Rare ‘Cotton Candy’ Lobster Caught Off Maine Coast

Bill Kirby holding rare lobster. Photo/video capture with AI cleanup.

A rare “cotton candy” lobster, featuring a bluish hue and glowing genetic color mutation with astronomical odds of one in 100 million, was recently caught off the coast of Searsport, ME. According to an original report by WABI TV5 in Bangor, ME. The unique crustacean was hauled in by veteran lobsterman Bill Kirby, the owner of Kirby’s Lobster Shack in nearby Waldo, ME, who has been working on the water for more than 40 years.

Kirby credited his dedicated crew for making his long career possible, noting that a reliable team is essential for the demanding work. The historic catch occurred on what started out as a perfectly routine Wednesday. While hauling pairs of traps in favorable weather, Kirby and his crew were engaged in typical banter when they brought up the first trap. Amidst the standard dark-colored lobsters, the translucent, pastel blue-hued cotton candy specimen immediately stood out, appearing as if lit from within.

Upon realizing the rare lobster met the legal size requirements to keep, Kirby immediately took measures to ensure its safety. His priority was to protect the delicate creature and transport it safely back to the holding tanks at The Lobster Shack so the public could catch a glimpse of the anomaly.

Side-by-side with normal lobsters in a bin or tank, the iridescent creature appears quite unusual. “You’re looking at it and it’s one thing, you know,” said Kriby.  “But then I threw it in the tank with the rest of the lobsters, it didn’t even look real,”.

While you can sneak a peek of this magnificent catch at the Lobster Shack, it will not be available for purchase. Instead, Kirby hopes to donate the rare specimen to an aquarium. Through this donation, he hopes to inspire interest in marine biology while underscoring the critical importance of preserving Maine’s historic lobster industry for future generations. He emphasized that fishermen bear the responsibility of protecting marine resources so that today’s youth have the same opportunities to fish and sustain the heritage in years to come.