Bradenton, Fla. ( WWSB ) - Listen up, seafood lovers, Florida’s favorite crustaceans are back. Stone crab season began on Wednesday and will end on May 1st.

Local fishermen are looking for a bounce back after dealing with back-to-back storms during the 2024 hurricane season.

“Last year was bad. After the storms, because everybody had to rebuild their gear or try to find it. So we’re hoping this year is going to be a lot better,” said Cortez Bait and Seafood Owner John Banyas.

John Banyas, owner of Cortez Bait and Seafood, said when stone crab season began last year, less than a week after Milton made landfall on the Suncoast, it generated a slow season for his business.

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“It was an average year. Nothing really special, but there were p

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