The official stone crab recreational season begins Saturday, October 15 to the delight of many divers. The main method used to catch most stone crabs are in traps, but some adventurous divers will spot their holes and “hand-pick” them. Either way, there’s not much seafood better than a fresh crab claw dipped in butter.
FS member Lobstababe writes, “You’re permitted 5 traps per person with a valid fishing license and can take up to 2 gallons per boat per day. You can spot their holes in grassy areas in 2 to12 feet of water. The trick is to reach into the hole with a cupped hand and scoot them out quickly. Grab them before they crawl away! The hard part is not getting pinched. I don’t use my bare hands as I’ve seen some mantis shrimp and have no desire to get bit.”
To brush up on the complete laws and regulations regarding stone crabs, check out the FWC’s regulations page. One main question that’s often asked is, “Can I take both claws?” Both claws can be taken if they are of legal size, but many crabbers don’t. No claws on a stone crab leaves it without a means to defend itself from predators, and plus it makes it harder to feed. Leave one claw on a crab so it can more-quickly regenerate that second claw. That means more crab claws for divers in the future.
Share your stone crab stories with other Florida Sportsman members.
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