The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has announced that the recreational and commercial stone crab harvest season will begin on October 15 and remain open through May 1, closing on May 2.
This season, the minimum claw size limit is set at 2 7/8 inches. Both recreational and commercial fishers using plastic or wood traps must ensure that each trap includes an unobstructed escape ring measuring 2 3/16 inches in diameter, located within a vertical exterior trap wall.
Recreational harvesters aged 16 and older, including those typically exempt from licensing requirements, are required to complete a free annual online registration for stone crab traps. Registration can be completed at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com by signing in, selecting the “Click here to get a License!” tile, scrolling to the “Saltwater Fishing” section, and choosing “Recreational Stone Crab Trap Registration.” Upon registering, individuals will receive unique trap registration numbers that must be included on each trap along with the owner’s full name and address. This information must be legible and permanently attached to every trap.
The Commission advises care when removing claws to avoid causing permanent injury to crabs. A new instructional video showing best practices for claw removal and current regulations is available on YouTube at @FWCSaltwaterFishing.
Claws may not be taken from egg-bearing stone crabs. The use of devices that can puncture, crush, or injure a crab’s body—such as spears or hooks—is prohibited. Recreational harvesters are limited to a daily bag of one gallon of claws per person or two gallons per vessel, whichever is less. Up to five stone crab traps per person may be used.
Traps not actively being fished should be removed from the water to prevent ghost fishing—a process where marine species become trapped for extended periods without being harvested.
Regulations for harvesting stone crabs are consistent in both state and federal waters.
Further details about recreational harvesting, trap specifications, commercial regulations, and licensing can be found at MyFWC.com/Marine under “Recreational Regulations,” then “Crabs, Lobster and other Shellfish,” followed by “Stone Crab.”
For updates on Florida fishing regulations via mobile device, the Fish Rules app is available for download from the App Store or Google Play. More information about the app can be found at FishRulesApp.com.
