Discover The Largest Lobster Ever Caught in Maine

Written by Nixza Gonzalez
Updated: August 28, 2023
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Lobsters are interesting creatures that can live a surprisingly long time. The lobsters we regularly see on dinner tables are between five to seven years old, but in nature, they can live for decades. The state of Maine is known for its delicious and large lobsters and its many fisheries. It’s filled with beautiful coastal towns, fisheries, and over 40,000 acres of wild blueberries.

With about 3,478 miles of coastline, you can imagine just how popular fishing is in the state! There are also over 4,000 small offshore islands. Lobsters are especially common in the state, specifically Maine lobsters. Are you ready to discover the largest lobster ever caught in Maine? Keep reading to learn more about these sea creatures.

About Lobsters

lobster

There are about 75 species of lobsters.

©MaryLucky/Shutterstock.com

Before we dive into the largest lobster ever caught, let’s learn more about them! Lobsters are a family of large marine crustaceans. There are approximately 75 species of lobsters, split into two types: clawed lobsters and spiny/rock lobsters. Typically, these sea animals have long bodies and muscular tails. It’s unlikely you will see one while swimming in shallow water since they inhabit deep burrows. The most common lobsters found in Maine are American lobsters, also known as Maine lobsters. They live in cold waters and have eight walking legs and two large edible claws.

Scientists believe lobsters live up to 50 years in the wild, but it’s hard to estimate their age. The oldest lobster ever, George, weighed 20 pounds and was estimated to be 140 years old! Lobsters also come in many colors. Although most lobsters are dark blue, green, or brown to blend in with the ocean floor, rare colors like albino, cotton candy, and yellow occur. However, they are usually released back into the ocean instead of eaten. Lobsters also have big diets and consume fresh food like fish, mussels, sea urchins, crabs, and sometimes smaller lobsters. They are very important to the ecosystem, and they have been a food source for humans since the pre-historic period.

What is the Largest Lobster Ever Caught in Maine?

Maine Lobster

Caught in Maine, the largest lobster weighed 27 Pounds.

©Breck P. Kent/Shutterstock.com

The largest lobster ever caught in Maine weighed an impressive 27 pounds! Rocky was caught in 2012 in a shrimping net and was roughly the size of a toddler. The fishermen brought the 40-inch lobster to the Maine State Aquarium. His size was astonishing, considering the average length of an American lobster is 8-24 inches. Elaine Jones, an education director for the state’s Department of Marine Resources, found most of Rocky’s weight in his claws. In Maine, you cannot keep lobsters longer than 5 inches from their eyes to the top of the tail. Rocky obviously surpassed this measurement and was released back into the wild.

Rocky surpassed Maine’s measurement for captive lobsters and was released back into the wild.

How Big is the Largest Lobster Caught in the World?

Although Rocky was an impressive catch, he wasn’t the largest lobster in the world. Instead, that title goes to a 44-pound 6-ounce lobster caught in Nova Scotia, Canada in 1977. This lobster was over 3 feet long and estimated to be at least 100 years old! Lobsters technically don’t stop growing as they age, but we still don’t know a lot about their growth limits. Although the largest lobster caught was 44 pounds, it’s likely there are even larger ones still in the deep ocean.

What is the Rarest Lobster Ever?

Blue Lobster

Because of genetic mutations, blue lobsters have a different color than others in the same species.

©Marentze/Shutterstock.com

Rare lobsters are a sight to see. It isn’t common to catch a blue, albino, or split-colored lobster. Because of genetic mutations, they have a different color than others in the same species. Your chances of catching albino lobsters are 1-in-100 million, while split-colored varieties are 1-in-50 million. Albino lobsters are white, but almost look translucent. Under the sunlight, they shimmer and glisten. Usually, they don’t live long because they don’t blend into the ocean floor, making them noticeable to predators.

Other Common Sea Animals in Maine

The Gulf of Maine has tons of diverse marine life. There are over 3,000 species of sea animals and birds along the coast. You can find at least 20 species of dolphins and whales at different depths. Along the coast of Maine, many boat tour companies are available to show tourists these spectacular animals! You have a good chance of spotting some marine animals in Bar Harbor, Portland, and Lubec, Maine. Common marine animals in Maine include:

  • Ocean sunfish
  • Atlantic codfish
  • Kelp
  • Irish moss
  • Plankton
  • Harbor porpoise
  • Humpback whale
  • Sperm whales
  • Orca whales
  • Seals
  • Mussels
  • Mink whales
  • Hermit crabs
  • Sea stars

The photo featured at the top of this post is © davemhuntphotography/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Nixza Gonzalez is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering topics like travel, geography, plants, and marine animals. She has over six years of experience as a content writer and holds an Associate of Arts Degree. A resident of Florida, Nixza loves spending time outdoors exploring state parks and tending to her container garden.

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