"Open Oct. 15 - May 1 (closed on May 2)." That one line on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's stone crab page sets the calendar for every claw cracked in Citrus County this year. Counted inclusively, that's 199 days of season. Day one is this Thursday, Oct. 15. Day 24 is Saturday, Nov. 7, when downtown Crystal River closes its streets for Stone Crab Jam.
Here, the season runs on short distances. The claws on a Homosassa or Crystal River counter often come off boats run by the business behind that counter, and the gap between trap and table can be a few miles. The rules also let residents with their own traps get closer still. The fall calendar follows the same short loop, from the docks to the counters to a charity street party on Citrus Avenue.
Day one belongs to the counters with their own boats
Two local businesses describe themselves as catching what they sell, and that's the clearest place to start the season.
Shelly's Seafood & Fish Market on S. Boulevard Drive in Homosassa says it harvests, processes and sells local fish and crabs. It also keeps a separate stone crab wholesale page, which tells you claws are a core product there and not a seasonal add-on. The shop itself notes that availability varies and suggests calling ahead.
The Crab Plant at 201 NW 5th Street in Crystal River lists stone crab as a product, posts separate restaurant and market hours, and says it operates its own boats to bring in fresh catches. It also has the most recent public sign of claws on the table: a Tripadvisor review dated April 2026, near the tail end of last season, mentions eating its stone crab claws.
Out on the Ozello Trail, Peck's Old Port Cove at 139 N. Ozello Trail shows stone crab on its website and takes reservations. The site text doesn't confirm what's on this month's menu, so it's worth a call before the drive out.
| Where | Town | What the business says about itself | Before you go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelly's Seafood & Fish Market | Homosassa | Harvests, processes and sells local fish and crabs; has a stone crab wholesale page | Availability varies; the shop recommends calling |
| The Crab Plant | Crystal River | Runs its own boats; restaurant and market under one roof | Hours posted online are undated |
| Peck's Old Port Cove | Ozello | Stone crab shown on its site; reservations available | Menu availability not confirmed online |
One caution covers all three. None of these business websites puts a date on its hours. Calling ahead is the practical step, especially in the first week of the season, when stock depends on what the boats bring in.
The other way to get claws: your own five traps
The short supply chain gets even shorter for residents who want to pull claws themselves. Florida's recreational rules, as FWC currently lists them, work like this:
- Traps: harvesters 16 and older register their traps at no cost and may fish only their own five registered traps.
- Size: a claw has to measure at least 2 7/8 inches to keep.
- Protected crabs: egg-bearing crabs may not be harvested.
- Limit: one gallon of claws per person or two gallons per vessel, whichever is less.
- Gear: recreational plastic and wood traps need an escape ring.
The core rules have been in place for years. According to FWC's rulemaking history, the May 1 end date and the 2 7/8-inch minimum took effect Oct. 1, 2020. The escape ring was required before the 2023–24 season started.
The gallon limit is the number that matters at dinner. Since the vessel cap is two gallons "whichever is less," a boat with three or four people aboard still tops out at two gallons. A crew planning a backyard claw night for the neighbors should plan around that.
On prices, there's no Citrus County-specific outlook for this season yet. The most recent reporting is statewide: in October 2025, the South Florida Sun Sentinel described strong early hauls and heavy demand last season, some shortages of medium claws, and prices holding at 2023 and 2024 levels. Local counters set their own prices once boats start landing claws, so the phone call to Shelly's or The Crab Plant doubles as a price check.
Day 24: the claws move to Citrus Avenue
Twenty-three days after the opener, the season leaves the counters and fills the street. The 19th annual Stone Crab Jam takes over 610 North Citrus Avenue in Crystal River on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. The Kings Bay Rotary Charitable Foundation presents it, and the organizers bill it as an open-container street festival with six live bands, beer, wine, food trucks, vendors, and a "variety of Seafoods & Landlubber foods." The City of Crystal River's event page adds that the bands play across three stages and that the Jam falls on the first Saturday in November every year.
"Delicious Stone Crab! With many other delicacies for your dining pleasure!"
That's the promise from the 2026 ticket page. The page doesn't say whether claws come by the pound, as plates, or both, and no individual band names have been posted. The festival's own homepage mentions five live bands, while the ticket page and city listing say six, so the final lineup may still be settling.
Here's the practical rundown from the organizer's ticket page:
- Hours: noon to 9 p.m. The city calendar lists a 10 p.m. close, so check with the organizers if you're planning a late arrival.
- Admission: $15 per adult, cash only at the gate, or $12.50 online plus processing fees. Children 12 and under get in free. ATMs are near and inside the festival.
- Parking: free at Crystal River High School, 3195 Crystal River High Drive, with a $2 shuttle bus into the Jam. Parking closer to the festival may be free or paid.
- Where the money goes: all proceeds benefit local charities.
The charity side gives the day its local weight. Kings Bay Rotary says it donated more than $44,000 in 2024–25 to local charities, nonprofits, service organizations, food banks, schools and youth groups. The event has been a fixture long enough to have its own track record. The Citrus County Chronicle covered the 15th annual Jam in 2022 with the same format of six bands, three stages, stone crab, and proceeds for area charities, nonprofits, schools and scholarships. The festival's own site plans for a crowd of 10,000 to 12,000. That's the organizers' estimate, and it's a good reason to use the high school shuttle.
Day 31: Homosassa takes its turn
The following weekend, the seafood calendar moves south. The 51st Homosassa Arts, Crafts & Seafood Festival runs Nov. 14–15, 2026, on the Homosassa Civic Club grounds. Seafood is part of the event, according to the club and to Discover Crystal River's listing, but neither one promises stone crab specifically.
The two listings also disagree on hours. The Civic Club says 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Discover Crystal River lists 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The club is the organizer, so its posted times are the safer bet, but confirm before you go.
Taken together, the first month of the season runs from Oct. 15 at the counters, to Nov. 7 on Citrus Avenue, to Nov. 14–15 in Homosassa. After that, there are still more than five months of claws left before the May 1 close. Shelly's harvests its own crabs and The Crab Plant runs its own boats, so they remain the first calls once the festival tents come down, though Shelly's notes that quantities and selection change.
If this season has you picturing a home closer to the canals and docks where these claws come in, or you're curious what your own waterfront place is worth heading into the winter market, That Other Laura Bush knows these waters and the neighborhoods along them. Get Your Home Valuation, and we'll handle the details while you're out at the Jam.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
