Species profile
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Identify American Lobster (Homarus americanus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 7 jurisdictions.
At a glance
American Lobster (Homarus americanus) is an IUCN Least Concern crustacean regulated in 10 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 2 (Hawaii); the most generous is 100 (New Hampshire).
Across 4 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 3.3 in.
Confirmed by 3,040 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Nova Scotia, Maine, and Massachusetts the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- The heaviest on record weighed 44 pounds and was caught off Nova Scotia in 1977.
- They can live over 70 years, growing continuously throughout their entire lives.
- A lost claw or leg can be fully regenerated over several successive molts.
- Their blood is colorless when deoxygenated but turns pale blue upon exposure to oxygen.
Where American Lobster are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for American Lobster
Background
The American lobster is a species of lobster found on the Atlantic coast of North America, chiefly from Labrador to New Jersey. It is also known as Atlantic lobster, Canadian lobster, true lobster, northern lobster, Canadian Reds, or Maine lobster. It can reach a body length of 64 cm (25 in), and a mass of over 20 kilograms (44 lb), making it not only the heaviest crustacean in the world, but…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's American Lobster article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is American Lobster?
American Lobster (Homarus americanus) is an IUCN Least Concern crustacean regulated in 10 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for American Lobster?
American Lobster is Homarus americanus.
Is American Lobster regulated for fishing?
Yes — American Lobster has fishing regulations in 7 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify American Lobster?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes American Lobster along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.