Any non-crab enthusiast might look at the stone crab as just another crab. They might ask, “What is so special about the stone crab? Why are stone crabs so expensive? I don’t get it.”
True seafood lovers and southwest Floridians know the wonderful secrets of stone crab and why they are almost universally the most sought-after and beloved crab in all the seas, oceans, and gulfs of the world.
What about you?
Stone crabs are famous for a variety of reasons. For taste and experience, you have to try to find some of the best stone crab meals out there. Fortunately, Marco Island is one of the absolute top places to accomplish this goal.
Florida Stone Crab Season
October to May is stone crab season, and it is the premier time to get a taste of this succulent and juicy treat. Stone crab is known for its relative lightness. It doesn’t boast that intense crabby taste or smell that turns a lot of people away. The softness of the meat is especially appealing. It is flexible as a dashing atop another dish, a mix in a crab cake, or just as a crab, sitting on a plate.
Stone crab is a chef’s dream, and one of the main reasons it is so popular. Cooks can play with the formula to make some incredible stone crab recipes, including crab rolls, crab spaghetti, mustard-soaked crab bites, and more. Yet it also works wonders completely on its own.
Why is Stone Crab So Expensive?
There are three basic factors contributing to stone crab prices. Firstly, the stone crab is highly-monitored. Harvesting is scrutinized and reviewed intensely to keep the populations healthy enough to remain maintained.
For example, the claws must be at least 2 ¾” to be harvested. As well, egg-bearing females cannot be harvested at all. Stone crab is also comparatively rare in its own right, despite having a lengthy season. More than humans love the crab. They have many enemies, including octopi, grouper and sea turtles.
The last factor is pure demand. Everyone wants them. Everyone can’t get them. This drives price up and makes stone crab a particular treat for Floridians, and why visitors come from all over to get some of their own.
Stone Crabs and Marco Island
Why are stone crabs so popular in Florida? About 98% of all stone crabs derive from Florida. And perhaps no place does stone crabs of southwest Florida better than Marco Island. Some leading chefs and local restaurant leaders seemed to have perfected the crab on their seasonal menu.
Pinchers, a local restaurant, leans toward a casual atmosphere with a heavy emphasis on crab sandwiches, cakes, and other seafood delights. The Hot Crab and Cheese Dip at Pinchers has a subtle kick, and is one of the best pre-meal openers you can get on the island. The Jumbo Crab Cake is jaw-dropping, and the raw oyster and clam bar is a nice complement to your crab-focused appetizer.
CJ’s on the Bay is a famous location, perhaps most well-known for its spectacular waterfront view. It is big, popular, and accommodating towards all needs and desires. The menu includes every major staple of Florida dining, from fish sandwiches to high-end seafood, like Grouper and Lobster. Make sure to request the stone crab before it disappears for the night.
You don’t have to order from a restaurant to get some truly amazing stone crab. You can concoct a dish yourself. The famous Paradise Seafood & Gourmet Market offers an unrivaled selection of fresh local seafood. The location is primarily a seafood market, so they won’t always prepare the selections for you. With that said, some pre-prepared items are available and the experts will offer advice on how to best get dishes in table-ready order.
Florida stone crab is iconic. If you make it over to Marco Island and don’t have at least one claw, you’re missing out. Book one of our vacation rentals on Marco Island to enjoy this incredible delicacy and see why stone crab is so highly regarded in almost every culinary setting.