Adventure Details:

Strapping on fins and a snorkel, we headed out to one of my secret shore locations. Did you really think I was going to tell you all of my secret spots? The water was slightly murky as a recent storm had passed through the day before and limited my visibility to only 6-7 feet. Normally clarity is measure in 60-100 feet. Swimming outwards we followed the sea grass and sand until locating a rock wall where the water went from 8 foot to 10-12 foot and then more sand. With each breath I would dive downwards and slowly peak into the cutbacks and holes of the wall. I was ever searching for antenna hanging out into the open. Trying to stay down as long as I could I was glad that I had never smoked. This meant i could stay down longer and sneak up on the lobsters without scaring them deep into these holes. I've had cases where large lobsters would press themselves so firmly into the holes that there was no way of getting past the spines on the antenna or pointed horns. One trick that I did learn was that lobsters are very curious creatures. If you slowly move to where they are hiding and don't make any sudden movements then they will often stay in place. If you really the lobster to come further out of the hole, try slowly wiggle your fingers as if waving at them. The moving fingers are either too interesting to pass up or may look like food that the lobsters will try to feel them with their antennas. Resist the temptation of trying to grab the antenna because they are covered in small spines and will break away from the lobster. As they come out of their holes however you can slide your other hand slowly behind the tail. This is when you make your move. Hold on for a fight!

Swimming along the wall I had caught 2 other lobsters and had seen many smaller lobsters. Usually the lobsters are grouped together in the areas offering the best cover and protection, so if you find one lobster make sure to look deeper into the hole to make sure there are not others.Back to the Top

Huge Pair of Antennas :

After an hour of searching methodically each hole I came around a corner of the wall I was surprised by a pair of antenna that dwarfed any that I had ever seen. Slowly working my way towards where the antennas were poking out I saw the massive size of the lobster. This was not one of the deep dark holes that so many of the other lobsters hid in, but a big wide open L shaped hole with the top of the L facing towards the surface and the bottom facing alone the wall. Frozen by the size I watched the lobster moving its antennas. It was at this point, I realized that I was quickly running out of breath. The excruciating pain as my lungs ran out of air was countered by my desire to stay watching the lobster. I worried that if I left for air that I would dive back down and realize the lobster had escaped or vanished. Eventually, my lungs won and I rose to the surface hyperventilating. Two deep breaths and again I headed back towards where the lobster was hidden. I was relieved to see that my mind had not imagined the lobster. Waving my fingers the lobster slowly came forwards. Slowly, I slide my hand past the antenna and behind the horns towards the tail. With a quick grab I found my hand being thrown into the side of the walls as the lobster violently thrashed its tail and speared my arm with its antennas.Back to the Top

Four and a half foot arm length :

After a short battle I pried the lobster away from the hole and watched as the legs spread open. The span was close to my own arm span and measured over 4 feet wide. Even with my other hand coming to the rescue I could still not completely enclose around the body! I was surprised by the girth of the head. Slowly, I rose from the ledge holding onto the lobster. Reaching the surface I took another breath and opened my holding bag. I wish my expressions had been recorded as I looked at the lobster then at the bag and then back at the lobster. From all of my other experiences around Florida this should have been the simple part of putting the lobster into the safety of the bag and going home. I laughed as there was no way the lobster was going to fit inside. I did not need a bag but instead needed the backseat of a car to hold this lobster. Being relatively close to shore I started kicking.Back to the Top

Lobster Attack:

Back at the condo my roommate was terrified by the size. For him to even come close enough to video record was a challenge and afterwards I could not help but chase him. Outside on the porch he grabbed a deck chair as if to fight off a lion. Hope you enjoy the video!

Where did the claws go?:

One of the biggest questions I have received about this lobster is what happened to the claws? While it may look similar to the Maine lobster they are not even remotely related. Spiny lobsters are a member of the family Panlinurus. They are also called crayfish by the Australians, but this term again does not mean they are related to the freshwater crayfish often found in lakes. The main differences between the species are the huge claws, spiny antenna and geography. On a Maine lobster the first set of legs have developed into massive claws that are used for protection and foraging for food. Thankfully the spiny lobster does not have these claws, but the spines on the antenna and body can cause serious pain and damage if grabbed incorrectly. The spiny lobster is also found in warm water environments of Florida, the Caribbean, Africa, and are most prolific in Australia while the Maine lobster is limited to areas of cold water like the northeast Atlantic. The one thing that does compare between the two species is the taste. Spiny lobsters are actually the main export for the Bahamas. Back to the Top

Conservation and Management :

There is only one way for lobsters to ever get this big and that is through constant management and regulation. The Cayman Islands have done a remarkable job of protecting their natural aquatic resources by limiting shore fishing to catch and release for tourists and also regulating the seasons for conch and lobster. Plus the added difficulty of no scuba diving or gloves while looking for lobster. You will come up with a couple of scars each time you try to catch a lobster this way.Back to the Top

DID I EAT IT?:

Many of you have also asked if I ate the lobster. Yep I sure did. I believe in the practice of constant renewal and sustainability. The populations of Spiny lobster are thriving in Grand Cayman. Shortly after returning to the condo and filming the lobster, I wrapped it in a damp cloth and placed it into the freezer to kill it. Lobsters are exothermic and can only sense drastic temperature changes. The most humane way of killing a lobster is to either place it into a pot of water and then boil it or to put it into the freezer wrapped in a damp cloth. Each will cause a gradual change of temperature. Afterwards I took the lobster out and got ready for dinner.Back to the Top

How to prepare a lobster feast!

The majority of the meat in a spiny lobster is found in the tail section. Taking the tail in one hand and the carapace (body) in the other hand twist until the tail falls off. This will be the majority of the meat and many will throw away the carapace but I also remove the legs. The next section is to remove the digestive track. Breaking off one of the antenna find the hole located on the underside of the tail. By inserting the spiny antenna into this hole and pulling outwards the digestive tract will come out easily for removal. Taking a pair of sturdy shears or scissors cut a line along the middle top of the tail so as to only cut the exoskeleton and not the meat. Next place the tail sideways and push downwards on each section till you hear a pop. This will release the meat inside the shell. Turn the oven on to 350 degrees, place the lobster tail facing downwards on a cooking pan or sheet and along the cut you made add some melted butter. Allow it to cook for about 8 minutes. The trick to cooking a lobster is to make sure you do not overcook it!! So depending on the size of your lobster be sure to check on it routinely. Once the meat turns white it is pretty much done. At the same time take the removed legs and boil them in water. When they turn a bright red they are finished. After taking the lobster tail out of the oven, grab the meat with a fork and pull upwards so that it slides through the cut you made and comes to rest on top of the shell. Add a little more melted butter and a splash of paprika for color and serve. The rich sweet flavor is all your guests will be talking about!Back to the Top

Very Tender Lobster:

For this lobster I wanted to save the exoskeleton to be mounted so I cut out the meat and placed it on a cooking sheet with melted butter. By making sure I did not overcook it, the meat was very very tender and easily matched the smaller lobsters in taste and tenderness.Back to the Top

Ask your Question and Share your Story:

Please let me know if you have any other questions about this lobster or if you want to share your story join our Facebook group so you can upload pictures!

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