How to Harvest Stone Crabs
Stone crabs are sweet, delicate, highly sought-after crabs harvested primarily for their large claws. Stone crabs are found and harvested along the shallow waters along the Florida Keys during the season, which opens in October and runs until May 15. Stone crabs can also be found along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, but commercial crab trapping and harvesting is done almost exclusively out of Florida. Stone crabs can fetch a high price on the market, making stone crab harvesting a profitable venture.
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Instructions
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Purchase a boat. It doesn't have to be a large boat, since stone crabs are found primarily in bays with calmer, more shallow waters. You will also need several traps designed for stone crabs. These traps are weighted wire-mesh baskets that allow stone crabs to enter but prevent them from escaping. You can purchase these traps at a number of fishing supply stores locally or online (see Resources).
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Find your trapping location and bait your traps with whole fish heads or pig's feet. Drop your traps into the water and mark them with brightly colored buoys. Leave the traps in the water for an entire day. Harvest your stone crabs every other day.
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Return to harvest your stone crabs. Florida law prevents you from taking the entire stone crab. Remove the claws from the crab and toss the crab back into the water. A stone crab will grow news claws and can be harvested again and again.
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Return to shore with your bounty and sell the crabs. Restaurants along the Florida coast purchase stone crab legs in bulk and at a good price.
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References
Resources
Comments
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You must only take one claw at a time. Leaving one claw for the crab to feed and defend itself.
