How to Harvest Florida Stone Crab Claws

Tampa Bay area residents eager to take to local waters to harvest stone crab claws when the season kicks off next week will want to make sure they operate inside the law.

To that end, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has put together a handy how-to video for would-be harvesters to learn the ropes. For example, harvesters need to be certain the claws they go after are at least 2 ¾ inches in length. That measurement must be taken from the elbow to the tip of the lower immovable portion of the claw.

Stone crab season runs from Oct. 15 through May 15, 2016, for both recreational and commercial harvesters, Amanda Nalley, FWC spokeswoman said. It officially closes May 16.

Recreational harvesters may use up to five stone crab traps per person, but may not use any device that can puncture, crush or injure a crab’s body. A saltwater fishing license is required for children age 16 and up and adults, Nalley said. Exemptions exist for kids under 16 and adults age 65 and older.

“Harvesters are encouraged to take only one claw, even if both claws are legal sized, so that the released crab will be better able to defend itself from predators,” according to FWC’s website. “A crab that is returned to the water with one claw intact will be able to obtain more food in a shorter amount of time and therefore regrow its claw faster.”

There is a recreational daily bag limit of 1 gallon of claws per person per day or 2 gallons per vessel, whichever is less.

To learn more, visit the FWC online.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission