Time To Get Cracking!

Get your mustard sauce and bibs ready because stone crab season is here.

Crabbers can start pulling up their traps today.

Holly Dudley, who is a director of the Florida Stone Crabbers Association with Kelly Kirk and Carrie Doxsee, says the season got off to a late start.

"We threw the first day, October 5th, opening day, and then we decided to halt throwing any more traps. We didn't want to lose them with the other storm coming."

Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit Central and North Florida fishermen hard.

"They've lost docks, boats, fish houses, traps, homes. So, the Florida Stone Crabbers Association we've taken up donations, and we've been sending supplies to those places and trying to help as best we can at least get the fishermen on the water."

She says South and Southwest Florida weren't immune because, "Everglades City flooded. Goodland flooded. Naples flooded. Not as much water as what Irma and Ian brought into us."

But she stresses crabbers bounce back quickly, even if the season starts slowly.

The last day to harvest is May 1st.