Stone Crab Season in Southwest Florida
While many parts of the country are embracing cooler temps and changing leaves, Southwest Florida gets a taste of another season - literally. Stone crab season runs Oct. 15 through May 1 and visitors and locals alike can enjoy one of the most sustainable seafood options around. Stone crab is a unique seafood and many people will be surprised to learn that Florida is the only state where these unique crustaceans can be commercially harvested.
Why are they considered sustainable? Unlike other crabs, trappers keep the crabs alive and are only allowed to take one claw per crab. They are then returned back to the water where their missing claw regenerates and they continue to live a normal life at sea.
Where To Find Them
A variety of local restaurants and markets offer stone crab claws. Be sure to try them during our crabby season! Local tip: Call the restaurant ahead of time to see if they have any. They come fresh off the boat on a daily basis and are quite a popular menu item Oct. 15 through May 1. Here is a shortlist of some local restaurants that typically offer stone crab:
- Lobster Lady - Cape Coral
- Blue Dog Bar & Grill - Matlacha
- Island Crab Company - St. James City (Pine Island)
- Skip One 41 - Fort Myers
- Prawnbroker Restaurant and Fish Market - Fort Myers
- Cabbage Key - Pine Island Sound *Only accessible by boat
- Izzy's Fish & Oyster - downtown Fort Myers
- Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market - Sanibel Island
- Green Flash - Captiva Island
