Hey Snoozer, stone crab question?

[phatdaddy]

i've already had 3traps stolen this year. i usually get them at cudjoe sales in summerland key, but they don't list them on the website and the phone # is not working. are they still in business? and where couild you suggest i get replacement traps.

thanks

[Blue_Runner]

Hey Phat, do you consume them or sell them (or both)? I've gotten a few in a regular old blue crab trap in SC. Do you use a special trap for them down that way?

[phatdaddy]

BR, i eats all i can get. for recreational in fl you are allowed 5 traps per person. you can catch them in a regular wire mesh traps, but the plastic ones seen to get better results. scroll down the page to see a plastic one
http://www.blueoceantackle.com/crab_traps.htm

[joe7670]

So where are the stone crabs found? Bay side, ocean side?

In Miami, but never caught them. Always paid for them and they aint cheap!

[phatdaddy]

joe, i am in north florida and we get them in the bays . they dig dens in the sand bottom of the grass flats. i would imagine down south you would get them on the bay side also. if you are out and see a bunch of new bouys since oct 15 that is where people are looking for them. i would think in south biscayne bay would be good. i don't know about the park boundrys so ask first. every thing i grew up doing on the water is florida is quickly becoming illegal.

snoozer is out of the keys, maybe he will check in and have more local info..

[Blue_Runner]

Cool, that is a good price on the plastic traps. If you tried to make one out of starboard it would be 5 times that price. In SC I caught them back in the creeks near the grass like you said.