Fresh Maine Lobster. Photo courtesy of Billy Kitchen.
What is the price of lobster in Maine? We are nearing the end of June and as the Gulf of Maine continues to warm up, the lobsters are becoming increasingly active and more and more are finding their way into fishermen’s traps. While we are not yet in the peak of the Maine lobster season, current lobster prices in Maine now include a shedder price (new shell lobster price) in addition to hard shell and select prices. The boat price of Maine lobster is currently $4.50 per pound for hard shell and $3.50 per pound for new shell in Cutler, where my family fish. The cost of lobster in Maine supermarkets is currently about $8.99 per pound for smaller lobsters.
The price of Maine lobster is likely to rise in the run up to the Fourth of July. Like oil, Maine lobster prices fluctuate in line with supply and demand, and demand for lobsters is always high around the Fourth. If you’re planning on serving lobster over the Fourth, here are some of the best side dishes to serve with lobster along with advice on how to steam live lobster.
And here is information on the price of Maine lobster in previous months and years.
Don Haiges says
August 12, 2017 at 5:34 pmI love your site, great information.
I have a cookout a few times a summer and can fit about 18 – 1-1/2 lb lobsters in my pot at one time. It’s a large commercial pot with the basket strainer.
I seem to have better results boiling than steaming with so many, or is that just my imagination?
Steaming seem to over cook the ones on the bottom.
Any suggestions on how to get better control on uniform heating and stop the over cooking of the ones on the bottom.
Thanks for you help.
Don
Christina Lemieux says
August 28, 2017 at 9:39 pmThanks for your comment. I agree that when you’re cooking lobsters in bulk (10+) boiling will give you a more even cooking experience. When I steam more than 5-6 lobsters in the same pot, I rotate the lobsters part way through to ensure they all cook evenly. It’s a bit of a pain but the only way I’ve found to ensure they all get cooked properly.
Randy Emery says
September 20, 2017 at 7:42 amI’m a twenty year Navy veteran who grew up in Buxton, Maine and was fortunate enough to serve a few years in Winter Harbor, Maine. My family and I miss the days when we could pay boat price for lobster. We currently live in Virginia Beach, Virginia and look forward to the day we can retire and return to the REAL people of Maine. Could you point me in the right direction where I can buy a couple dozen hard shell lobsters and have them shipped to our home? I’d rather do business with the fishermen and not all the middle guys.
Christina Lemieux says
September 22, 2017 at 5:50 pmThank you for your service! I was just speaking with a work client the other day about the navy station in Winter Harbor. And I agree, it’s nice to do business with a fisherman / fishing family. I’d recommend Dorr’s as they are a fishing family and have expanded into the lobster shipping business. They’re also from Downeast Maine! Let me know how you get on. All the best.