One of Florida’s favorite recreational and commercial saltwater harvesting seasons gets underway this month.

Stone crab season begins Oct. 15 and will remain open for commercial and recreational interests until May 2. Millions of dollars are spent by Floridians in retrieving stone crabs from state waters and millions more are made in selling the catch to the market.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ( FWC ) is encouraging stone crab enthusiasts to take the waters. But the FWC is also advising there are layers of regulations for those who want to harvest the crustaceans.

To be caught, stone crabs must bear a claw size limit of 2 and 7/8 inches. Traps used to catch the crabs must be 2 and 3/15 inches in diameter and must be located within a “vertical exterior t

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