Lobster age info?

[last cast lad]

Hi all, its been a while since I've been online, didnt even think I'd still be able to log on but her goes, was out on friday night and got my first thornie of the year a young un of just 2lb 2oz (so I didnt photograph it as I never expected to be online) but back to the task at hand. I also reeled in a Lobster, I've heard of them appearing on the end of a rod occasionally but a first for me, and this one was a clonker at 12lb 8oz and looked like something out of alien vs predator. So thankfully my camera shy fishing buddy agreed to do the honours for a photo.
Any idea what sort of age this thing might be the fish measure in the picture is 45cm for scale
thanks

[Tanglerat]

Big lobster!

[roger de dodger]

thats the biggest i have ever seen the only problem is what to cook it in

[Bass Dad]

I was about to say "they can't accurately tell a lobsters age" but I've just read now on wikipedia that they've discovered a way of doing it .

Quote "In late 2012 researchers found a way to accurately measure a lobster's age by counting rings left on the creature's eyestalk and a part of their stomach.[14]"

I've commercially fished for lobsters in the past and can't recall ever seeing one 12lb+ thats BIG.

It could be 30+ years old they can live a long time ?

[JOHN1]

Thats a beast of a lobster worth a fortune, i would not eat it myself biggest i had was 4.5 lb brought home to cook but did not enjoy it the same as the smaller ones i would have.

by the way why is your face obscured did you do something wrong

[last cast lad]

Thats a beast of a lobster worth a fortune, i would not eat it myself biggest i had was 4.5 lb brought home to cook but did not enjoy it the same as the smaller ones i would have.

by the way why is your face obscured did you do something wrong

Sorry should have made it clearer in my post, it is my fishing buddy in the photo holding the lobster (as I was shall we say a little apprehensive about holding it up with its legs and secound set of pincers in reach of my face , it was one scary looking critter , too much like a big spider for my liking ) and he likes his annonimity on line, I dont think he has ever done anything too wrong to warrent being off the grid (unless he's not who he says he is ) but he was happy to hold the thing so I was happy to promise to obscure his face, its not just a very bright headlight.
I did consider keeping it but reckoned it could be a bit tough/sour being so big/old so it was safely returned, dont think there will be too many in swimming/paddling this time of year so it should find its way back home before it scares anyone else

[JOHN1]

Thats fair enough lad to be honest you were probably right giving you mate the job you could easily lose a few digits if you were to let that lad get a hold of you, fair play to you on tha catch and release of such a fine example of a lobster there are plenty of big lads about the reason you dont see or here of them is because they cant fit into the pots put out for them. well done again tight lines.

[chuckaroo]

huge lobster! some catch!
glad to hear it went back anyway... so that it can be involved in the reproduction of many more with its genes
heres an interesting quote i found online: A good rule of thumb to calculate a lobsters age is to multiply the lobsters weight by 4, then add 3. sounds a good estimate anyway? so that would make this lobster 53 years old
the quote came from a here: http://www.thelobsterguy.com/lobsterfaq.html

[blowin]

It might be worth asking a marine aquarium .

Fair play to you on its release

[pete]

That's as big a one as i've come across yet.

[fishfeatures]

that's a monster of a lobster, well done.

[alancro]

that things huge! never thought they would grow to that size. is there a specimen weight for lobster?

[last cast lad]

that things huge! never thought they would grow to that size. is there a specimen weight for lobster?

Specimen, now you've got me thinking

[roooster]

fair play for putting such a fine old creature back,your right it would of been quiet tasteless at that size & age....

[samo]

Stonker.

[bassboy]

That lobster is huge well done.great to see it go back in

[Eddiewamblambbam]

Stonker.

Sums it up superbly..

[Cormdogg]

Wow effin wow. That could be 20 years old. Records of 25lb lobster with estimated age of 40+ and in our waters it would be slow growing so Ill toss out the figure of 20 years plus! Did you sell it? How could you cook it?

[dave316]

Wow, maybe had something to do with the Japan nuclear disaster - lucky you didn't hook into Godzilla!!

[The Austrian]

catch of a lifetime mate, you can be very proud indeed!