The Ultimate Guide to Florida Stone Crab
Here’s how to enjoy this seasonal delicacy in St. Pete-Clearwater
Stone crab claws are delicious – and sustainably harvested.
Think you’ve enjoyed some good crab before? Not like this! Delightfully simple yet deceptively rich, Florida stone crab is a seasonal delicacy that is not to be missed.
Lucky for you, we’ve compiled this definitive guide on prized Florida stone crab, including when, where, how and why to enjoy this fresh-from-the-sea catch around St. Pete-Clearwater.
What is Florida stone crab?
Tender and moist. Sweet and succulent. Unbelievably delicious. No wonder James Bond declares in Ian Fleming's 1959 novel "Goldfinger" that the best meal he ever had was “a heap of stone crabs accompanied by melted butter, toast and Champagne.” (Which 007 enjoyed in Florida, by the way.)
Stone crabs are crustaceans known for their reddish-brown shell and large, unequally sized claws marked by signature black tips. They are primarily found in shallow coastal waters stretching roughly from coastal North Carolina south to Belize. That said, about 90% of the world’s stone crabs come from Florida waters, so why would you even think about trying them anywhere else?
Florida stone crab is not only prized for its unique flavor, but also because there are few places you can find it – and then, only about half of the year. It's generally pricier than other seafood you’ll see on restaurant menus, too. Just remember that you’re on vacation, after all, and the splurge is worth it. Just one taste and you’ll be hooked!
When is stone crab season?
Stone crab season in Florida runs from Oct. 15 through May 1, making it the best time to enjoy this delicacy plucked fresh from the water.
During this period, harvesters roam Florida's shallow waters featuring sandy bottoms, rocky outcrops and seagrass or mangrove habitats to catch stone crabs and remove their claws. They return the crab to the water so the claws can regrow.
How is stone crab served?
There are many ways to enjoy Florida stone crab in the St. Pete-Clearwater area.
While some restaurants serve the meat already removed from the claw, you’ll most often find fresh stone crab delivered to your table on an impressive platter, shells and all, with everything you need to enjoy the “sweetest meat of the sea.” That usually means cracked and enjoyed with a simple squeeze of lemon or lime, served chilled with a light mustard dipping sauce or warmed with melted butter to enhance (and not hide) its delicate flavor.
To eat stone crab, simply grip the claw with the pincer pointing up to keep it steady and visible, then gently tap around the claw with the “cracker” provided until you see small breaks starting to form. Carefully remove the entire shell in pieces, use a small seafood fork to scoop out the meat and enjoy.
Where can I enjoy stone crab in St. Pete-Clearwater?
Many seafood restaurants in St. Pete-Clearwater offer traditional and creative plates during stone crab season.
Frenchy’s, multiple locations
Frenchy's Stone Crab & Seafood Market in Dunedin is just one of the popular Frenchy's restaurants.
With numerous locations throughout St. Pete-Clearwater, Frenchy’s not only offers plenty of places to enjoy fresh stone crab, they also ship fresh claws overnight for you to enjoy at home.
To kick off the season, Frenchy’s is hosting a stone crab weekend in two locations. Frenchy's Original Cafe on Baymont Street in Clearwater hosts the annual Clearwater Beach Block Party Oct. 24-25, while Frenchy’s Stone Crab & Seafood Market on the Dunedin Causeway celebrates the Stone Crab Seafood Market Backlot Bash at the same time. Stone crab takes center stage at both celebrations, along with live music and lots of fun.
Billy's Stone Crab, Tierra Verde
Billy's Stone Crab is a top choice for fresh seafood right on the water.
True to its name, this Key West-style restaurant offers several options to satisfy your stone crab cravings. From a modest appetizer featuring three medium stone crabs to a large entree featuring two colossal ones, you can enjoy them hot with butter or cold with a special housemade sauce.
The Tides Market, Safety Harbor
Recognized by MICHELIN for its exceptional food, this seafood market and restaurant in charming Safety Harbor usually rolls out its first catch of the season around Oct. 15, when owners John and Mary Kate personally drive to Tarpon Springs to pick up the first claws of the season from a local harvester. Stone crab is available chilled both in the market and restaurant, accompanied by housemade mustard sauce.
Rusty Bellies, Tarpon Springs
With family roots in the local fishing industry dating back more than 40 years, Rusty Bellies opened in 2005 offering fresh locally caught seafood in a waterfront setting. The restaurant’s stone crab menu specials, featuring both hot and cold preparations, begin on Oct. 15 and run through springtime.
Salt Rock Grill, Indian Shores
Salt Rock Grill is a fine dining establishment with views of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Known for top-quality food and water views, Salt Rock Grill is a popular dining choice for locals and visitors year-round in Indian Shores, tucked about midway between Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach. During stone crab season, the restaurant offers medium, large, jumbo and colossal claws (these can weigh as much as 2 pounds each!).
Hog Island Fish Camp, Dunedin
Hog Island Fish Camp is a rustic and laid-back spot to enjoy locally caught seafood.
Chef-owned and operated, Hog Island sits in downtown Dunedin (not far from its namesake island). It's a popular spot for locally sourced Gulf seafood in rustic surroundings.
The town kicks off stone crab season with the daylong Dunedin Seafood & Music Festival on Oct. 18, now in its 15th year, with the restaurant adding this seasonal specialty to the menu immediately after.
Olde Bay Cafe, Dunedin
Dunedin is full of scenic "Old Florida" places, such as the Olde Bay Cafe.
Nearby at the Dunedin Marina, Olde Bay Cafe also celebrates the start of stone crab season at that same festival, followed by seasonal specials you can enjoy throughout the winter months. But we’re talking Florida winter, which means gorgeous outdoor dining at the restaurant’s mostly outdoor tables.
Old Bay serves their stone crab either hot or cold, with drawn butter and housemade tartar sauce.
Palm Pavilion, Clearwater Beach
Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar has been serving happy diners right on the beach since 1926.
A casual beachside bar and grill offering Gulf views, beach access and a no-worries kind of vibe since 1926? Yes, please! Live music accompanies a seafood-focused menu, with special “Stone Crab Weekends” kicking off Oct. 24 and running throughout stone crab season.
The Original Crabby Bill's, Indian Rocks Beach
The Original Crabby Bill's has been a favorite of seafood lovers for decades.
Featuring fresh, no-frills seafood for more than 40 years, this iconic spot offers plates of medium, large or jumbo claws served hot or cold with butter and housemade stone-ground mustard.
The same entrees are offered at Crabby Bill’s locations in St. Pete Beach and Palm Harbor, plus Cabanas Coastal Grill in Clearwater and Monstah Lobstah in Indian Rocks Beach, which are owned by the same restaurant group. At their Bon Appetit Restaurant & Marina Bar in Dunedin, stone crab is offered a la carte either hot or cold.
Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille, St. Pete
Doc Ford's is a popular waterfront spot in the St. Pete Pier District.
With accolades from both TripAdvisor and The New York Times, you can’t go wrong indulging in any of the Caribbean-inspired seafood offerings at Doc Ford’s. But don’t miss their seasonal stone crab specials at both locations in St. Pete: at the St. Pete Pier, and in the Jungle Terrace neighborhood, west of St. Pete.
