2-day Fla. lobster miniseason kicks off

MIAMI (AP) -- Florida's two-day lobster miniseason is under way with ideal weather conditions for spotting the sea creatures on the reefs.

The miniseason gives recreational lobster hunters a chance to dive before the commercial season starts Aug. 6. It runs from Wednesday to midnight Thursday.

Forecasts show there will be light winds and calms seas Wednesday.

Meanwhile, law enforcement officers will be making sure divers comply with safety regulations and lobster hunting limits. The bag limit is 12 lobsters per person per day except in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, where the limit is six.

Divers are also warned to lookout for lionfish, a colorful, candy-striped exotic fish from the Pacific with poisonous spines. The invasive creature's stings are painful.

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