With their mouths watering, thousands of divers took to Florida’s waters for the southern US state’s annual 48-hour mini-season when lobster lovers can hunt for gourmet gold.

The two-day window allows fishermen to legally catch up to 12 lobsters per person per day, before commercial fishermen start their season on Saturday

State fishery managers estimate that on average more than half of the 50,000 divers who chase lobster during the mini-season head for the Florida Keys in south Florida.

With their license to fish and hunt in their boats, entire families take to the sea with special lamps and banners to hunt for the lobsters.

“I came up on one hole and they were all sitting right there,” said Christine Mathew, who caught five lobsters at Biscayne Bay. “The best part for me is to cook and enjoy it with family.” Like Mathew, most hunters during the mini-season plan to eat their catch said George Pino, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

A few hours after the season began at midnight, a 54-year-old man was killed while diving in the Upper Keys area. He had been diving with his son, according to Monroe County police.

The weather did not stop Thomas Edwards from venturing to Crandon Park in Key Biscayne to join in the hunt for lobsters.

Mr Edwards, who took home six lobsters, said he had a different type of scare. “I saw a shark very close. I broke off the antenna of one (lobster) and I tried to stab it, the shark, you know, to get it away from us. It was big, it could have eaten us, all,” he said.

Precautions were taken to warn other boaters to steer clear of areas where lobster divers were preying on their game.

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