đŚ How I Freedive for Lobster in Cape Ann
A Walkthrough
I grew up in a beach town, so the ocean has always felt like home. But after moving to Boston, there was a long stretch where I wasnât spending much time by the water. Life got busy, and somehow the beach just slipped out of view.
A few years ago, I had a realization: there are beautiful beaches less than an hour from the city. Cape Ann, in particular, is stunningârocky coastline, clear water, and a surprisingly rich underwater world. I had no excuse not to get back in the water. I just needed to find a way.
That journey started when I tried scuba diving for the first time on a trip to Thailand. I got totally hooked. When I came back to Boston, I signed up for certification with East Coast Diversâshout out to them, theyâre fantasticâand started exploring local dive sites right off Cape Ann.
What I love about diving is how fully immersive it is. Youâre not just seeing natureâyouâre in it. It pulls you out of your head and into your body. Time slows down. The chatter in your mind quiets. You become aware of your breath, your movements, your surroundings.
Over time, I became curious about freedivingâsomething quieter, simpler, and more fluid than scuba. No tanks, no bubbles. Just you, your breath, and the ocean. And thatâs how I ended up here: slipping into the cold New England water, hunting for lobsters with nothing but fins and a catch bag.
Gear I Use (and Why)
Freediving in New England takes a bit of gear, but you donât need to go crazy to get started. Hereâs what I use when Iâm diving for lobster in Cape Ann:
𧤠Wetsuit
For freediving in late June through August, I wear a relatively inexpensive 5mm open-cell wetsuit with an attached hoodâ. Itâs warm enough for those summer months and offers good flexibility.
For scuba, I switch to a 7mm wetsuit with a 3mm hooded vest underneathâthe extra thickness is necessary for longer bottom times and colder depths.
You can also find great gear locally at Undersea Divers, another excellent North Shore dive shop.
𤿠Mask, Snorkel, and Fins
Fit is everything with masks. Try them on in-store. If a mask suctions to your face without the strap, itâs probably a good fit.
I use standard scuba fins, not long freediving fins, since most lobstering happens in 10â20 feet of water. The shorter fins are easier to maneuver around rocks and ledges.
đŞ Weight Belt & Weights
I wear 16 pounds, split across four 4-pound weights on a rubber belt. I also keep a clip on my belt for attaching my float line.
đŠ Float, Flag, and Legal Stuff
A float is essential for visibility and gear storage. In Massachusetts, youâre legally required to display a dive flag with your lobster license number.
You also need a lobster permit, which you can apply for here: đ MassFishHunt Permit Portal And you must follow all size, limit, and gear regulations listed by the state: đ Massachusetts Recreational Lobster Fishing Guide
Youâll also need a lobster gauge to verify legal size. Always check before bagging your catch.
đŚ Lobster Gear
- Tickle stick â Used to gently prod lobsters out of crevices without scaring them.
- Catch bag â I use one with a spring-loaded top that prevents escape. Itâs clipped to my float, not my waist, which keeps me more streamlined in the water.
- Rubber bands â I donât band lobsters in the water. I toss them into the cooler unbanded and band them at home before cooking.
𧤠Gloves & Booties
I wear thick thermal gloves to protect from cold and pinches. My booties tuck into my fins and help with warmth and comfort.
â Optional: Dive Watch
I use the Garmin Descent G2. Itâs definitely a luxury item, but I love it. It tracks depth, dive time, and surface intervals, and itâs helped me become a more aware and efficient diver.
Tips for Diving in Cape Ann
Cape Ann has some truly beautiful shore divingâespecially if you know where to go.
đ Entry Points
Look for sandy beach entries. Theyâre much easier and safer than rocky ones, especially if youâre carrying gear or the tide changes. I used to go for the rocky spots early on, but these days I opt for smoother access. It makes a big difference.
đ Tides & Conditions
If youâre hunting lobsters, low tide is your friend. It brings the structure in closer and makes it easier to reach ledges where lobsters hide. If you want to go deeper and challenge yourself, high tide works tooâbut youâll likely spend more time swimming.
No swell is best. Even light waves can stir up sediment and make your dive more difficult or dangerous.
Visibility is unpredictable. Some days you can see everything, some days you canât see past your hand. Just roll with it.
Water temps are most tolerable from late June through early September. In July, bottom temps hover around 60°F, but in early summer, it can still be in the low 50s.
You can check swell and tide conditions at: đ Surfline - Cape Ann Tides & Forecast đ MagicSeaweed - MA Conditions
đ¨ Breath & Equalization
Always breathe up on the surface. Take your time. Relax, slow your heart rate, and give yourself time to recover between dives.
Equalization is something you want to practice and get comfortable with. Personally, Iâve never had much trouble with itâbut thatâs not always the case. Take the time to learn the technique and keep it dialed in.
Training in a pool with static apnea or doing COâ tolerance tables is a great way to improve breath-hold and stay relaxed underwater.
đ Wildlife
Cape Ann isnât tropical, but itâs still beautiful. Youâll see rock reefs, kelp forests, crabs, starfish, small fish, and even the occasional sea bass or flounder. Thereâs a surprising amount of life under the surfaceâitâs not Thailand, but it has its own charm.
Tips for Lobstering While Freediving
Now for the main event: catching lobsters.
đ Legal Stuff First
You need a lobster license to harvest lobsters in Massachusetts. You also need to display your license number on your dive flag, carry a gauge to check each lobsterâs carapace length, and follow daily catch limits.
Apply here: đ MassFishHunt And read the full regulations here: đ Recreational Lobster Fishing Guide
đŚ Finding Lobsters
Look in rocky crevices and ledges, especially around large reefs. Lobsters hide in cracks and under overhangs. One of the easiest ways to spot them is by looking for their antennae poking out from a hole.
đ§ââď¸ The Catch
Approach slowly and calmly. Use your tickle stick to gently coax them out of their hiding spot. When the timing is right, grab them quickly and firmlyâideally by the base of the tail or just behind the claws.
Theyâll immediately try to reach back and pinch you, so itâs important to grab them from behind, where they canât get you.
𧺠Bagging
I keep my catch bag on my float, not on my belt. After surfacing, I use my gauge to check if the lobster is legal size. I also inspect the underside for visible eggs and check the tail for a V-notch, which marks a previously egg-bearing female. Both egg-bearing females and V-notched lobsters are protected and must be released immediately. If the lobster is legal and unmarked, I drop it into the spring-loaded bag. Sometimes they grab onto the edge or the float itselfâjust be patient and let them release on their own.
đ¨ Breath & Recovery
After that, I take a minute to breathe up, recover, and relax on the surfaceâgiving my body time to offload COâ and maximize dive timeâbefore heading back down for the next one.
Why Itâs Worth It
Even if you donât catch a single lobster, freediving in Cape Ann is its own reward. Thereâs something deeply peaceful about being in the waterâsurrounded by life, away from the noise of the world. Itâs one of the few things that truly lets me shut off my mind and just exist.
Itâs also invigorating. The cold water wakes your body up, and swimming is an amazing full-body workout. You come out feeling tired, calm, and alive.
Thereâs something incredibly satisfying about harvesting your own food. I do some gardening too, but itâs just not the same. Bringing home fresh lobster, steaming it up, and preparing a meal for friends or familyâitâs a powerful experience. People get excited when you tell them. You get to share something real.
This is only my second season of diving. In my first season, I caught a grand total of one lobster. I had no idea what I was doing. But with time, you start to figure it outâwhere to look, how to move, how to read the water. And the more you learn, the more fun it becomes.
So if youâre thinking about trying this, hereâs my advice: Take a class. Be safe. Donât push it too fast. Go into each dive with no expectations except to enjoy the ocean, learn something new, and be present in the moment.
Happy divingâhope this guide gives you a solid place to start.