Crabbing the Gulf Coast of Florida

[Water Bug]

I am going to be vacationing near Weeki Wachi towards the end of March and I was wondering if anyone knows when the season should start in 06. Also, I know that there is not a demand for blue crabs in Florida and is there any where that you can buy blue crabs in that area?

[Muslickz]

I Don't believe there is a season on crab in floridas.. definatly not on Blue crab, but perhaps stone crabs.. you can only take there claws anyway..

Here let me pull a quick link for ya...

http://myfwc.com/marine/regulation.htm

That should have everything you need to know about laws for crabbing here in florida..

As far as buying them.. well people in florida don't get into eating crabs like up in the north. But there are many wholesale saefood places and I am sure browsing a local directory or phone book would get ya one..

Have fun, Hope this helps!

-Mus

[SHELLFISH]

2005 regulations:

Blue Crab season closed Sept 20 thru Oct 4. No size restriction, no egg bearing females. 5 traps max.

Stone Crab season closed May 16 thru Oct 14. 2 3/4 " claw. no egg bearing females and no whole crabs. 5 traps max.

Good Luck! I don't think you'll need it though!

[beach bum]

Bogman,
     Where did you see the "Blue Crab season closed Sept 20 thru Oct 4" in Florida?  I can't find it in the regulations. I'm puzzled why would it close for only 2 weeks?

[Muslickz]

I think (Note I say think, as I am not sure) But I think it's just for the reserve area's down south on the gulf side .. biscane? or somthing like that. As far as I know on the east coast (Titusville area) There is no Sept-Oct regulation. At least not that I have found, but further down south around the keys area I believe it may exsist. I will look into it thou.

-Mus

[SHELLFISH]

I got it out of The Florida Recreational Fishing Regulations (issue 26, Jan. 2005) which is a handout. I got it at the NSB Chamber of Commerce. I have also seen them at tackle shops there also.
It lists the regulations for all of the fish, crab, lobster, shrimp, clams, oysters etc. Also lists state records and artificial reef locations. Worth picking up and it's free!

[Uly]

Just came back from crabbing in Cape Coral, Florida. This is my first year crabbing down here and I do get out at least once a week. After one hour of crabbing, only one crab ( just under 7 in. ) so I tossed him back. He was clean as new born on the outside so I don't believe he's been in the mud. Hoping it was just a bad day, the worst since July last year. Still see commercial traps in the river so they must be catching them. I'll be out there again next week.

Uly

[R D]

The Sept. 20th through Oct. 4th Blue Crab closed season is from 3 natical miles off shore out to 200 miles. it was put in place for the perpuse of retrieving lost and abandoned trapsand to keep crabbers from using bluecrab traps to stockpile Stone crabs before the Stone crab season starts    The Commericial crabbers do try to police theirselves this was a request from the crabbers to do this

[Water Bug]

Thanks for your responses. Florida has a long season; but I think the crabs are conditioned to the changing water temp down there. 65 degree water is their winter down there. I was wondering when the crabs get more active. I guess it depends on how mild the winter is down there.

[R D]

I live in N. Fla. and our water gets down to the low 50s and i have seen it at 46. what happens is a couple of bright sunny days and the water warms up 3 or 4 degrees from were ever it is, the crabs will come out of the mud and feed. We are working on doing something for the inshore  clean up of lost and abandoned traps. We have talked about rotating closer's,getting rid of vinyl covered traps and going back to all galvanized which will biodegrade a lot quicker and other things