MARATHON, Fla. (WFLA) — Stone crab season kicked off in the Florida Keys over the weekend with the 14th annual Stone Crab Eating Contest at Key Fisheries.

50 contestants divided into 10 teams of two raced against the clock to chomp their way through 25 fresh stone crab claws.

The goal was to crack and consume all 25 tasty stone crab claws in the fastest time possible, with participants receiving a penalty for each piece of claw meat left behind. • Jonathan Martinescu of Fort Myers, Fla., credits an oversized spoon to helping him expertly crack a stone crab claw during Saturday’s 14th annual Stone Crab Eating Contest at Keys Fisheries in Marathon, Fla., Nov. 1, 2025. Martinescu’s “big spoon” strategy helped him win first place with a time of 9 minutes and 46 seconds in the quirky event

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