KEY BISCAYNE, FLA. (WSVN) - From a capsized boat to people being pulled to safety, day one of the lobster mini-season got off to a rough start, with several boaters and divers experiencing trouble on the water.
The two-day lobster mini-season began Wednesday at midnight, and while some boaters and divers returned to shore with a bountiful amount of lobsters, other hunters had their trip cut short due to emergencies out on the water.
“This year was really rough,” said a boater.
The choppy waters sent boat captain John Boxstingy back ashore.
“For me, the big thing is, everybody has a good time on the boat, and today was a little rough,” said Boxstingy. “We had a problem with our air buoy, so it’s like, ‘You know what? That’s divine providence; we’re coming in.'”
Boxstingy was now the only one with the rough start. About a half a mile east of Fisher Island, near Key Biscayne, two boaters were rescued after their vessel started sinking and capsized.
The pair were diving for lobsters when their vessel suddenly began to sink. Nearby boaters came to the rescue, and the sinking passengers were taken to a nearby dock, Miami-Dade Police said.
Aerial footage from 7Skyforce showed the boat overturned with its dive flag visible and a Miami-Dade Police boat on the scene.
The two divers were not injured.
7News spoke to one of the divers who said he is not sure why the boat capsized. He also said this was the first time they took out their boat for the lobster mini-season.
The boat and diving gear that was on board were a complete loss, which totaled around $18,000.
How the vessel capsized is unclear.
That wasn’t the only incident. Also near Key Biscayne, a boat caught fire as it was pulling up to the dock at Crandon Park Boat Harbor, just before 10 a.m.
The fire was quickly put out by Miami-Dade Police. No one was hurt, and the boat seemed to be salvageable.
Miles up north, off Sunny Isles Beach, units responded to reports of two divers that went missing. MDFR crews eventually located the divers and took them back to their boat.
Those divers did not need any medical attention.
North of the county line, a man in Hollywood had trouble breathing while diving underwater for lobsters. Broward Sheriff’s Office’s Marine Unit provided him with oxygen. Police said the man is OK.
At a news conference held Wednesday, officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission took the opportunity to remind boaters to exercise caution.
“We’re seeing a lot of boaters, a lot of people going out, a lot of fishermen, a lot of people diving for lobsters, and we just want to remind the public of the importance of all the safety equipment,” said FWC Officer George Reynaud. “[It’s] the reason why you want to have a dive flag check of your vessel and everything that’s necessary before you get out on the water.”
Over in Monroe County, there were reports of an man being airlifted to a Miami hospital after being struck by a boat propeller while diving. His condition remains unknown, and FWC is investigating.
Off the Lower Keys near Tavernier, a diver swam into a surprise — not a lobster, but a package of cocaine.
Despite the string of incidents, some boaters found their first day of the lobster season to be therapeutic.
Mary Martinez and her family were up early to prepare for a day of lobster hunting.
“We are hoping to definitely get some lobsters. It’s been several years since we’ve been out, so we want to be early birds. So far, so good,” Martinez said.
For the family, it’s been 15 years since they’ve been on the water but Martinez said she is ready to catch a big bounty and make some memories.
“First of all, there is just something about the ocean, right, and being out her at this time and seeing the sunrise, it’s very calming, and then, of course, it’s like the hunt,” she said.
There are several rules that harvesters must follow, which include measuring the lobster, checking if it has eggs, there cannot be hooking or spearing of any kind, and boaters must have a dive flag and remain vigilant.
“Make sure they’re maintaining a sharp lookout. It’s just more boaters out on the water, more people,” said Reynaud.
Mini-season will end at midnight on Thursday. The regular Spiny Lobster Season starts on Aug. 6 and ends on March 31. For more information, click here.
Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.