Here's some facts about stone Crabs.
We'll be providing more information throughout November about these local delacaseas.
Look for interviews coming soon in our sister youTube channel, "Who's in the Kitchen?!", our facebook Groups for various East Broward County, Florida areas.
Browse the Beachside Directory for the best local spots to purchase your stone Crab meal!
WHEN IS STONE CRAB SEASON IN FLORIDA?
Stone Crab season lasts from October 15th to May 1st. The season is regulated to maintain the crab's population and to sustain the species.
HOW ARE STONE CRABS HARVESTED?
Fisherman catch Stone Crabs using baited traps with one way entrances. You'll see the floating buoys throughout the Florida Keys and surrounding shallow coastal waters during the season. If you're boating, steer clear so the lines don't foul your prop. Here's a picture of a typical trap:
WHAT'S THE LAW?
In Florida, it is illegal to harvest the whole stone crabs. Licensed fishermen (and women) remove one claw and then return the crab to the sea. State laws regulate the length of the claws that fisherman are allowed to remove. The claw must be at least 2 and 3/4 inches long. During the selection process the harvesters can take one or both claws but must remove them carefully and correctly for regeneration to occur. It takes stone crabs one to three years to regrow their claw to the same sizes.
Stone crabs are almost all from Florida and are one of the state's top commercial seafood products.
Some FACTS ABOUT STONE CRABS:
Here are some additional facts about Florida's Stone Crabs:
- Stone crabs have a diet of oysters, various small mollusks, and sea worms.
- Stone crab claws have incredible power - approximately 20,000 pounds per square inch of crushing ability.
- The crabs use their movable pincer to cut or tear their prey.
- Besides humans octopus are the primary natural predator of stone crabs. Others include the Florida horse conch, sea turtles, and large fish.
- Stone crabs are typically right-handed with the larger crusher claw on the right.
- The females can lay a million eggs at a time, although few survive.
- Females can be indentified by their wider, rounder bodies than males.
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