SlotGaugeCheck a catchStone Crab regulations in Florida
· Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season
Stone Crab size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida state waters (Atlantic & Gulf) | October 15 – May 1 | 2.875 inch minimum | 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 per vessel |
Notes
- No egg-bearing crabs.
- Claws only; harvest from egg-bearing crabs prohibited; up to 5 traps per person (registered). Season closes May 2.
Exact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wording
- Season
- Open Oct. 15 - May 1
- Size
- 2 7/8 inches claw; only claws may be harvested
- Limit
- 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons per vessel, whichever is less
- statewide — as printed
- “Minimum Size Limit: 2 7/8 inches; only claws may be harvested. Daily Bag Limit: 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons per vessel, whichever is less. Season: Open Oct. 15 - May 1 (closed on May 2)”
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).
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About the stone crab
Species of crustacean
The Florida stone crab is a crab found in the western North Atlantic, from Connecticut to Colombia, including Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, Belize, Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the East Coast of the United States. The crab can also be found in and around the salt marshes of South Carolina and Georgia. The closely related species Menippe adina, the gulf stone crab, is sometimes considered a subspecies as they can interbreed to form hybrids, and they are treated as one species for commercial fishing, with their ranges partly overlapping. The two species are believed to have diverged approximately 3 million years ago. The species is widely caught for food.
Read more about Florida stone crab on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Stone Crab in Florida?
2.875 inch minimum in Florida state waters.
How many Stone Crab can you keep per day in Florida?
1 gallon of claws per person or 2 per vessel.
When is Stone Crab season in Florida?
October 15 – May 1.
Is my Stone Crab a keeper today?
A stone crab is a keeper today if it measures at least 2.875 inches, with 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 per vessel.