# Maine lobster, or Pacific spiny lobster?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-lobster-or-pacific-spiny-lobster/331334>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 16, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-lobster-or-pacific-spiny-lobster/331334 "2005-11-16T16:42:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-lobster-or-pacific-spiny-lobster/331334/1 "2005-11-16T16:42:38Z")

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[Inspired by this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=344959).

Which do you prefer: Maine lobster, or Pacific spiny lobster?

I prefer Pacific spiny lobster. No claws to mess with, and I think the meat is ‘sweeter’. Just tastes better to me.

But when I see lobsters in the market, it’s always ‘Live Maine Lobster!’ or else their frozen tails. I saw some Australian lobster tails at Pike’s Place Market, only it was $30/lb. and I can’t be spending $60 for dinner.

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**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-lobster-or-pacific-spiny-lobster/331334/2 "2005-11-16T17:12:34Z")

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I prefer Maine, because I think the texture of the meat is better and it has a fuller flavor. I’ll take either one, though, thanks very much.

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-lobster-or-pacific-spiny-lobster/331334/3 "2005-11-16T17:14:35Z")

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I’d wager it’s laregely marketing. Would you want to spend a day’s pay for a spiny anything?

Load up on whatever crustacean you can - the Dungeness crab season still isn’t starting as the processors are offering something like 25¢ less per pound than they paid last year, and the fishermen are demanding more than they were paid last year.

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-lobster-or-pacific-spiny-lobster/331334/4 "2005-11-16T17:39:26Z")

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largely marketing, that is.

The universe helped me confirm this just now when I stepped out to mail something. A truck was heading up the road, emblazoned with big red lobster claws and “NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER AND FINE FOODS”

If a San Francisco seafood monger is plugging Maine lobsters over the local stuff, there must be a reason somewhere. Probably just translates to more lobsters for those of us who don’t care a whole lot where they’re from, so long as they taste good.

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**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-lobster-or-pacific-spiny-lobster/331334/5 "2005-11-16T19:00:47Z")

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I’ve never had Pacific lobster.

Of course, I live in Boston…