ISLAMORADA, Fla. — A person was arrested near Islamorada after Florida wildlife officers caught them spearfishing inside the Alligator Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area with illegal spiny lobsters.
Officers responded to the marine preservation area after receiving a Wildlife Alert tip reporting illegal spearfishing.
During a resource inspection, officers located the individual with a speargun and discovered two undersized spiny lobsters, including one egg-bearing lobster.
The individual is charged with several offenses: taking spiny lobster out of season, spearing spiny lobster, possessing two undersized spiny lobsters, possessing an egg-bearing spiny lobster, and spearfishing within a Sanctuary Preservation Area.
Florida’s 2026 spiny lobster sport season took place July 29–30, while the regular spiny lobster season opened Aug. 6 and runs through March 31.
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