The lobsters found in the Pacific are rock or spiny lobsters, not "true" lobsters like the ones found in Maine or Canada. For this crustacean, its all about the tail. Officially a member of the genus Panulirus; one of the most common types of spiny lobster is the Panulirus argus.. When it comes to size, Spiny Lobster take the prize. Rock lobsters, or spiny lobsters, are also often called sea crayfish (unlike the 'true' freshwater crayfish), crays, or langoustines. 6. The important thing is that they have differences in the taste of lobster meat. Nichols, who has been selling spiny lobster to the company for 12 years, said the it has a holding tank at its Marathon operation that can house 350,000 pounds of live lobster. With one flip of the tail, these critters can take off in the blink of an eye, leaving a diver bewildered and empty-handed. Shipped overnight to ensure maximum freshness. It is all of this plentiful meat that makes them, generally, the preferred type amongst lobster aficionados. Some of the best lobsters I had were Tiger lobster . The company was charged with violating the Lacey Act, a century-old statute that makes it a crime to submit false paperwork for any wildlife shipped overseas. Lightly boil for 10 minutes. The colder water makes Maine Lobsters tastier, not "fishy". They also have a rigid external skeleton that they molt or shed as they grow. - Spiny lobster is distributed mainly in tropical to subtropical seas such as Australia, Taiwan, China, Japan, Indonesia, - The popular size of Maine lobsters is 1.5lbs-3lbs. They are also called the "rock lobster," or "spiny lobster" and can be found mostly on the California coastline and the Caribbean. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. 2023 Diversified Communications. Photo courtesy of Rob Atherton/Shutterstock. Spiny lobsters are mostly found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the coast of Asia, the Caribbean Sea, and the South of Brazil. Between the spiny lobster and the Maine lobster, Maine is the biggest lobster. And Heierling would know. Elite reexported approximately 63,000 pounds of lobster and falsely labeled the product in shipping documents as Live Florida Spiny Lobsters, Product of U.S.A. In a similar violation, Elite acquired shark fins from a licensed fisherman in Florida and exported approximately 5,666 pounds of shark fins, falsely labeling he product either as Live Florida Spiny Lobsters, Product of U.S.A. or Frozen Fish, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Because of their high value and nutrition, they are often sold fresh. Spiny lobsters also often have white or black spots on their shell and their tails are often ringed with darker colors. Harvest of lobster is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the sport season and . Privacy Notice: We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. But these critters do get big. New England's mail order So if you are in a tropical warm water area you know with out a doubt that there will not be any Maine Lobster around. Spiny Lobster have antennae that are considerable larger and longer than their cousins the Maine Lobster. One look at both of these species side by side and you will be able to tell the difference. Rock lobster meat is a bit firmer than Maine lobster, which makes fine-textured Maine lobster ideal for delicate recipes that ask for that wonderful lobster sweetness. Technically speaking, rock lobsters are actually a whole family of 60 different crawling, water-dwelling animals. Instead of having big front claws, warm water lobster comes with a front set of legs that look like an oversized antenna. One specimen walked 78 miles over a 42-day period, and then ended up in the same place it started. Unlike the Caribbean spiny lobster, these other lobsters are "unregulated" meaning they do not have a minimum size limit or season; however, egg bearing females must be released. As a result of their soft meat and weight, they are considered the heaviest crustaceans globally. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. The shell of this type of lobster is usually shiny and has a characteristic color of blue with green. The average bug has a carapace (the shell that covers its body) length of three inches and weighs about a pound. They are about 8 to 24 inches in length and may have a mass of over 20kg (44lbs). //