Crabbers wrapping up season as mega colossal claws reach $108 a pound

The waters have long settled from Hurricane Ian, and it seems like the stone crabs have come back in big numbers.

Stone crabbers in the Fort Myers-Naples area are wrapping up a very successful fishing season, with some anglers landing three to four times the hauls they've seen in recent years.

Stone crab season ends May 1, so there are only a few weeks to catch this regional, seasonal treasure.

"It went from about three-quarters of a pound to more than 2 pounds," said St. James City fisherman and crabber Vincent Montella. "And there's a bunch of us pounding (the same general area off Lovers Key State Park). And I can see other guys' gear right beside mine."

Stone crabs are a treasured, renewable resource that sells for big dollars in markets and restaurants here.

Unlike some other crab species, only the claw of the stone crab has value, and a pinched claw will often regrow once the crab is released back into the Gulf.

Market prices now range from $25 a pound for medium claws to upwards of $84.99 for the massive claws that fit the colossal category.

Mega colossal crabs are going for as high as $107.99 at online retailers like georgestonecrab.com.

Although those prices may sound high, larger hauls and bigger legs create better prices for consumers.

"The more product we have, the better the prices," Montella said. "And the size of the individual (claws) has been exceptional. We've had the majority of crabs be large jumbos. We're getting very big crabs."

Montella said this is the first quality season for crabbers here since at least 2022, when Hurricane Ian ripped through the region and tore up the Gulf floor.

"The year before Ian it was fair and then things just changed," Montella said. "The bottom got tore up."

Successful stone crabbing season wrapping up in Naples

Crabbing has been good this year in the Naples-Everglades City area as well.

Jimmy Grimm, whose family owns Grimm's Stone Crab in Everglades City, said he's been getting in between 300 pounds and 1,000 pounds of stone crab claws a day from two family boats.

"It's been a good season," Grimm said. "The hauls are up, so that's good for the customer. When the hauls are up the prices go down."

Typically, fishermen remove the larger of the two claws, although they must measure 2 and 7/8 inches to be legal.

Stone crab claws will regrow over time, although a crab has a better chance of surviving if it has at least one claw.

Recreational crabbing is also allowed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Licensed anglers can take up to a 1 gallon container full of claws, while a vessel with multiple anglers can take up to 2 gallons per day.

"Each person will receive unique trap registration numbers that must be included on each trap along with the owner's full name and address" an FWC website reads. "This no-cost registration will allow FWC to collect important information about these recreational fisheries needed for future stock assessments and management decisions."

Montella said the Gulf seems primed to produce more delectable seafood and that conditions are better now than they've been in years.

"All the signs are there for a good, healthy fishery," Montella said.

Chad Gillis is an environment reporter and can be reached by email at [email protected].

Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.