2.1.2023
It’s no secret that New England is a seafood destination: Each year, thousands of people flock to the New England coast — and to Weathervane Seafood Restaurants — get their seafood fix.
By far, the most popular of our delicious and healthy meals featured on our extensive menus has to be the lobster — and luckily, it’s always lobster season in our restaurants!
Guests love satisfying their taste buds with the succulent and delectable lobster meat hidden inside the bright red shell of a freshly steamed Maine lobster. We get it. We love lobster, too.
So, because we’re essentially lobster experts, we decided to share some of our knowledge about our favorite seafood dish with our loyal guests. We’ve previously covered the anatomy of the curious crustacean, but here we’ll explain how the lobster season works, when lobster season takes place and what our guests can expect on their plates throughout the year.
Ready for lobster right now? Visit your local Weathervane Seafood Restaurant!
When Is Lobster Season?
The Best Time for Lobsters
Soft Shell or Hard Shell? That Is the Question
Maine Lobster Season
Best Months to Buy Lobster
FAQ
When Is Lobster Season?
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.
Regardless of the season, lobster fishing is the most active in the Gulf of Maine, which includes the Bay of Fundy and has the highest tidal variations on the planet, as well as cold, nutrient-rich water — perfect conditions, since lobsters like cold and salty water. In fact, the Maine Stewardship Council estimates that the Gulf of Maine accounts for more than two-thirds of the U.S.’s lobster catches.
The Best Time for Lobsters
It’s hard not hard to associate summer in New England with delicious lobster rolls, steamed lobster, lobster bisque — you name it! Some of the largest lobster counts from fishermen come during the warm summer months when lobstermen work around the clock to meet the demands of tourists and locals alike.
There’s a very good reason for this. Lobsters are more abundant during the summer season because they migrate closer to shore in warmer waters, often shedding their shells. After lobsters molt, they like to eat, and hungry lobsters are considered easier to trap. The type of shell a lobster has is also indicative of the time of year they are caught.
Find out what makes lobster one of the healthiest proteins.
Soft Shell or Hard Shell? That Is the Question!
A lobster’s shell does not enlarge, so in order to grow, a lobster needs to shed its
shell — a process otherwise known as molting that typically happens several times a year, especially between July and September.
When a lobster sheds its shell, it’s considered a “soft shell” until the new shell takes a few months to harden — at which point it will be called a “hard shell.” (Fun fact: It takes about 20 molts over the span of five to seven years for lobsters to become adults, and each molt takes approximately 30 minutes.)
Most lobsters caught between the months of July and late September are typically characterized by a soft shell. These soft shell lobsters are not as strong and are more difficult to transport live. Also, soft shell lobsters tend to have less meat per pound than hard shell lobsters. As such, soft shell lobsters are typically cheaper but most will argue that the meat is deliciously sweet!
Hard shell lobsters tend to be more abundant between mid-September and late November. Their shells are hard because they have yet to molt, and as a result are packed full of delicious meat. Because of this, hard shell lobsters tend to be more expensive.
Weathervane Seafood Restaurants prides itself on offering the very best lobster to our guests — no matter the season! Our menu includes delicious lobster dishes such as:
- Lazy Man Lobster
- Lobster Rolls
- Lobster Macaroni and Cheese
- Lobster Pie
- Fresh Fried Lobster Tails
- Single and Twin Lobster Dinners
For those feeling hungry, we even offer a meal featuring some of the largest lobsters we have in the tank. We call them “Sea Monsters”.
Maine Lobster Season
Technically, Maine lobster season is celebrated year-round with the peak in late summer. But according to the University of Maine, “fall is increasingly becoming the peak season” with many of the lobsters caught in summer and fall “processed or placed in enclosed ‘pounds’ located in many of Maine’s bays, which allows for a winter supply of live lobster.”
Best Months to Buy Lobster
While you can buy lobster any time of the year, you’ll find they are often less expensive in the summer and fall. But lobster prices will fluctuate based on weather and supply and demand.
FAQ
When is Maine lobster season?
Maine lobster season peaks in summer to late fall, but you can enjoy lobsters year-round in New England.
How much does lobster cost?
Prices will fluctuate based on seasonality and supply and demand. In general, lobsters are less expensive during the summer and fall months.
What is the difference between hard shell vs. soft shell lobster?
A lobster’s shell does not enlarge, so in order to grow, a lobster needs to shed its
shell — a process otherwise known as molting. When a lobster sheds its shell, it’s characterized as a “soft shell” until the new shell takes a few months to harden — at which point it will be called a “hard shell.” Soft shell lobsters tend to have less meat per pound than hard shell lobsters and as such are typically cheaper.
What color are most lobsters?
Live lobsters are brown or greenish, but occasionally you’ll hear about someone finding one in an exotic color like blue or orange. (Though the chance of encountering a blue lobster is about 1 in 2 million.) Lobsters turn red when they are cooked.
How many ways are there to enjoy lobster?
We’re glad you asked! While there’s nothing better than eating steamed lobster but you can enjoy also enjoy this tasty crustacean in a bisque, or in a roll.Our menu features lobster dinners (single or twin!), lobster pie, fried lobster tails, and the classic Maine lobster roll.
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