Seafood wholesalers, restaurant managers and diners were all waiting anxiously for stone crab trappers to start adding the stocks. It is said that on the very first day of the stone crab harvesting season the trappers have been out on their boats since midnight hauling in their traps to see how many of the redish-brown crustaceans with the sweet and succulent claw meat have wandered into their traps.
Karen Bell, manager of the A.P. Bell Fishhouse, informed that they are expecting the trappers back by next morning. Until the five boats that left out of the Cortez fishhouse docks return, no one knows what this season will be like. According to Bell one of the fishermen that has his traps in the Sarasota Bay, he collected about 26 pounds in his 30 traps. He said he talked to his buddy offshore and he only got 10 pounds with 50 traps.
John Gunther, manager of the BeachHouse Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive, in Bradenton Beach, pointed out that Wednesday morning the popular seafood fare will be on the menu as soon as he can get some. He added that the fishermen are still out and we won’t know when they’ll be on the menu until they get back. Bell said it depends on the size of the catch, and Gunther said it depends on what the wholesaler charges.
Steve Brown, an assistant research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Center in St. Petersburg, told that the landings, or catch, should be as good as or better than last year’s. he said there is no negative expectations this time.
