Top 7 Oldest Lobsters In The World

Lobsters are crustaceans belonging to the family Nephropidae, known for their longevity, among other unique characteristics. While most lobsters harvested for consumption are relatively young, there have been some incredible discoveries of exceptionally old individuals.

The exact age of the oldest lobsters can be challenging to determine precisely, but some individuals are estimated to be over a century old. Lobsters grow throughout their lives through a process known as molting. They shed their exoskeleton periodically and then quickly harden a new one. As lobsters grow older, the frequency of molting decreases.

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Here we would like to share with you the top 7 oldest lobsters in the world to ever live.

7. Patrick (>50 Years Old)

Credit: Metro

Patrick's story was a captivating one. He had been discovered by a group of fishermen off the coast of Plymouth back in 2012. Patrick was a giant lobster caught by Devon, an English fisherman who was headed to Spain to sell the lobsters.

But Devon thought that the lobster looked too old to be cooked and decided to hand over Patrick to the Bristol Aquarium. But despite Patrick's old age which is estimated to be over 50 years old, he is still in good condition.

Patrick weighed 4.5kg at the time of his capture and given that lobsters have a lifespan of over 60 years, Patrick ranks as one of the most elderly lobsters in captivity, although he is not the largest ever captured in terms of weight.

6. Large British Lobster (>50 Years Old)

Credit: BBC

Quite a fairly sizeable lobster like Patrick was caught by fishermen in Bracklesham Bay off West Sussex in 2011. Marcus Hyde was the person behind it and he thought that the lobster was rather unique and too old to be consumed.

He then decided to give it away to the Blue Reef Aquarium in Portsmouth where he will spend most of its days. The lobster was measured at 1m in length and weighed 4.5 kg at the time of its capture.

They estimated the lobster to be over 50 years old and he would be a perfect addition to the aquarium's collection.

5. American or North Atlantic Lobster (~100 Years Old)

Credit: Guinness World Records

The Guinness Book of World Records archive states that the title of the world's heaviest marine crustacean belongs to a lobster captured off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. This colossal crustacean weighed an astonishing 44 lbs 6 oz and was snared on February 11, 1977.

While there are no officially recorded details regarding its age, the Maine Department of Marine Resources estimates that it could have been around a century old. Judging by size and age assessments of other lobsters in the same category, it's quite likely that this lobster was more than a century old.

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Notably, American lobsters also stand as the heaviest among all living arthropods, a category that includes spiders, scorpions, and similar creatures.

4. Maine's Largest Lobster (>100 Years Old)

Credit: WHOI

Very little information is available regarding the colossal lobster that was captured in Maine back in 1926. It is reputed to be the largest lobster ever caught, weighing in at an impressive 23 kilograms.

Typically, scientists determine a lobster's age by its size, which suggests that this particular lobster was at least 100 years old, if not considerably older than any other lobster on the record. Unfortunately, no efforts were made to ascertain its exact age at the time of capture.

The sole remaining details about this unique lobster are derived from a single photograph. According to the image, it measured 33 inches in length from nose to tail, and its claw span extended a remarkable 50.5 inches.

Regrettably, it suffered damage during transportation, and it is possible that its preserved remains now reside in the private museum of an individual named Charles Q. Eldredge in Mystic, Connecticut.

3. Larry (~110 Years Old)

Credit: Evening Standard

Larry the Lobster was named after a lifeguard in the cartoon, Spongebob Squarepants after it was spared from being turned into food. The event took place in 2016 after the lobster found himself at the Tin Fish Restaurant when the proprietor, Joe Melluso, learned from his seafood supplier that a 15-pound lobster had been caught.

This impressive specimen caught Melluso's attention, prompting him to purchase Larry to serve him as a delectable dish at his restaurant. However, Larry's fate turned unexpectedly when a local news outlet shared a photograph of the lobster on its Facebook page.

Amir Rossi saw the image and felt a deep desire to rescue Larry from his culinary destiny. Rossi, along with his friends, collectively contributed $300 to arrange for Larry's transportation to Maine, where he could be set free. Melluso was profoundly moved by the group's compassionate efforts to save the lobster.

2. Louie (~132 Years Old)

Credit: NY Post

Louie the Lobster had spent approximately two decades residing in a tank at Peter's Clam Bar in Hempstead, New York, before the restaurant's owner, Butch Yamali, made the decision to set him free. The release took place near the Atlantic beach reef as a tribute to National Lobster Week.

Yamali's choice to release Louie stemmed from a remarkable offer he received from a customer who was willing to pay $1,000 to dine on the lobster during Father's Day. However, Yamali declined this lucrative offer because he regarded Louie as akin to a cherished pet. Consequently, he granted the lobster a form of "amnesty" and opted for his release.

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Bob Bayer, the executive director of the Lobster Institute in Maine, expressed confidence that Louie would fare well in the wild, despite his extended period of captivity. According to Bayer, "There aren't many predators who want to eat a big old lobster like that," emphasizing the lobster's chances of thriving in its newfound freedom.

1. George (~140 Years Old)

Credit: The Telegraph

In 2008, George, an American lobster, garnered national attention as he was believed to be the oldest lobster ever captured. Although his weight was not officially determined through scientific means, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and Keith Valenti, the restaurant manager responsible for George's care, estimated his age at around 140 years based on his size.

Valenti clarified that a lobster's age can be approximated based on its weight, with each pound typically corresponding to about seven to ten years of age. George was initially captured in Newfoundland, Canada, but he found himself in the possession of the City Crab and Seafood restaurant, where he was kept in a tank.

The lobster's remarkable size did not go unnoticed, catching the attention of two customers who, in turn, reached out to PETA. Subsequently, PETA persuaded the restaurant to release George back into his natural habitat. George was transported to New Hampshire, where a crustacean expert oversaw his gradual reintroduction into the ocean.

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