Introduction to Stone Crab Season
The stone crab season in Florida is set to begin on October 15, and local restaurants, wholesalers, and seafood markets are optimistic about the supply and prices of claws. Even Keel Fish Shack co-owner Dave MacLennan has already set the price for an all-you-can-eat special at $99, despite his suppliers not having pulled traps yet. MacLennan’s confidence stems from reports of a decent amount of crab in the traps.
Early Signs and Predictions
MacLennan isn’t alone in his optimism. Peter Jarvis, owner of high-end wholesaler Triar Seafood in Hollywood, has ordered 700 pounds of claws from his six suppliers, located from the Keys to Crystal River. Jarvis is bullish about the supply, citing mild weather and zero hurricanes ahead of the season. He attributes last year’s abundant claws to turbulent waters steering crabs straight into the traps.
Pricing and Supply
During the 2025-26 season, which runs from October 15 to May 1, most of Florida’s stone crabs will be caught in muddy waters off the Gulf Coast, Florida Keys, and Florida’s Big Bend. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) abridged its season by two weeks back in 2020 to curb overfishing. Stone crab prices typically follow supply and demand, but inflation has muddled this conventional wisdom. Higher costs for diesel boat fuel, fishing bait, and lumber to build wood traps, combined with a summer restaurant slump, suggest no per-pound discounts are in sight.
Restaurant Offerings and Festivals
Local restaurants are planning to offer all-you-can-eat specials, with prices to be determined. Catfish Deweys in Oakland Park plans to offer an all-you-can-eat special, with prices to be announced on their website. Even Keel Fish Shack will offer an all-you-can-eat deal on October 16, the day after stone crab season kicks off. The South Beach Seafood Festival at Lummus Park in Miami Beach will also feature stone crab dishes, along with other seafood offerings, open bars, games, and live music.
Wholesale Prices
Wholesalers like Triar Seafood and Captain Clay and Sons Seafood Market are predicting prices to mirror those at the end of last season. Triar Seafood charged $35 for a pound of medium, $45 for large, and $55 for jumbo claws at the end of last season. Captain Clay and Sons Seafood Market thinks claw prices at their retail shop will be $24.99 for medium, $33.99 for large, and $51.99 for jumbo.
Conclusion
The stone crab season in Florida is expected to be a successful one, with local restaurants, wholesalers, and seafood markets optimistic about the supply and prices of claws. While prices may not be discounted due to inflation, the demand for stone crabs is expected to be high, especially during the initial weeks of the season. With various restaurants and festivals offering stone crab dishes, consumers can look forward to enjoying this seasonal delicacy.
FAQs
- Q: When does the stone crab season in Florida start?
A: The stone crab season in Florida starts on October 15. - Q: How long does the stone crab season last?
A: The stone crab season lasts from October 15 to May 1. - Q: Where are most of Florida’s stone crabs caught?
A: Most of Florida’s stone crabs are caught in muddy waters off the Gulf Coast, Florida Keys, and Florida’s Big Bend. - Q: Why are stone crab prices not expected to be discounted?
A: Stone crab prices are not expected to be discounted due to inflation, higher costs for diesel boat fuel, fishing bait, and lumber to build wood traps, and a summer restaurant slump. - Q: Where can I find stone crab dishes during the season?
A: Stone crab dishes can be found at local restaurants, seafood markets, and festivals, such as the South Beach Seafood Festival in Miami Beach.
His suppliers haven’t even pulled traps yet, but Even Keel Fish Shack co-owner Dave MacLennan is so confident about this year’s stone crab haul that he’s already set the price for an all-you-can-eat special: $99.
“Yeah, we’re being pretty brazen,” MacLennan said of his Lauderdale-by-the-Sea restaurant, with a laugh. “But we’ve gotten reports from the docks that there’s a decent amount of crab in the traps.”
MacLennan isn’t alone in his optimism. Before Florida’s stone crab season officially kicks off on Wednesday, Oct. 15, local restaurants, wholesalers and seafood markets all say early signs point to healthy supply and claw prices mirroring what they were last spring.
The first crustacean harvests will arrive at seafood purveyors by Thursday morning, a day after traps are allowed to be pulled by state law, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which sets guidelines on how stone crabs must be caught.
Fresh Florida stone crabs, considered the pumpkin spice lattes of the seafood world, aren’t available during summertime, so pent-up demand for the seasonal delicacy always crescendos in the second half of October with long lines, MacLennan said.
“People go nuts for it right off the bat,” MacLennan said. “It’s like forbidden fruit, or like a Christmas ale at a brewery. You get excited for it because it’s seasonal and delicious.”
Last year, the one-two punch of Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged crabbing vessels and fish houses along the Gulf Coast, driving uncertainty about claw availability, said Peter Jarvis, owner of high-end wholesaler Triar Seafood in Hollywood. To his surprise, there were abundant claws, which he attributes to turbulent waters steering crabs straight into the traps.
As South Florida has faced mild weather and zero hurricanes ahead of stone crab season, Jarvis is bullish about the 700 pounds he ordered from his six suppliers, which are located from the Keys to Crystal River, near Florida’s Big Bend.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel
An order of prepared stone crabs and mustard dipping sauce at Catfish Deweys in Oakland Park. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
“My guys are checking traps and things look good so far,” said Jarvis, who charged $35 for a pound of medium, $45 for large and $55 for jumbo claws at the end of last season in May. “Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should get what I need.”
During the 2025-26 season, which runs from Oct. 15 to May 1, most of Florida’s stone crabs will be caught in muddy waters off the Gulf Coast, Florida Keys and Florida’s Big Bend, with some fisheries laying traps near Miami and the Bahamas. The FWC abridged its season by two weeks back in 2020 (ending May 1 instead of May 15) to curb overfishing.
In past years, stone crab prices followed supply and demand — bigger catches meant lower costs — yet inflation has muddled that conventional wisdom, said Dewey Culbreth, owner of Catfish Deweys in Oakland Park. Higher costs for diesel boat fuel, fishing bait and lumber to build wood traps, combined with a summer restaurant slump, suggests no per-pound discounts are in sight.
“I’m more hopeful about the [Miami] Dolphins going to the Super Bowl, if you know what I mean,” Culbreth said of lower stone-crab prices. “Payroll isn’t going down, property taxes aren’t going down, insurance isn’t going down. The cost of doing business is what’s setting prices now.”
Nonetheless, Culbreth, who charged $45 for mediums and $56 for large claws on the dinner plate last season, plans to offer an all-you-can-eat special this week. At what price? Check the Catfish Deweys’ website on Thursday morning, he said.
Even Keel Fish Shack / Courtesy
A platter of oysters and stone crabs at Even Keel Fish Shack in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, which plans to offer an all-you-can-eat deal on Oct. 16, the day after stone crab season kicks off. (Even Keel Fish Shack/Courtesy)
Clay Brand, co-owner of Captain Clay and Sons Seafood Market in Delray Beach, thinks claw prices at his retail shop will mirror those at the end of last season: $24.99 for medium, $33.99 for large and $51.99 for jumbo.
“We work with the same sources every year, so that always keeps the prices low,” said Brand, who sources claws from fish houses in the Keys and Gulf Coast. “But we’re feeling optimistic that we’ll see decent supplies.”
Elsewhere in South Florida, the kickoff to stone crab season will be feted in festival form during the South Beach Seafood Festival at Lummus Park, 1130 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. The Oct. 22-25 event will have restaurant offerings, open bars, games and live music on multiple stages. Go to SoBeSeafoodFest.com.
Sun Sentinel features writer Phillip Valys can be reached at pvalys@sunsentinel.com or X/Twitter @
