Stone crab season a popular event
5/24/2005 4:20:44 PM by
The 2005-06 stone crab season isOct. 15 to May 15 throughoutFlorida. The sweet andscrumptious meat of the stone crabsclaw is one of the Florida Keys mostpopular and delicacies.
The waters off the Keys areFloridas top source of stone crabclaws. About 40 percentof the statesaverage annual harvestof more than 3.1million pounds comesfrom Keys waters,according to theFlorida Fish andWildlife ConservationCommission.One of the Keys tastiestand most uniquegastronomic treats,stone crab claws arelarge and meaty closer in size to a 2-pound Maine lobstersclaws than a bluecrabs claws.
Stone crab claws are usuallycooked immediately after beingbrought to the dock, usually byplacing the claws in boiling waterthen bringing the water back to aboil. Total cooking time is seven toeight minutes.
Running cold water over thecooked claws tends to keep the meatfrom sticking to the shell and Keyslocals know the secret to cracking theclaws open: forget those squeezetogethershell crackers and use theback of a spoon. Gently smack theshell and it will crack cleanly.
The traditional dip for stone crabclaws is a mustard-based sauce madefrom a favorite mustard with mayonnaiseor sour cream, and add-ins likeparsley flakes, Worcestershire or A-1Sauce, salt and pepper to taste.
More adventurous chefs sauté themeat from stone crab claws in a hotdip made from orange marmalade,lime juice, soy sauce, garlic, butterand curry powder.
As well as being flavorful to eat,stone crab claws are a renewableresource because the crabs can regrowharvested claws. Both claws ofa stone crab may be taken if each isof legal size, defined as a 2.75-inchpropodus. The propodus is the larger,immovable part of the claws pincer.The measurement is taken fromthe base of the joint between the"elbow" and propodus to the tip ofthe propodus.
Legal-size claws may be harvestedfrom female stone crabs unless thecrab is carrying eggs.
When its claws are removed correctly,the crab will regenerate legalsizeclaws in about three years. Avery large crab can regenerate alegal-size claw in about one year.
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For more information on stone crabsand stone crab harvesting, visitwww.floridaconservation.org.To find out about area accommodationsand restaurants servingthe delicacy during stone crab season,visit www.fla-keys.com