Under normal circumstances, crabbers start putting out stone crab traps Oct. 5 and 6 and then retrieve them on the opening day of the season. With Milton lurking in the Gulf, however, many crabbers decided to either put out only one or two traps or held off entirely until the threat had passed.

Stone crab season runs through May 1 in Florida waters and associated waters. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ( FWC) is encouraging residents who are 16 years or older to take advantage of the season. But there are some strict reminders and stipulations before throwing down stone crab traps into state and federal waters.