Get Started Stone Crab Fishing.
Recreational Stone Crabbing Information:
-No Females With Eggs
-2 3/4 Inch Claw
-Open Season
-October 15-May 15
-Bag Limit
-1 Gallon Of Claws Per Person or 2 Gallons Per Vessel, Whichever Is Less
Stone Crab Harvesting Gear:
It is unlawful to use any device on the taking of stone crabs that can puncture, crush, or injure the crab body, such as spears, grains, grabs, hooks, or similar devices
Maximum of five (5) blue crabs traps per person as described in the summary of stone crab trapping rules below
Stone Crab Trapping Rules
-Five trap maximum
-Buoy must have a legible “R” at least two inches high, permanently affixed to it. Buoys are not required if trap is fished from a dock.
-Trap shall have harvesters name and address permanently affixed to it in legible letters.
-Traps must be pulled manually (not by a trap puller). Any vessel that is rigged with a trap puller will be considered a commercial vessel and the appropriate licenses will be required.
-Traps must be pulled only during daylight hours.
-Traps must not be placed in navigational channels of the intracoastal waterways, or in navigational channels maintained and marked by any county, municipal, state or federal governmental agency.
-A Florida recreational fishing license is required to harvest stone crabs under the recreational fishing regulations.
-Stone crab trap specifications are the same for recreational and commercial harvesters. Trap specifications may be found in Rule 68B-45.004, Florida Administrative Code.
Information Provided By The Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission
where do you buy the name tags used to attach to the stone crab traps?
Hey JD,
I am not sure exactly where it is, but you can check out this
crab trap gear page from amazonYou can search more from there.you just make your own tag, obviously making sure to use common sense and apply lettering that will last in the ocean and sun the entire day (perhaps a 5×9 that is laminated) and underneath the buoy