Floridians have treated stone crab season like a holiday since the 1920s, and every fall the same question comes back: are the stone crabs in yet? This year the answer is yes. Florida stone crab season opened on October 15, and fresh claws are back at Palm Beach Lobsters & Seafood in Northwood Village.

If you have been waiting all summer for real, fresh stone crabs in West Palm Beach, this is your guide to what makes this season special, how to pick the right claw size, and the easiest ways to get them, whether you are dining in with us or ordering stone crab delivery to your door.

Why Stone Crab Season Feels Like a Holiday in Florida

Stone crab is one of Florida's most iconic seafood traditions, and you can only get truly fresh claws for part of the year.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sets the season from October 15 through May 1. Outside that window, any claw you see has been frozen. That short, protected season is exactly what makes the first fresh claws of fall feel like an event.

There is also a story behind every claw that people love. Stone crab is the only Florida catch where the animal goes back into the water alive. Harvesters take one claw that measures at least 2 7/8 inches, return the crab to the ocean, and the crab regrows the claw over its molt cycle, roughly a year per molt. That is a big reason the fishery has lasted a century and why stone crab is considered one of the most sustainable seafood choices in the country.

What Makes Our Stone Crabs Different

There are plenty of places to buy stone crab in South Florida. What sets Palm Beach Lobsters & Seafood apart is how short the trip is from the water to your plate.

We are a father-and-son team of commercial fishermen and divers. We hold our own wholesale and retail saltwater products licenses, so our claws do not pass through a broker, sit in a distribution warehouse, or ride across the state on a truck. They are cooked at the dock the day they are caught and sold whole, which keeps the meat sweet and firm until the moment you crack it.

During the season, the claws in our case were in the ocean earlier that week. That is a shorter chain than any grocery counter in Palm Beach County can offer. If you want to learn more about how we handle our catch, our stone crabs in West Palm Beach page covers sourcing, storage, and season rules in detail.

Stone Crab Claw Sizes: How to Choose

Stone crab claws are graded by weight. A bigger claw means fewer claws per pound and more meat in every crack. Here is a quick way to think about each size:

• Medium (6 to 7 claws per pound): A great starting point for first-timers and a perfect appetizer for the table.
• Large (4 to 5 claws per pound): Our everyday favorite and the best value per bite for most dinners.
• Jumbo (2 to 3 claws per pound): A true main course with big, meaty pieces.
• Colossal (1 to 2 claws per pound): The showstopper for birthdays, holidays, and anyone you want to impress.

How much should you order? Plan on about one pound per person if stone crab is the meal and half a pound per person if it is the opener. With large claws, that works out to four or five claws each for dinner. In our experience, nobody has ever complained about ordering too many.

You can order stone crab claws by the pound in all four sizes while the season is open.

Stone Crab Delivery, Pickup, and Dining In

We offer a few simple ways to get your claws:

Dine in at the restaurant. Stop by 2501 N Dixie Hwy in West Palm Beach and enjoy chilled claws with our mustard sauce, right next to the rest of our fresh seafood menu.

Pickup. Skip the line and order online for pickup or delivery. Pick up your order at our Northwood Village restaurant.

Local stone crab delivery. Local delivery is available through our online ordering, bringing fresh claws straight to your door.

Nationwide shipping. Have family up north who miss Florida in the winter? We ship premium seafood across the United States, and each order is securely packaged to maintain freshness during transit.

Claws are sold by the pound in Medium, Large, Jumbo, and Colossal, so you can order exactly what your table needs.

How to Serve Stone Crab Claws at Home

The best part about stone crab is that there is no recipe to get wrong. Our claws arrive fully cooked, which sets the meat and keeps it from sticking to the shell. All you need to do is decide how you like them.

Chilled with mustard sauce. This is the Florida classic. A simple sauce of mayonnaise, dry mustard, and Worcestershire lets the sweet claw meat shine.

Warm with butter. If you prefer something richer, warm the claws gently and serve them with melted butter. For an upgrade, try one of our gourmet compound butters, like Key lime, for a bright citrus finish.

A few storage rules keep your claws at their best:

• Keep claws whole, in the shell, on ice in the refrigerator.
• Eat them within two to three days.
• Do not crack them until you are ready to eat.
• If you need to hold them longer, freeze them whole in the shell. Never freeze cracked meat, because the texture turns soft and mushy.

Cracking the shell the right way keeps the meat whole. For a full step-by-step walkthrough, read our guide on how to crack stone crab claws without wrecking the meat.

Make It a Full Florida Seafood Spread

Fall is a great time to eat seafood in West Palm Beach. Along with stone crab, Florida spiny lobster is still in season, which means you can build a true local spread in one stop. Pair your claws with our Florida and Maine lobster rolls, fresh local fish, lobster mac and cheese, conch fritters, or a cup of lobster bisque. For a lighter bite, our fish dip and peel and eat shrimp are a perfect start to the meal.

With stone crab and Florida spiny lobster both in season, fall is one of the best times of year to visit us.

Do Not Wait Until the Last Claw

Fresh stone crabs in West Palm Beach are only available from October 15 to May 1, and the season is open right now. Whether you want a casual lunch at the counter, an easy pickup on the way home, or stone crab delivery for a holiday table, Palm Beach Lobsters & Seafood has fresh, fisherman-caught claws ready for you.

Visit us at 2501 N Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33407, call +1 561-919-2095, or order online today. Stone crab season is short. Make every week of it count.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is stone crab season in West Palm Beach?

Florida stone crab season runs from October 15 through May 1, set by the FWC. Fresh claws are only harvested during these months, so the season is open right now.

Where can I buy fresh stone crabs in West Palm Beach?

Palm Beach Lobsters & Seafood at 2501 N Dixie Hwy sells fresh, fisherman-caught stone crab claws by the pound for dine-in, pickup, local delivery, and nationwide shipping.

Do you offer stone crab delivery?

Yes. We offer local stone crab delivery in the West Palm Beach area through our online ordering, plus nationwide shipping for customers outside Florida.

Are stone crab claws sold cooked or raw?

Stone crab claws are always cooked right after harvest. They are ready to eat chilled, or you can warm them gently with butter. No cooking is needed at home.

How many stone crab claws do I need per person?

Plan on about one pound per person for a main course and half a pound for an appetizer. With large claws, that is about four to five claws per person.

What is the best sauce for stone crab?

Mustard sauce is the Florida classic. Melted butter or a gourmet compound butter is a great warm option.

Why are stone crabs considered sustainable?

Only one claw is harvested and the crab is returned to the water alive. It regrows the claw over time, which keeps the fishery healthy year after year.