Lauderdale-By-the-Sea residents and visitors know that the last week of July and beginning of August are some of the best times of the year in our little beach town…it’s the start of Florida’s lobster season! And what better place to hunt for spiny lobsters than here in LBTS, Florida’s Beach Diving Capital?
Unlike the Florida Keys, you can catch up to 12 “bugs” a day in Broward County (only 6 per day in the Keys) and dive for lobsters at night in LBTS.
We’re very excited that BugFest-By-The-Sea is back this year to kick off lobster mini-season (July 28-29). We’ll have food, live music, and of course, a competition for who can bag the biggest bugs. BugFest 2021 begins on July 27 with our Lobster Mini-Season Kickoff Party. Non divers and visitors may also catch our Lobster Chef Competition, Mini-Season Diver Awards party, and Diveheart Benefit Concert on the beach throughout the week. You may view a full schedule of events here.
Participating divers could win up to $10,000 in cash and dive gear, and those registered for the contest are automically entered to win some awesome raffle prizes, including a dive trip to the Bahamas or an Aqualung Legend Elite Regulator.
Not ready to dive down for bugs, but still want to take part in the festivities? No problem! Grab a bite to eat from one of our eclectic eateries, stroll through Town and enjoy some live music, and stop into one of our retail storesfor one-of-a-kind treasures to bring home.
If you’re unable to make it to LBTS for mini-season kickoff parties, give our Visitor Center a ring at (800) 921-2319 for help planning a stay at one of our beachside hotels (many are offering summer rates!) during the regular eight-month lobster season. Starting August 6, diver down flags can be spotted off our shoreline as excited lobster hunters dive down looking for bugs.
Remember to respect daily bag limits and be sure to have all the necessary licenses and permits before you head out. The Town’s two dive shops offer equipment rentals and charter boat rides to make it even easier to enjoy a day of lobstering.
Whether you’re visiting LBTS during mini-season or the regular lobster season, be sure to snap a photo of your lobster haul and tag us on Facebook and Instagram using #LoveLBTS and #DiveLBTS for an opportunity to be featured on the Town’s official feeds.
And relax… lobster season is here!
