Miamians Out Early as Florida Lobster Mini-Season Begins

Fisherman hit the waters early as mini-season kicks off

Miami fishermen were up early Wednesday as Florida's lobster mini-season kicked off at midnight.

At 12:01 a.m., Lee McCall and his son-in-law Raymond Perez went to work.

"Diving at night is easier," explained McCall, a Miami native who's hunted lobster 45 mini-seasons. "It's the life."

They brought Perez's brother, Adam, for the first time. He spotted a five-pounder, and his brother caught it.

It's a "two-hander," said Raymond Perez.

"That's a lobster," said McCall, as his son-in-law showed it off. The trio took home 18 lobsters total. McCall plans to freeze some of them,  and he says they keep better than fish.

The mini-season runs through the end of the day Thursday. Hunters can take home 12 lobsters each, unless they hunt in Biscayne National Park or the Keys, then the limit drops to 6 per person.

Authorities said earlier this week that they'd be increasing patrols for the two-day mini-season.

They're also pushing for boaters to be safe.

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