Southwest Florida Stone Crab Season Kicks Off, Giving Local Economy and Sustainability a Boost

Boats dot the waters off Southwest Florida's coast, marking the start of stone crab season. The eight-month catch period runs from Oct. 15 to May 1, bringing fresh seafood to local tables.

"It's a huge day for us at Jug Creek. We look forward to this day all year," said Joe Williamson, owner of Jug Creek Fish House and Marina in Bokeelia, according to WINK News.

The boats left Jug Creek at 4:30 a.m., checking traps they'd set 10 days earlier. Fishermen are allowed to drop their gear on Oct. 5, but catching starts only when the season opens.

Skip One seafood restaurant's owner in Fort Myers, Dennis Henderson, reports strong pre-season demand. "We've got a lot of orders. People have already called in and ordered them, so we got to fill them orders first, and we'll start selling them out of the market and go from there," said Henderson.

This catch stands out for its green practices. After taking the claws, fishers return live crabs to the water. Nature takes over as new claws sprout in their place.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) watches over casual crabbers. Adults need a free online permit through the Go Outdoors Florida website before setting any traps.