What is the best month to eat lobster in Maine? (2023)

What is the best month to eat lobster in Maine?

While the stalwart fisherman of Maine can be found lobstering pretty much year round, peak Maine lobster season is between late June and late December. That period is when the lobsters are most active. There are actually several types of lobsters that can be caught off the coast of Maine.

October, November, December. Next to late spring, fall is one of the best times of year to buy good, hard-shell lobsters. After Labor Day all the tourists have gone home and the lobster landings are at their highest.

Typically, lobsters retreat to shelters during the day, emerge from their burrows in the evening, have their peak of activity in the first few hours following sunset and gradually decrease overall activity as sunrise approaches (Cooper and Uzmann, 1980; Ennis, 1984b; Karnofsky et al., 1989).

Hard shell lobster season typically runs from November/December through June/July, while soft shell season runs July/August through October/November. The seasons are always an approximation because the lobster's shedding behavior is determined by water temperature.

Sky-high demand coming off the back of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the supply of lobster, were the reasons for it, Maine Lobster Dealers' Association Executive Director Annie Tselikis told SeafoodSource at the time.

The Best Lobster

Cold-water lobsters, particularly from Maine, are prized all over the world for their sweet and tender meat. Because Maine has warmer waters than Canada, their lobsters tend to be softer, allowing for more tender meat, and an overall better tasting lobster.

You might think this price jump stems from a shortage, but the supply of this crustacean has been going strong. Over the past 12 years, Maine lobster fishers have been hauling in close to or more than 100 million pounds annually.

Lobster Season is Only a Few Months

During the off-season is when you'll find that prices tend to skyrocket for lobster because it's no longer as easy to catch them. While May and June tend to see the lowest lobster costs, the price per pound tends to rise in late winter to early spring.

If any of the meat looks pale green or verging into a lime-white in places, the meat has spoiled and should be thrown out and not eaten. Also, frozen lobster tails that have spoiled are likely to have 'dry spots' or discolouration on the shell or meat, so inspect them carefully.

While many people think that bigger is better, smaller lobsters are actually sweeter in flavor. The smallest lobster you can buy in Maine will weigh around 1 and 1/4 pound. I recommend purchasing lobsters in the 1 and 1/4 to 2 pound range to get the best tasting meat.

How old would a 15 lb lobster be?

Melluso went with the theory of seven years of life for every pound —thus a 15-pound lobster would be 105 years old, give or take, he estimated.

You might also want to try seasoning your lobster with a subtle blend of classic spices like sage, rosemary, thyme and parsley or complement your meal with a French-inspired tarragon marinade or cream sauce. Refined flavors like mint and basil also make tasty additions.

With a yield of around 30 to 40%, you should plan on about on 1 1/2-pound lobster per person, giving you 6 to 8 ounces of actual meat.

The largest lobster ever caught weighed a whopping 44 pounds and 6 ounces! This lobster was an astonishing catch made in Nova Scotia, Canada in 1977. This enormous crustacean was around 100 years old according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources!

Lobster lovers can expect to pay in excess of $40 for a single roll at some of the state's most popular summer eateries. The average price is closer to $30.

It's also known as Maine Lobster. Here's the difference that makes Maine lobster the best: Cold Water = Better Lobster. The meat is much sweeter that lobsters grown in warm conditions. This is because the cold water keeps the meat from absorbing the salt in the water.

Maine is considered the seafood capital state of the United States for those that like lobster. The entire state is respected as the place that you'll find the best lobster in the country.

How old is a 2 pound lobster?

Most lobsters that you see in a grocery store or at a restaurant are at least 5-7 years old and weigh about 1-2 pounds. But lobsters can be much bigger and much older. They could live to be over 100 years old!

Lobster landings occur all along Maine's long coastline. Stonington in Hancock County is by far the port receiving the largest amount and value of this commercial fishery.

Lobsters are harvested year-round in Maine and New Hampshire. However, the majority are caught between late June and late December when the lobsters are the most active. Lobsters are also harvested during the winter and early spring months, but in smaller quantities.

The American lobster, Homarus americanus, is found in its greatest quantity in Maine, but can be found from the Canadian Maritimes to North Carolina. The lobster is a crustacean and lives in the ocean. At present, Maine is the largest lobster producing state in the nation.

Fresh lobster is a higher quality than processed or frozen lobster because it has not been altered in any way. If there is a time that you need to store, freeze or thaw your seafood though, here are some tips to preserve the quality and handle your seafood safely.

They're not cheap, however they are not overly pricey either. Typically they won't exceed anything over $20.00. I would say it's more about where you place your investment though. You could easily spend $20.00 for one that is a lower quality than one you could find for $11.00.

Conclusion: Why is Lobster Expensive? A combination of the lobster life cycle, over-harvesting, and food-safe technology have led to an uptick in lobster prices over the past few decades.

To break down a lobster, you'll want to shuck the claws, then the tail and head, then the legs. Avoid eating the shells, cartilage, and tail vein, as they're not edible and/or tasty.

What is the green stuff in cooked lobster? Is it safe to eat? The soft green mass in the body of a cooked lobster is a digestive gland, sort of like a liver and a pancreas combined. It's known to marine biologists as the hepatopancreas and to lobster fans as the tomalley.

How much does a 3lb lobster cost?

The Knuckle Meat is the Best!

Perhaps you eat other parts of the lobster that others never taste: the body, legs, or tail flipper. The tail and claws are easy to eat, but don't forget the knuckle meat within the shell between the claw and the body of the lobster.

Bigger lobsters give you a better yield, and the meat is no tougher than the smaller ones, unless, of course, you overcook them. You'll get a lot of sweet meat out of a two, three—even a six-pound lobster. There will be more meat as a proportion of total weight in a larger hard-shell lobster.

The world's largest recorded lobster was a 44-pounder (20-kg) caught off Nova Scotia in 1977, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Boston-based wholesaler Yankee Lobster Company, lists whole jumbo lobsters that weigh 6 pounds or more at $10.99 pound, while online retailer Maine Lobster Now lists 10- to 15-pound lobsters at about $20 per pound.

The Number One Sauce for Lobster: Garlic Butter Sauce

Garlic and lobster go very well together, as do garlic and butter. Blend them together for a tasty and simple dish. Other flavored butter can work here, too. Try butter flavored with other herbs, spices, and ingredients you love, like ginger or chili pepper.

Asparagus, broccoli, and green beans are some fantastic veggies that accompany lobster really well.

The World's Largest Lobster (French: Le plus grand homard du monde) is a concrete and reinforced steel statue in Shediac, New Brunswick, Canada sculpted by Canadian artist Winston Bronnum. The statue is 11 metres long and 5 metres tall, weighing 90 tonnes.

Where are most lobsters caught?

Most U.S. harvest is caught in inshore waters. There's a reason we associate Maine with lobsters—the state has led American lobster landings for over 3 decades. Massachusetts is the second leading producer. Together, these two states produce 93 percent of the total U.S.

The largest recorded Maine Lobster weighed 27 lbs!

A lobster's age is approximately his weight multiplied by 4, plus 3 years. A lobster is approximately 7 years old before it is legal to harvest, and it will weigh about 1 pound. A lobster has a greater life expectancy than most humans. A 25 pound lobster could be over 100 years old!

Lobster Basics: A 1 ½ pound hard-shell lobster will yield about 1 1/3 cups of cooked meat and are large enough for dinner portion. A 2 lb. lobster or deuce is normally reserved for special occasions.

Average eaters would be smart to purchase a two-pound lobster, also known as a deuce. This hefty lobster will suit the average eater while also being great for special occasions. They are a little costlier but well worth it. Those with a big appetite would be thrilled to sit down with a jumbo lobster.

Which lobster you choose is a matter of personal taste. If you prefer claw meat, go for a male. If you favor tail meat or love the roe, a female is the best option. No matter your preference, you're certainly in store for a decadent and luxurious meal.

Roe: The red stuff is the “coral” or tiny lobster eggs of the female lobster. It is found at the base of the body and along the tail. The roe is black uncooked, but the color can vary depending on the lobster's diet. Lobster eggs were once considered a delicacy, like caviar.

In fact, lobster is healthy for most diets, providing a good source of essential nutrients and protein. Lobster is a good source of phosphorous, which supports kidney function. It also provides more than 10 percent of your daily requirement for magnesium in a 3-ounce serving.

Year-round, although the fishery in Maine waters peaks in late summer, when both hard and soft-shell lobsters (also known as “shedders” or easy-shell) are available. Fall is increasingly becoming the peak season.

Where should I stay in Maine for lobster?

We recommend lodging options in Rockland, as well as the nearby towns of Camden, Rockport, Thomaston, Owls Head, Tenants Harbor, and Port Clyde. In each of these quaint towns, you'll receive the ultimate small, seaside community experience.

Lobster is a type of crustacean rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Adding it to your diet may be beneficial for weight loss and mental health and may help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Maine is considered the seafood capital state of the United States for those that like lobster. The entire state is respected as the place that you'll find the best lobster in the country.

The Freshest, Highest Quality Seafood

Maine's iconic seafood dish is undoubtedly the Atlantic lobster, but the abundance of seafood and seafood quality make it among if not, the best-tasting around the globe.