The recreational and commercial stone crab harvest season starts Oct. 15 and will remain open through May 1, closing May 2.
The minimum claw size limit is 2 7/8 inches.
Recreational harvesters 16 and older must complete an online registration each year at gooutdoorsflorida.com.
Other tips and regulations:
- Care should be taken when removing the claws so as not to permanently injure the crab.
- Claws may not be taken from egg-bearing stone crabs.
- Stone crabs may not be harvested with any device that can puncture, crush or injure a crab’s body.
- Recreational harvesters may take a daily bag limit of 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons per vessel, whichever is less, and may use up to five stone crab traps per person.
Traps that are not being fished should be removed from the water to avoid ghost fishing.
Stone crab regulations are the same in state and federal waters.
For more information, go to myfwc.com/marine.