Clear water and high gas prices slow Cortez crab season

Stone crab season in Cortez has started slower than usual because clear water is keeping crabs hidden and high fuel costs are reducing earnings for local crabbers. Jim Gowett, manager of Star Fish Company Market and Restaurant, said the crabs are not moving into traps as expected this year.

Gowett explained that stone crabs remain stationary in clear water because they are vulnerable to predators. They stay in the mud and do not wander into the traps set by the boats. The bottom of the water needs to be stirred up to encourage the crabs to move, he said. Most traps are placed within five miles of the shore, but the current thin catch means some boats are losing money on each trip due to gas prices.

The season opened on Oct. 15 and will run through May 1. Gowett noted that the Florida Panhandle is having a better season, and Star Fish has been purchasing claws from there. He added that it is difficult to sell medium-sized claws, so the market is seeing mostly jumbo and colossal sizes. At Star Fish Co., colossal claws cost about $45 per pound, which yields one to two claws for a customer.

Weather is the primary concern for the industry right now. Gowett stated that the pleasant weather enjoyed by residents is difficult for the crabbing business because it keeps the water clear. He said it is impossible to know if the crabs are simply absent or just hiding until the water becomes muddier.

Adam Sears, general manager of the Swordfish Grill and the Cortez Kitchen, said fuel prices are at a peak level. The amount paid to crabbers has not increased significantly to match those costs. Sears explained that the restaurant owns a boat and wants to pay more, but the financial margin does not allow it. He also pointed out that larger fleets in other regions flood the market with high volumes of product, forcing local operators to adjust their strategies.

At the Cortez Kitchen, a medium stone crab dinner costs between $35 and $40. This meal includes approximately six claws and two sides. Sears described this as one of the more affordable options in the area for customers looking for stone crab. He noted that operators must balance fuel, labor, boat maintenance, and market prices to keep their products sellable.