, the red dive flag with the white diagonal stripe is a warning that divers are down underwater. Boaters are required to remain more than 300 feet away from a boat with a dive flag in open water, and divers must remain that close to their vessel when underwater.
For complete regulations and more, go to MyFWC.com/lobster.
IF ANYONE HAS LOBSTERS THEY DON'T WANT....PLEASE FIND ME!!!
Last edited by FlaLadyB; 07-21-2017 at 09:35 AM..
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