15 lb. Lobster - Big by Maine standards??? (home, swimming)

[ProdigalLobster]

Originally Posted by Fort Lauderdale mermaid

DISGUSTING! That's just nasty. Nobody from Maine would eat anything over 2.15 lbs. That's pushing it, depending upon the season. Send it out to Cali! If they're willing to pay those prices, God love em'.

AGREED!!! Down here I buy 'em live for an occasional treat, & usually the person at the fish counter goes for the biggest one in the tank. And of course they look so proud... 'over 2 pounds, there ya go!!' I hate to burst their bubble, but I always ask for a bit smaller. A pound & 1/2 is adequate & still yummy & tender.

[ADSLubec]

Get one thing straight they don't have "real" lobster in California or Florida. Their large shrimp have no claws like our Maine lobster.

The largest lobster that I have encountered were hunkered down in caves off Eastport. I have no idea how much they might weigh but thier claws are huge. One had a claw the size of my scuba fins. These bad boys or girls are scary to see and are intimidated by nothing.

I have also encountered huge lobster off Nova Scotia.

Alan

[ProdigalLobster]

Originally Posted by ADSLubec

Get one thing straight they don't have "real" lobster in California or Florida. Their large shrimp have no claws like our Maine lobster.
Alan

Well, of course not. Those are langostinos! I don't trust any eatery or pre-made food that claims to have 'lobster' (unless I'm in Maine where people know better). Fortunately, there are a few places where live lobsters are sold, so you can actually see what you're getting. But of course, I only buy those if they are clearly labeled as from Maine. Wonder if there is some certification the sellers could produce to prove they are indeed Maine lobsters, caught by Maine lobstermen?! That would rock!!

[BrokenTap]

Originally Posted by ProdigalLobster

Well, of course not. Those are langostinos! I don't trust any eatery or pre-made food that claims to have 'lobster' (unless I'm in Maine where people know better). Fortunately, there are a few places where live lobsters are sold, so you can actually see what you're getting. But of course, I only buy those if they are clearly labeled as from Maine. Wonder if there is some certification the sellers could produce to prove they are indeed Maine lobsters, caught by Maine lobstermen?! That would rock!!

Just look at the lobsters, if they are super spiny, then they most likely came from Maine.

[ProdigalLobster]

Originally Posted by BrokenTap

Just look at the lobsters, if they are super spiny, then they most likely came from Maine.

Lobsters from Maine are spinier even than those from, say, New Brunswick or Mass? Sorry if that's a silly question; it'd be very cool to visually identify the Maine ones, compared to their cousins from (not so far) away.

[AlisonL]

Years ago my brother caught one that weighed around 5 lbs. He was very proud of it and ate it himself. Don't know if it was tough or not, but do know it made him sick.

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by BrokenTap

Just look at the lobsters, if they are super spiny, then they most likely came from Maine.

SPINY? WTH is that? I've never heard that term used by a Maine lobsterman before. Florida has spiney lobsters.

[Maineah]

One New Years Eve in the 70's we had a 17 pound lobster from Massachusetts. We walked it from my neighbor's house to ours on a leash and cooked it in three big pots. Outside of a concrete-like shell the meat wasn't too bad. But the beer could have made it seem more tender than it was. It was fun anyway!

[BrokenTap]

Originally Posted by Fort Lauderdale mermaid

SPINY? WTH is that? I've never heard that term used by a Maine lobsterman before. Florida has spiney lobsters.

I can't explain it, but I can show you it. Maine lobsters just have a different "look" then that of lobsters from other places. Spiny may not be the right word per se, but its part of it. Spines, bumps, protrusions...Maine lobster's just look kind of rough I guess. As I said, I can't really explain it, but if you were to compare two lobsters, one from Maine and one from away, you would see what I mean. Then after that you could spot it. Its like telling a male lobster from a female lobster, once you know what to look for, its easy. Same thing with Maine versus away lobsters.

By the way, this isn't something I came up with on my own. My ex-MIL told me about it and showed me, and she owns a lobster pound. It was not even a Maine is better then them sort of thing. It was really an off hand comment. She showed me how to hypothesize a lobster too which is kind of cool. Impressed a lot of flats with that trick!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by BrokenTap

I can't explain it, but I can show you it. Maine lobsters just have a different "look" then that of lobsters from other places. Spiny may not be the right word per se, but its part of it. Spines, bumps, protrusions...Maine lobster's just look kind of rough I guess. As I said, I can't really explain it, but if you were to compare two lobsters, one from Maine and one from away, you would see what I mean. Then after that you could spot it. Its like telling a male lobster from a female lobster, once you know what to look for, its easy. Same thing with Maine versus away lobsters.

By the way, this isn't something I came up with on my own. My ex-MIL told me about it and showed me, and she owns a lobster pound. It was not even a Maine is better then them sort of thing. It was really an off hand comment. She showed me how to hypothesize a lobster too which is kind of cool. Impressed a lot of flats with that trick!

I don't think you've ever laid eyes on a Maine lobster! I fished lobsters for years. They don't have any spines, protrusions, bumps or any of the other crap you're describing! Florida lobsters are covered with spines, have diminutive claws and taste like crayfish. The Maine lobster's shell is smooth,green and has none of the things on it you describe unless you get an old one with a few barnacles on it!