Stone and Blue Crabs

Crab fisheries represent another important group of fisheries in Cedar Key, especially since WWII. Stone crabs are one of Florida's most unique commodities. Only the claws are harvested and stone crab claws are only available certain times of year. Blue crabs, in contrast, are found throughout the eastern US and Gulf of Mexico. They are highly abundant in Florida and open for harvest year-round. Cedar Key was historically an important packing and processing center for blue crabs and other shellfish.

Next to each kiosk, you can see an example of the traps used to catch each type of crab. Read the panels for more in-depth information about each crab and trap type. Then, keep your eyes peeled around town for stacks of crab traps. Fishers stack the traps in the sun to combat fouling organisms such as barnacles and sea squirts that grow on the outside of the traps.