Mary,

Well you're right, and I'm not a Marine Biologist.

BUT,

In Florida, it is a crawfish stamp on the fishing license, (at least it was about 15-18 years ago when I was fishing for them).

BUT,

When you scuba dive, and/or snorkel as I did, and catch your own Spinae lobster IN THE OCEAN, using a snare, or even better was a hand held net, and a 'tickle' stick.

You put the net behind, and tickle them, they quickly back up, and you'd better be hanging on to that net pretty gol darn tight when they hit it.

YOu had to have a little gauge with you, and know how to use it. The game wardens would check your catch, They still HAD to be alive when you were checked for size, and there could be no visible signs of injury, as in a spike hole, or you got fined.

The only lobster I've seen indiginous to that area though, is the Spinae lobster.

The 'mudbugs' I cook, are farm raised in many states. They are freshwater, and although 'big', MUCH smaller than a spinae lobster.

cheers