No need to get crabby, stone crab season is back again!

Open season for the sought-after crustacean began on Oct. 15, with crabbers and fishermen heading out into the Gulf of Mexico to catch some prized crabs.

You are viewing: When Does Stone Crab Season End

Not sure of all the rules and regulations regarding stone crabs? We got you covered on all things stone crabs, as well as the recent changes from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Stone crab season in Southwest Florida:Hundreds attend annual Blessing of the Fleet in Everglades City; crabbers, clergy join in

When does stone crab season in Florida run?

In Florida, stone crabs are legal to harvest from October 15 through May 1.

How are stone crabs harvested in Florida waters?

The main harvest method used in both the commercial and recreational fisheries is a baited trap. Some recreational crab fishers collect crabs by hand (using scuba or snorkel gear).

“Most fishermen use traps. In the commercial stone crab fishery, traps are put out in long lines of up to 100 traps where each individual trap is buoyed,” the FWC says on its website. “Recreational crab fishers are limited to five traps per person and a recreational saltwater fishing license is required by the harvester.”

How do fishermen remove the claw from a stone crab?

Per the FWC, it’s recommended never to twist the claw. Instead, break down with a sharp, quick movement.

What happens to stone crabs after claws are removed?

Read more : What Does It Mean When You Dream About Fish Swimming

They will most likely be able to regenerate their lost claw.

Once a stone crab loses a claw or other appendage, it takes several molts to fully regenerate. Each time a crab molts it has the ability to regenerate the lost appendage.

However, a stone crab can only re-grow a claw if the diaphragm at the body/claw joint is left intact, as the diaphragm functions as a seal to close the wound and stop the bleeding. If the claw is not broken correctly and the muscle tissue is pulled from the body, officials say the crab will bleed to death.

Can both stone crab claws be harvested?

Yes, 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, the FWC says the practice leaves the stone crab with few alternatives to defend itself from predators.

What are the laws surrounding stone crab harvesting in Florida?

Some changes were approved by the FWC for crab trap regulations right before the 2023-2024 season.

In a meeting this month, officials said traps must include an unobstructed escape ring 2 3/16 inches in diameter for all recreational and commercial plastic or wood stone crab traps. According to the FWC website, these are the trap specifications:

• Maximum trap size is 24 inches by 24 inches by 24 inches or a volume of 8 cubic feet.
• Traps can be made from either wood, wire or plastic.
• The throat or entrance must be 5 ½ inches by 3 ½ inches.
• Throat must be no larger than 5 1/2 by 3 1/8 inches in Collier, Monroe and Miami-Dade.
• If the throat or entrance is round, it cannot exceed 5 inches in diameter.
• Round throats prohibited in Collier, Monroe and Miami-Dade counties.
• The trap must have a degradable panel that is 5 ½ inches by 3 ½ inches and is made of cypress or untreated pine slat no thicker than ¾ of an inch.
• For the upcoming stone crab season, an unobstructed escape ring 2 3/16 inches in diameter for all recreational and commercial plastic or wood stone crab traps is required, with no location requirement specified.

How do I register my trap for stone crab harvesting?

To register, the FWC asks those to visit GoOutdoorsFlorida.com and add the Recreational Stone Crab Trap Registration or the Recreational Blue Crab Trap Registration to your fishing license account.

Upon completion, each person will receive unique trap registration numbers that must be included on each trap along with the owner’s full name and address. Registration numbers for stone crab traps will begin with the letter “S”; registration numbers for blue crab traps will begin with the letter “B.” This information must be legible and must be permanently attached to each trap.

Read more : When Does Cod Season 4 End

“This no-cost registration will allow FWC to collect important information about these recreational fisheries needed for future stock assessments and management decisions,” the FWC lists on its website.

All recreational fishers aged 16 and older must register online before they start using traps.

What about regulations for those who harvest stone crab by snorkeling?

The FWC says the same laws that apply to recreational stone crab fishing with crab traps also apply to scuba and snorkel harvesting:

• Gear: it is illegal to utilize any gear that can puncture, crush, or injure the crab body, such as spears, grains, grabs, hooks, or similar devices
• Bag limit: each harvester may collect no more than 1 gallon of legal stone crab claws per day, with no more than 2 gallons possessed on board a vessel at any given time.
• Minimum size limit: 2 7/8-inch claw (73 mm)

What is the daily bag limit for stone crabs?

It is one gallon of claws per person or two gallons per vessel, whichever is less.

How do I measure a stone crab claw?

The size of a stone crab claw is considered to be the length of the propodus, which is the larger, immovable part of the claw.

Legal-sized claws are 2 7/8 inches or greater in propodus length. The measurement is taken from the base of the propodus, or at the joint of the elbow, to the outer tip of the propodus.

In general, male claws are larger than female claws for a crab of the same carapace (shell) size. The largest male claws are about 140 millimeter, or roughly 5½ inches long. The largest female claws are about 120 mm or 4 3/4 inches.

Can I harvest a female stone crab with eggs?

No, it is illegal for anyone to harvest claws from ovigerous females, which egg carrying crabs. Their egg sacs are known as sponges and they are easily identifiable by the orange or brown sponge the female carries under her. The sponge is revealed when the crab is picked up or turned over.

Experts say that all crabs should be checked for the presence of a sponge prior to declawing. If a sponge is detected, the crab must be placed back in the water immediately and unharmed. However, extended periods of time out of the water can damage the delicate eggs and cause a female to drop the sponge. Once dropped from stress or damage, the sponge and eggs will be lost.

How can I tell male snow crabs from female ones?

The best way to distinguish between male and female is to remember wide females and tall males. Female stone crabs will have wide round abdomen while male stone crabs will have long narrow abdomen.

Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHEN