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Tag: Cortez stone crab

Cortez moves forward with stone crab harvest

Cortez moves forward with stone crab harvest

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Community News, Cortez, Featured.

CORTEZ – In a display of resilience following recent back-to-back hurricanes, both Cortez fish houses are moving forward with the seasonal stone crab harvest.

Stone crab harvesting season runs from Oct. 15 through May 1.

“One boat went out today,” Karen Bell, owner of A.P. Bell Fish Co., responded by text on Oct. 15 to a question by The Sun about the viability of this year’s season. “There definitely will be a season.”

Stone crabs are harvested for their claws and then returned to the water where the claws will regenerate. The claws are a delicacy in seafood shops and restaurants.

The season will also continue this year at John Banyas’ Cortez Bait and Seafood, Inc., according to Swordfish Grill General Manager Adam Sears.

He responded to The Sun by text, saying, “We have gear in the water.”

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regulations for commercial harvesting of stone crabs: “Traps may be placed in the water and baited 10 days prior to the opening of the stone crab season. Please be aware that once placed, you may not tend to the traps until the start of the season, at which time you may begin harvesting.”

A Manatee County Historical Society plaque in front of Star Fish Company references a long history of determination in Cortez and reads in part: “Records show that by 1897 Cortez was a thriving fishing community with stores, a school and other refinements. The fish houses and other shoreline structures were virtually destroyed by the high waters and winds of the 1921 hurricane, but the determined residents rebuilt.”

In order to allow residents time to recover and rebuild from the two recent hurricanes, the 12th annual Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival was canceled this year.

“We look forward to bringing back the festival better and stronger next year,” according to organizers.

Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival canceled

Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival canceled

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Festivals.

CORTEZ – The 12th annual Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival is canceled this year due to the impacts of recent hurricanes.

The festival was scheduled for Nov. 9 and 10. It’s a Cortez tradition that celebrates the start of the stone crab harvest season. It typically draws more than 5,000 attendees to the Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar parking area and features live music, crafts and local seafood.

The cancelation was announced in an Oct. 14 post on The Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival Facebook page.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Stone Crab & Music Festival due to the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. After assessing the damage and prioritizing the safety and recovery of our community, we realized this was the best course of action.”

Cortez homes flooded during the storm surge from Hurricane Helene and many suffered further damage from the high winds of Hurricane Milton.

The organizers said the decision was not made lightly.

“We appreciate the understanding and support of our loyal attendees, vendors and sponsors during this challenging time,” the post stated.

Emails have been sent to art, food and beverage vendors.

“Thank you for your continued support of the Cortez community. We look forward to bringing back the festival better and stronger next year,” according to the Facebook post.

Stone crab season closes

Stone crab season closes

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Fishing, Outdoors.

Fresh stone crabs will be available just a little while longer as the harvesting season is about to end.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), stone crab season closes on May 2 with the last day of harvest being May 1 for the state’s recreational and commercial stone crab seasons in state and federal waters.

The annual season closure is intended to increase the stone crab population and build resiliency in the fishery, according to the FWC.

The only part of the crab that is harvested is the claw.

“Stone crabs are known for their powerful claws, which account for more than half of the crab’s total weight. These crabs use their two claws – a crushing claw and a tearing claw – to eat and defend themselves,” according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension Service. “Unlike other fisheries, the claws are also the only parts of the crab harvested – live stone crabs must be returned to the water where they can regenerate new claws.”

Commercially harvested stone crab claws may be possessed and sold during the closed season but only if they have been placed in inventory prior to May 2 by a licensed wholesale or retail dealer.

Stone crab traps must be removed from the water within five days after the close of the stone crab season. Stone crab claws may not be harvested from traps pulled after the season closes.

The harvesting season will begin again on Oct. 15.

For more information on harvesting stone crab traps for recreation, commercial stone crab regulations, trap specifications and licensing information, go online to MYFWC.com/Marine.