The FLORIDA Stone Crab | Midwest Beach Bums

The Florida stone crab (Menippe mercenaria) is found in the western North Atlantic, from Connecticut to Belize, including Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Stone Crab season runs October 15th thru May 16th.

Both claws of a stone crab may be harvested lawfully if they are of legal size. Although it is currently lawful to harvest both of a stone crab’s claws, this practice leaves the stone crab with few alternatives to defend itself from predators.

Crab claws are generally sold in four sizes

Medium	Up to 3 ounces each	6 to 7 claws per pound
Large	3 to 5 ounces each	4 to 5 claws per pound
Jumbo	5 to 7 ounces each	2 to 3 claws per pound
Colossal	More than 7 ounces each	About 2 claws per pound

After harvesting the claws we boil them for six minutes with some Old Bay or Cayenne Pepper and then it’s off to an immediate ice bath to cool. We then dry them off completely and freeze. About 24 hours before we eat them we let them slow thaw in the refrigerator. ( Awesome with Grilled Steak )

There are several dipping sauce recipes available online. We just eat them plain since they are so f&*ki#g good. The stone crab is one of the most expensive seafood’s around.

We are fortunate enough to live right on the water which allows us to trap from our boat dock. Below is a picture of a puffer fish that was in our trap.