Bug season uncertain but high hopes reign

A new lobster season opened today amidst high hopes from local fishermen that it will be much nicer to them than either of the last two seasons, and nicer to them than the just passed crab season.

Two years ago, the price on wholesale lobster was adequate for most fishermen, but the catch was off. Last year, the catch was fine, but the price was so low many boat captains remained at the dock.

Most of last season, fishermen got paid $3 per pound for spiny lobster. That barely paid the expenses of operating the boat for most of them. And because they couldn’t sock any money away for the lean times, they skimped on needed, but unnecessary boat upgrades and repairs, and replaced fewer older traps, leaving those who would do that work skimping on less money.

And while no one is really guessing what price commercial fishermen will get this season as opening day bursts on the scene, “It has to be better than last year,” said Summerland Key fisherman Bobby Piller.

“I’ve heard that it will be at least $5 per pound this year to open, maybe as much as $6 per pound,” said Piller.

For an operation his size, every dollar in wholesale price means about an extra $15,000 in income for the year, income he can turn into purchases for new traps, boat upgrades or repairs, and possibly crew to take some of the pressure off.

Piller puts about 1,300 traps in the water.

The reasons for optimism are many, says Fanci Seafood owner Bobby Holloway.

“We haven’t heard any reports of large amounts of tail still in the freezers to be pulled out and sold before the new crawfish come in. The market seems to be up from last year, and with more demand comes a better price,” he said.

Last season, Holloway could sell everything he got in from the commercial fishermen, but there were fewer traps in the water because the price was so low.

Crab season presented a different dilemma in that fishermen were having a hard time bringing in stone crab claws, and although the market was there, the lack of catch translated to less money for the boats even with a decent price at the wholesale docks.

“I could have sold twice as much crab if I had it to sell,” said Holloway.

According to Piller, early reports are that the lobster are there to be had, fishermen may just have to adjust a little to find them.

“We didn’t find a lot out west when we went diving during mini-season, but we did find some in the east, so we’ll concentrate there for right now,” Piller said.

He also said the lobster seem to be a little larger this year than in year’s past.

Holloway said he has already been told by his buyers not to even accept any soft-shell lobster this year because they will just be returned,

But, there’s a lot of reason for optimism as the new season opens, he says, not the least of which is that it looks as though any serious effects from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig spill in the Gulf of Mexico back in late April appear to be bypassing the Keys.

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said late last week that there is little chance heavy sheen or plumes will invade the waters off the Keys or more importantly the shorelines.

A combination of a counter-clockwise eddy current that formed in June and a shift to the west of the Gulf Loop Current are being touted as the reasons for that prognosis.

“Everybody is upbeat about the potential of this season after a couple of years of poor performance,” said Holloway.

The first bugs will be in this afternoon.

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