Potential move to FL.

[skip4926]

I currently live in MD, but have a 3 year plan to move to FL.  I was looking at the Port Charlotte area and wonders if there are blue crabs in that area.  Funny, all the fishing and great things FL offers, I am concerned about crabbing.

[ICECharger]

I have a friend that's from Maryland who lives on a canal in Punta Gorda. He catches a lot of very large blue crabs off his dock and also with crab pots in Charlotte harbor. Lots of blue crabs in that part of Florida with the added bonus of also catching stone crab for their claws.

[Crab Shack]

How large is "very large"? Here in the Tampa area, I have yet to see a lot of large ones...

[r_ventura_23]

How large is "very large"? Here in the Tampa area, I have yet to see a lot of large ones...

That's what she said.

[SHELLFISH]

I have caught a lot of crabs in my area and they have all been on the small size. One year I caught 122 crabs and only two were at 6 inches. Every now and then I hear of a big crab being caught mostly south of me. These larger crabs are usually a singular crab being caught along with the usual small to medium size crabs. The last couple of days I have gotten two separate reports of a number of 8 inch plus crabs being caught just south of me. I am meeting up with a buddy in two weeks to investigate. I'll report back after I go check it out.