The Florida Stone Crab
This is a crab known for its claws and a season we look forward to each year. Meet the Florida Stone Crab. These crabs are harvested from the waters of Southern Florida – one claw at a time.
A renewable resource from the water itself, Florida Stone Crabs are harvested exclusively for their claws, which they’re able to regenerate when removed. The Florida Stone Crab season runs from mid-October through mid-March.
ABOUT THE FLORIDA STONE CRAB
The Florida Stone Crab (Menippe mercenaria) is a type of mud crab that burrows into muddy and sandy bottoms near river mouths, estuaries and mangrove forests around the coasts of Southern Florida. The latter provides the perfect space for these crabs, which are secretive in nature and like to hide under docks, mangrove roots or in small holes away from their natural predators like sea turtles, octopuses and grouper.
These crabs typically range in sizes from 5 to 6 ½ inches across their carapace, but it’s their black-tipped claws that really make this crab stand out. It’s the biggest crab you’re likely to find on a Florida beach, with 10 pairs of legs: eight for swimming and two for powerful pinching.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CLAWS
Primarily feeding on clams, oysters, snails and other mollusks, Florida Stone Crabs have powerful claws. Since its primary source of food is locked behind hard shells, these crabs have developed claws that can generate 19,000 pounds per square inch of force when closing.
Unlike other crabs, Florida Stone Crabs are only harvested for their claws which can regenerate, or regrow, if it’s been removed. This means the claw can be harvested and the crabs can be released back into their natural habitats while it grows back, a process that typically takes a year.
HARVESTING THE CLAWS
Florida Stone Crab Season is open yearly from October 15 to March 15. For a claw to be harvested, it now needs to be at least 2 ⅞ inches in length from the bottom section of the claw to the elbow, or first knuckle. Claws are available in a range of sizes from medium (7 to 8 claws per pound) to colossal (1 to 2 claws per pound).
To avoid the meat sticking to the inside of the claws, Florida Stone Crab claws are always cooked right after being harvested and either immediately sold or frozen to be sold later.
While it is legal to harvest both claws from the crab if they meet the size requirements, it’s frowned upon due to the crab’s chance for survival dropping significantly without both. Claws of an egg-bearing female cannot be harvested, and they must be returned to the water immediately.
It’s possible to distinguish between claws that are original and ones that have been regenerated. Here’s how: look on the inner facing side of the claw (propodus). If it’s the original claw, you’ll see a little print with continuous lines that look like a fingerprint. If the lines are broken or dotted, it is a regenerated claw.
Over 98% of the Stone Crab catch in the United States comes from Florida which is overseen by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. As the leader in the fishery management, the FFWCC places limits on trap sizes, as well as number of traps and permits issued. Over 75% of the catch comes from Collier, Dade and Monroe Counties.
FLORIDA STONE CRAB AT WATER GRILL
These delectable claws are sweet and rich in flavor with a firm, dense texture. At Water Grill, we serve Wild Florida Stone Crab Claws chilled in two sizes - Large (3 to 5 claws per order) or Jumbo (1 to 2 claws per order). A mustard dipping sauce accompanies each order. This is a Southern Florida seasonal specialty and a must-try for any crab or seafood lover when available. Check out menus and seasonal availability here.
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From Head to Fin, Here's Looking At You, Halibut.
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And, if you’re looking at Pacific Halibut from its good side, it’s a twofer: you’ve got two big eyes staring right back at you.
We think you’re beautiful, Pacific Halibut, and you give us a lot to work with – from head to fin.
Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is the world’s largest species of flatfish. One can weigh as much as 500 lbs. and grow up to 8 ft. long. Those big ones are called “barn doors”. The little ones are called “chickens.”
They’re found in the coastal waters from Northern California to Nome, Alaska. Most are caught in the central Gulf of Alaska. As a flatfish, they hang out on the sandy ocean floor, which gets quite dark. It’s an environment that breeds adaptation.
Tell Me About Those Eyes
Pacific Halibut are born swimming like the other kids in school. They look like them too, with an eye on each side of their heads. As they get older, though, their bodies begin to change. One eye migrates to the right side. By the time a halibut is six months old, it’s swimming on its side with both eyes on the top of its body. This puts them in the family of right-eyed flounders. Nearly every halibut falls into this camp. In fact, only one in 20,000 halibut is left-eyed.
The underside of the body is off-white and faces the ocean floor. The other side is a dark olive color, which helps them blend in with the ocean floor to anyone (or anything) looking down from above. It’s on that top side of the body where both eyes reside, keeping an eye out for potential threats while enjoying a steady diet of small fish, crabs, clams, squid and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates.
Typically, Halibut-catching season runs from mid-March through early November, closing right before the spawning season begins. The females typically spawn at depths of 300 to 1,500 ft. When we get a hold of Pacific Halibut, it’s wild-caught by longlines or hook and line.
Our Process
We handpick, cut and exclusively supply the highest quality seafood to our restaurants. We leverage more than 75 years of strong relationships to source from local fishermen and lobstermen. For Pacific Halibut, this means partnering with companies such as E&E Foods. They’re experts in Alaska and the North Pacific and have been serving the industry since 1932.
Flavor
Pacific Halibut is a people and palate pleaser, with a flavor that’s delightfully mild and slightly sweet. It’s a leaner fish, with large white flakes and a firm but tender texture.
We offer several preparations of Pacific Halibut throughout the season at Water Grill, utilizing the whole fish. This includes:
•Pan Seared Halibut entrée with spring peas, fingerlings, braised leeks and lemon velouté
•Pan Roasted Halibut Cheeks appetizer with braised fennel and brown butter lemon sauce
•Miso Marinated Halibut Collar with grilled Okinawan potatoes, pickled bean sprouts and yuzu aioli
•Roasted Halibut Tail tacos with roasted tomato salsa, pickled mango and soft corn tortillas
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Fisheries Management
The Pacific Halibut Fishery is managed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. These agencies work together to set annual quotas and keep the population at a level where it can continue to reproduce and sustain itself. The teamwork extends across the United States and Canada – including the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and the province of British Columbia.
Collectively, the Pacific Halibut population has been increasing since 2013 through the active and collaborative fisheries management which has been decreasing catch weight limits year over year.
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