Stone crab season in Miami: the dates, the rules and where to eat claws in 2026-27
Florida stone crab season runs October 15, 2026 to May 1, 2027. Here are the rules, Joe's claw prices by size and other Miami places that serve them.
En bref
- Season: October 15 to May 1 in Florida state waters; opened Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- Benchmark price: Joe's: medium $49.95, select $64.95, large $79.95, jumbo $139.95.
- Where: Joe's at 11 Washington Ave, South Beach; Truluck's on Brickell; Garcia's on the Miami River.
- Only claws: Crabs go back in the water; claws must be at least 2 7/8 inches.
- Cheaper: Garcia's sells claws at market price from its own fish market.
Stone crab season is open now through May 1, 2027; eat them at Joe's for the classic experience, or buy claws at a fish market like Garcia's for a cheaper feast at your rental.
Avant de partir
- Season in Florida state waters: October 15 to May 1, closed from May 2; the 2026-27 season opened on Thursday, October 15
- Only the claws are harvested; the crab goes back into the water
- Joe's serves its claws with its own mustard sauce; ask other places what sauce comes with them
- Restaurants price by size: medium, select, large and jumbo, and jumbo is not always available
- Fish markets sell at market price, which moves with the catch; call ahead for sizes in stock
- Recreational crabbers need to follow the FWC rules below before setting a single trap
Florida stone crab rules, 2026-27
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Season | October 15 to May 1 in state waters; closed on May 2 |
| Claw size | At least 2 7/8 inches; only claws may be harvested |
| Bag limit | 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons per vessel, whichever is less |
| Egg-bearing crabs | May not be harvested |
| Traps | Up to 5 per person, registered to you, pulled by hand in daylight |
| Registration | Free online trap registration for anyone 16 or older |
Both claws may be taken if legal size, but the FWC notes that leaves the crab fewer ways to defend itself and feed.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, checked October 2026
Joe's Stone Crab prices by size
| Size | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | $49.95 | When available |
| Select | $64.95 | |
| Large | $79.95 | |
| Jumbo | $139.95 | When available |
| Airplane pack | $10.95 | Extra, at Take Away, for flying home with claws |
Prices from the dining room menu and the Take Away menu, which match. Sides cost extra: hashed brown potatoes are $13.95 small and $18.95 large, creamed or other spinach $13.95.
Joe's Stone Crab menus on its own site, checked October 2026
Joe's Stone Crab: the classic
Joe's is at 11 Washington Ave, at the southern end of South Beach. Dinner runs 5 to 10 pm Sunday to Thursday and 5 to 11 pm Friday and Saturday; lunch is Wednesday to Sunday, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. The bar opens at 11 am Wednesday to Sunday and at 4:30 pm Monday and Tuesday. Book through OpenTable from its site.
If you do not want the dining room, Joe's Take Away next door is open daily from 11:30 am to 9 pm with the same claw prices. That is the best way to eat stone crab on a budget at Joe's: take claws, mustard sauce and a slice of key lime pie to South Pointe Park, a short walk away.
Other places for stone crab in Miami
| Place | Where | How it sells claws | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truluck's | 777 Brickell Ave, Brickell | Florida stone crab served October 15 to May 1; prices not posted online | Mon to Thu 11:30 am to 10 pm; Fri to 11 pm; Sat 2 to 11 pm; Sun 2 to 10 pm |
| Garcia's Seafood Grille & Fish Market | On the Miami River | In season October 15 to May 1, all sizes at market price, in the restaurant or the fish market | Not on its site; call before you go |
Truluck's happy hour gives 50% off cocktails, wine by the glass and oysters in the bar, not on stone crab.
Truluck's and Garcia's websites, checked October 2026
How much should stone crabs cost
Stone crab is priced by claw size, and the bigger the claw, the more meat per crack. Restaurants charge per order; fish markets charge by weight at market price. Prices for the 2026-27 season had not been widely reported by late October, so treat Joe's menu as the reference point and ask any market for the day's price per pound before you order.
Do not rely on last season's numbers from news stories. Market prices are set by the day's catch, so call ahead, and at a restaurant ask how many claws come in an order of each size before you choose.
Les questions qu’on se pose
When is stone crab season in Miami?
Florida's stone crab season runs from October 15 to May 1 in state waters and is closed from May 2. The 2026-27 season opened on Thursday, October 15, 2026, per the FWC and local reports.
How much are stone crabs at Joe's?
Per Joe's menu in October 2026: medium $49.95, select $64.95, large $79.95 and jumbo $139.95. Medium and jumbo are sold when available.
Where can I get cheaper stone crabs in Miami?
Buy claws from a fish market. Garcia's on the Miami River sells all sizes at market price from its fish market during the season. Joe's Take Away is a cheaper way to eat Joe's claws than a dining room meal, at the same claw prices.
Why are only stone crab claws eaten?
Florida rules allow only the claws to be harvested; the crab goes back into the water. Claws must be at least 2 7/8 inches, and egg-bearing crabs may not be taken.
Is Joe's Stone Crab open all year?
Its location page lists regular lunch and dinner hours without a seasonal closure. Claws are only available in season, from October 15 to May 1.
Autres guides
Key lime pie in Miami: where to get a slice or a whole pie, and which famous names closedDessert · Key lime pie · 4 min de lectureThe best seafood restaurants in Miami: river fish shacks, raw bars and the white-tablecloth fishSeafood · Restaurants · 6 min de lecture
South Pointe Park: the pier, the playground, parking and when to goSouth Beach · Parks · South beach · 3 min de lectureSeason and harvest rules from myfwc.com; 2026 opening from mysuncoast.com (October 13, 2026); prices and hours from joesstonecrab.com; Truluck's hours and season from trulucks.com; Garcia's season and market-price note from garciasmiami.com; all checked October 2026.