Gulf lobster

new to diving west central fl.was wondering how far out do u have to go to catch bugs?

If you drive to the East Coast you can find bull lobster diving from shore.

I could not comment on the west coast (unfamiliar to me).

Here in the panhandle we find them more regularly only when we are 30+ miles from shore. We do sometimes come across them in 60' 3 miles from the beach though. But I can't say for sure in your area where you need to be either... but come to think of it I can't say that I have seen too many pics of spinys unless they were from the middle grounds, elbow or other deep reef locations way out.

Any Tampa area hunters able to give the skinny on local bugs?

Lobsters are around in the Gulf, but targeting them is pretty tough. Usually they are considered a lucky mistake while we spearifish and happen across one or two. Same with slippers. Good new is when we do find a spiny they tend to be very, very big.