Live lobsters can live for up to 24 hours in your refrigerator or cooler? Simply keep them moist with wet paper towels or newspaper at 33–40o F—they will suffocate when immersed in water or ice. Found throughout the North Atlantic, American lobsters are harvested in mesh traps from depths of 15 to 1,000 feet. They can range in size from “chickens” (1–1-1/8 pounds) to “jumbos” (more than 3-1/2 pounds). Regardless of size, consider banding their claws...even the little ones pack a mighty pinch.