His suppliers haven’t even pulled traps yet, but Even Keel Fish Shack co-owner Dave MacLennan is so confident about this year’s stone crab haul that he’s already set the price for an all-you-can-eat special: $99.
“Yeah, we’re being pretty brazen,” MacLennan said of his Lauderdale-by-the-Sea restaurant, with a laugh. “But we’ve gotten reports from the docks that there’s a decent amount of crab in the traps.”
MacLennan isn’t alone in his optimism. Before Florida’s stone crab season officially kicks off on Wednesday, Oct. 15, local restaurants, wholesalers and seafood markets all say early signs point to healthy supply and claw prices mirroring what they were last spring.
The first crustacean harvests will arrive at seafood purveyors by Thursday morning, a day after traps are allowed to be pulled by state law, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which sets guidelines on how stone crabs must be caught.
Fresh Florida stone crabs, considered the pumpkin spice lattes of the seafood world, aren’t available during summertime, so pent-up demand for the seasonal delicacy always crescendos in the second half of October with long lines, MacLennan said.
“People go nuts for it right off the bat,” MacLennan said. “It’s like forbidden fruit, or like a Christmas ale at a brewery. You get excited for it because it’s seasonal and delicious.”
Last year, the one-two punch of Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged crabbing vessels and fish houses along the Gulf Coast, driving uncertainty about claw availability, said Peter Jarvis, owner of high-end wholesaler Triar Seafood in Hollywood. To his surprise, there were abundant claws, which he attributes to turbulent waters steering crabs straight into the traps.
As South Florida has faced mild weather and zero hurricanes ahead of stone crab season, Jarvis is bullish about the 700 pounds he ordered from his six suppliers, which are located from the Keys to Crystal River, near Florida’s Big Bend.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel
An order of prepared stone crabs and mustard dipping sauce at Catfish Deweys in Oakland Park. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
“My guys are checking traps and things look good so far,” said Jarvis, who charged $35 for a pound of medium, $45 for large and $55 for jumbo claws at the end of last season in May. “Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should get what I need.”
During the 2025-26 season, which runs from Oct. 15 to May 1, most of Florida’s stone crabs will be caught in muddy waters off the Gulf Coast, Florida Keys and Florida’s Big Bend, with some fisheries laying traps near Miami and the Bahamas. The FWC abridged its season by two weeks back in 2020 (ending May 1 instead of May 15) to curb overfishing.
In past years, stone crab prices followed supply and demand — bigger catches meant lower costs — yet inflation has muddled that conventional wisdom, said Dewey Culbreth, owner of Catfish Deweys in Oakland Park. Higher costs for diesel boat fuel, fishing bait and lumber to build wood traps, combined with a summer restaurant slump, suggests no per-pound discounts are in sight.
“I’m more hopeful about the [Miami] Dolphins going to the Super Bowl, if you know what I mean,” Culbreth said of lower stone-crab prices. “Payroll isn’t going down, property taxes aren’t going down, insurance isn’t going down. The cost of doing business is what’s setting prices now.”
Nonetheless, Culbreth, who charged $45 for mediums and $56 for large claws on the dinner plate last season, plans to offer an all-you-can-eat special this week. At what price? Check the Catfish Deweys’ website on Thursday morning, he said.
Even Keel Fish Shack / Courtesy
A platter of oysters and stone crabs at Even Keel Fish Shack in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, which plans to offer an all-you-can-eat deal on Oct. 16, the day after stone crab season kicks off. (Even Keel Fish Shack/Courtesy)
Clay Brand, co-owner of Captain Clay and Sons Seafood Market in Delray Beach, thinks claw prices at his retail shop will mirror those at the end of last season: $24.99 for medium, $33.99 for large and $51.99 for jumbo.
“We work with the same sources every year, so that always keeps the prices low,” said Brand, who sources claws from fish houses in the Keys and Gulf Coast. “But we’re feeling optimistic that we’ll see decent supplies.”
Elsewhere in South Florida, the kickoff to stone crab season will be feted in festival form during the South Beach Seafood Festival at Lummus Park, 1130 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. The Oct. 22-25 event will have restaurant offerings, open bars, games and live music on multiple stages. Go to SoBeSeafoodFest.com.
Sun Sentinel features writer Phillip Valys can be reached at pvalys@sunsentinel.com or X/Twitter @philvalys.