Stone crab season opens with familiar prices and cautious optimism, businesses say
The claws are out — and this year, they’re coming in at familiar prices.
The 2025-26 Florida stone crab season officially opened Wednesday, Oct. 15, and by Thursday morning, resturants and seafood markets across South Florida were already stacking trays of the sweet, firm and slightly nutty-flavored delicacy on ice.
But while prices remain steady, some seafood experts say demand isn’t what it used to be, even as the season officially starts.
Adrian Benitez, owner of Adrian Fish Market & Restaurant, with two locations in Hialeah Gardens and Southwest Ranches, said the excitement for the high-quality, lean protein may be outpacing the economy.
He blames the slow pace on stagnant spending.
“I don’t see the same amount of people coming out to eat like they used to,“ Benitez said. “We’re like 20-30% down, compared to other years.”
Part of what helps Benitez keep prices steady is his reach beyond Florida. His company, ADR Global Fisheries, ships specialty catches nationwide — all the way to New York, Michigan, Missouri and California.
“That’s the reason we’re able to keep such low prices at the restaurant and the fish market,” Benitez said. “Since it’s our own product, we’re able to wholesale it.”
Still, the start of the season brought plenty of excitement. Benitez said customers flooded in asking when the claws would hit the menu — some even pre-ordering pounds of crab for football game watch parties.
“That first day, the 15th, is unbelievable,” he said. “Weeks before, people were calling about prices and availability. It’s definitely a big excitement.”
Regulars in the know can order off-menu versions such as stone crabs in Creole or garlic sauce, but Benitez recommends sticking with “the traditional way.”
“A cold cracked stone crab with mustard sauce — that’s definitely always the way to go,” he said.
His restaurant’s new location, which marked its first anniversary in October after 11 years in Hialeah Gardens, serves customers from both Southwest Ranches and Pembroke Pines. And while reports of shortages have circulated further north in Fort Pierce, Benitez said local boats have been hauling in healthy catches so far.
“Thankfully, the first few days have been good,” he said. “We haven’t experienced any shortages.”
Across Flamingo Road, at Doris Italian Market & Bakery, stone crab claws are selling between $35.99 and $55.99 per pound, depending on their size.
Store manager Eric Swaggerty, who has worked at the market for five years, said prices so far have stayed consistent with the last seasons’.
“This is the first time I’ve seen this season’s prices, and they look about the same as last year,” Swaggerty said. “I haven’t seen any influx in prices.”
Originally a small mom-and-pop meat market and deli that opened in 1947, Doris Italian Market & Bakery has expanded to multiple South Florida locations, including Pembroke Pines, Sunrise, Coral Springs, Boca Raton and North Palm Beach.
According to Swaggerty, the quality of the store’s stone crabs keeps customers coming back.
“I never have any complaints,” he said. “Not many returns ever on them. It’s the best time in the season for seafood — I just want to make the most money in our seafood department.”
Florida’s stone crab season will continue until May 1, 2026. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shortened the season by two weeks starting in 2020 — ending May 1 instead of May 15 — to curb overfishing and give crabs more time to regenerate their claws.
Florida law allows harvesting both claws of a crab if they meet the FWC’s updated minimum size requirement of 2 7/8 inches. Outside of these months, fisheries close to protect the species during its breeding season and ensure a stable population for the succeeding harvests.
For those looking for a deal, Adrian’s offers a medium stone crab special every Thursday: $3 per claw.
“It’s undefeated,” Benitez said.
This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM.
