For those who don't know about handling stone crab claws. Once the claw is harvested do not throw them on ice, refrigerate or freeze them. It causes the meat to stick to the shell and makes eating them much harder.
Keep them cool but not directly on ice and boil them as soon as you get home. Then you can refrigerate them until eating or freeze them. The meat will not stick to the shell and the product is excellent.
And for all those who are asking where and how to catch them? Stone crab like highly saline bays, with good flow from the Gulf and structure. Reef, wrecks, jetties etc...
You are not going to catch them in brackish water bays.
Bait your traps with fish heads that will last a long time and let the traps soak as long as possible. One week soaks are ideal.
And always leave a small stone crab behind in the traps when harvesting. They seem to attract others. I hope this helps and Bon Apettite!
