Inside A Million Dollar Stone Crab Operation

I go behind the scenes with one of the largest stone crab operations in the industry to show you everything it takes to bring this absolutely delicious seafood to your table.
Massive thanks to this crew in Homosassa Springs, Florida, for allowing me to get in the action. I really appreciate each of you for your patience, kindness, great memories, and teaching me everything there is to know about how your industry operates. You are some incredibly hard working people.
Please consider joining my newsletter, where I share some behind the scenes conversations, talk about upcoming projects, and check in with you to see where I should film next! bit.ly/3c95UOe
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I'm a full-time DJ in Key West, Florida, who has an interest in learning more about the lives of others. From commercial fishing to world famous street performers, I feel that it is important we better understand world around us, and I happy to share what I learn with you all 🤝
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#commercialfishing #stonecrab #behindthescenes

[@ScottGerke]

Please consider joining my newsletter, where I share some behind the scenes conversations, talk about upcoming projects, and check in with you to see where I should film next! bit.ly/3c95UOe Who should I film next? Doesn't have to be commercial fishing, but if you've been a part of my channel long enough, you know I'm a big fan of filming this type of stuff!

[@brianwitaconis1108]

I can’t believe I my friends uncle is a KZbinr with 15k good job a couple months ago when I heard of the channel when I subbed it had 10k like 5k gain in a couple months is crazy

[@ScottGerke]

@@brianwitaconis1108 crazy, huh? Looks like people enjoy watching all of these commercial fishing videos and I have lots of fun making them!

[@brianwitaconis1108]

@@ScottGerkeNO KIDDING!😁

[@brianwitaconis1108]

You should make the next video about finding some of the biggest crabs🦀

[@dustoin1386]

Love finding a new channel that makes good videos! It doesn't happen often.

[@worldofnuance]

Nice work Scott. Glad you got the go-ahead to put this video out into the world.

[@ScottGerke]

thanks!

[@JohnnyT161]

Congrats captain on the new grandbaby

[@richardvictoria626]

Excited for your next video i just binge watched 5 of them. Really excited for the next one, i love how you give the crew their own spotlight. But you also ask the right questions and show every step of the process

[@ScottGerke]

Thanks a bunch, Richard & Victoria :) The fishermen are just as fascinating as the industry, right?! I plan on continuing this series as there is sooooo much for all of us to learn.

[@ashleyq1482]

Another great video, Scott! Love the drone footage.

[@ScottGerke]

thanks Ashley! The drone stuff is always my favorite challenge with these vids :)

[@lifeisonlyonce3306]

Scott, would love for you to come 4 days with us on a bandit stringer gear commercial fishing trip for grouper and red snapper out of Panama City! Feel like it would add another unseen aspect to the channel

[@TimNye850]

THIS!

[@ScottGerke]

I would love to and thanks for the invite! Can you please email me your info and we'll talk. Here is the contact form: www.scottcgerke.com/contact It's people like you who help make this series happen and I look forward to hearing from you soon :)

[@ScottGerke]

I just realized I deleted your email! Can you please reach out to me again, thanks :) www.scottcgerke.com/contact

[@angusfan23]

I know these videos take a long time to come together, but I would love if you uploaded more frequently! I can’t get enough!

[@ScottGerke]

I appreciate you stopping by and sharing that with me :) Yes, these fishing videos take a ton of time to make. Not just the filming part, but also building a relationship, blocking off time when the weather is good, and then the edit...whew! Lot of fun though. Currently, my work as a full-time event DJ makes it hard to schedule these vids more often, but in the future I plan on devoting more time to this channel. I've been wanting to spend a whole year traveling and making vids and DJing in whatever city I'm in, so we'll see how that goes!

[@HowdIEvenGetHere]

@@ScottGerkedo you have a link to a page for your dj’ing?

[@ScottGerke]

@@HowdIEvenGetHere here are all the links to my DJ work: www.linktree.com/visualizeent As for my mixes online: www.mixcloud.com/scott-gerke/ I'm trying to upload more, but there's two uploaded at the moment. Thanks for stopping by!

[@ginaalwaysavip1177]

Great video thanks so much for sharing with us all.

[@ScottGerke]

you are soooo very welcome, Gina!

[@Dane-o7q]

Stone crab claws. best food on earth!

[@terryhowie3099]

Really cool video Scott! Good on you for getting to work too!

[@ScottGerke]

Getting to work their jobs is one of my favorite parts of this series!

[@DuaneEseo-ul1bg]

Very nice guys you practice sustainability..

[@NB.867.]

Congrats Captain on being a Pop Pop!!! Cheers buddy!👍🏻👍🏻

[@philiprubin6274]

Just discovered your channel absolutely fantastic and informative Thank you

[@dougharlow6037]

Great video. Very informational. Thanks

[@USNVA11]

Great video. That is some good honest hard work. I hope they continue to be very successful with their business.

[@ScottGerke]

Some honest and hard work indeed! I had to take a nap in between. No way could I keep up haha

[@jimmyfumbanks6081]

Time will tell , but this fishery is relatively new so the cat is still in the bag . The fish and wildlife have stood there with the hands on the wallet while the Quota was set .

[@pennreelfishing]

That’s is the FUTURE and I love it. Excellent just Excellent. From a Cook Islander

[@algomafarming3799]

You deserve more subscribers i enjoy these types of videos

[@ScottGerke]

Thanks to my other commercial fishing videos that have hit over one million views, more subs are coming in daily!

[@brianwitaconis1108]

Keep on going I can’t believe you got this far with a 5k subscriber gain that’s insane when my friends told me there uncle was famous on KZbin I knew I had to sub cause they would be great vids.

[@ScottGerke]

Thanks for stopping by, Brian! I'll have to tell my nephews thank's for telling their friends about my channel haha :)

[@petermccuskey1832]

Thank you for the insight.

[@DrivingWithDon]

I've been binge watching your videos. Really love these videos. Hope you do more of them. Heck, just watched the Florida Lobster video before this one, had no idea there was even a Florida lobster industry! Thanks again!

[@ScottGerke]

Awesome to hear, Dan, and thanks for stopping by! I plan on getting back into the groove with making commercial fishing videos, and other industries as well. Because of the massive time it takes to organize these trips and scheduling with my full time job, I had to pause for a moment. I'm a full-time private event DJ and it's currently wedding season.

[@DrivingWithDon]

@@ScottGerke I appreciate the effort you put into these videos. Just know a lot of us like them!

[@ScottGerke]

@@DrivingWithDon I see that! I cannot believe some of these fishing videos are getting over a million views! I've made prob over 100 videos of various themes and never seen this much traction! It feels pretty awesome :) Glad to see you and so many ppl share the same interest in this industry. It's so fascinating.

[@skullhart]

Learned alot from this. Thanks

[@Chrissers2010]

Would have loved to hear the name of the business and where they were located.

[@ScottGerke]

Never got a business name, as they sell mainly to wholesalers, but fish out of Homosassa, FL.

[@getonlygotonly]

I sure miss my stone crab boat. I only had 1000 traps but when state changed the rules and you had to buy tags and could only get so many according to years of previous trip tickets and made it impossible for little guys like me to survive.

[@dylanskrzypek5397]

That's what happens when big companies get influence of politicians

[@kennethboydsr3966]

Wish I was a young man would love to work on one of these boats I all ways loved watching the shrimp boats on vacation on Holden Beach N .C I’m 72 a bit to old .

[@davidsallas7049]

Ly allowed to keep one claw the biggest one. Had to leave one for them to eat with

[@cliftonjarrett9273]

Hi my god i wish I was there with you guys.

[@Knowlesie]

We haul just as fast in our boat twice the rope, and I clear and bait and drop. Three man crew two haulers about 18-25 seconds per trap

[@stephaniecarroll4698]

Wow you're really getting a lot more views and subscribers since I started watching some of your videos back in 2020. But even before then, you've always had good content. I miss seeing and hearing you DJ in Key West! Also, I was scrolling on Facebook and saw your post about this which is how I found it and I didn't know you were married now as well, congratulations! -Steph (from back in the day in Key West)

[@ScottGerke]

yea it's crazy! Ppl really liking the commercial fishing series :) And thanks, Steph! Yup, a married man now 🥰 Great to hear from you!

[@shawnlockett4676]

We catch stone crabs in crystal river not too far from Homosassa

[@joeyfins92]

Is it a year long fishery?

[@user-ot8gf5ns8z]

Try getting out on a bait shrimping boat in Hernando beach. It's worth looking into, I can assure you

[@ScottGerke]

That was my plan when filming this video in Hernando but timing didn’t line up. It’s on my list for further vids though.

[@sfllife03]

The one video with the double cabin is from Everglades city it used to be called the Viking Allen

[@hubertlao9960]

Wow nice, business stone crab.are very delicious

[@rjgrace3676]

Richie the man! Stiglitz boys are awesome!

[@ScottGerke]

it's so cool to see this family making it happen. Richie was all about making sure I got the shots I needed and very hospitable. All of them were great on camera!

[@ballistic350]

Hard work.. props... damn 60lbs traps thats alot of weight depending how many traps they have... crazyyy😮😮😮

[@areguapiri]

...a lot...

[@ginaalwaysavip1177]

10lbs 11oz Congratulations!!

[@SR-bk8dj]

Great video

[@ScottGerke]

thanks!

[@KHtally]

Interesting so commercial can take both claws but recreational can only take one? How does the crab survive if it takes 18 months to grow a new claw?

[@sfllife03]

Plus we don’t use tables we use pullers and we pull 1000 traps a day sometimes 800 we Leave at 4:30 5 but we are back by 3

[@dennistrowell6933]

Love these videos. Learn something new every time. Keep up the great work 👍

[@ScottGerke]

mission completed! We're on this journey of learning together 🙌

[@yonypanofsky2763]

Does ripping rhe claws off these crabs hurt them? Do they regrow their claws?

[@ScottGerke]

I'm sure there is some sort of pain involved, but dropping their claw is something they do naturally similar to lizards, though I'm unsure of the pain they feel when we crack them off. They do regrow their claws.

[@SV_Traveler]

Hope to have you out sailing this winter with me! Would love to collab !

[@ScottGerke]

would be pretty rad and thanks for the invite!

[@jayilla28]

I’m sure dang near every crab that guy ripped claws off like he did died smh

[@eastcoastfishing6852]

Thought u could only harvest one claw ??

[@relativenormality]

I thought they only took 1 claw so it can eat and defend itself - apparantly not if they're of a certain size

[@darthmal]

18 months to regrow one new claw. It can still survive with one claw left so it can eat. Remove both claws and they die of starvation withinn a week, or become prey.

[@dv8photography]

In Florida, 10 lbs 11 oz is a keeper. Some say a “wall mount” 😊

[@christianmorriswilliams7072]

Who is the giant of a man to get the lady a 10 plus pound baby. Holy jesus is she a trooper.

[@ScottGerke]

Yea, I wish I had acknowledged her on camera as well! The guy, Peter, who was cooking the crabs at the end of the video is the father.

[@frikko1985]

It looks like the boat’s name is „Hans I‘m Glück“. That’s funny. It’s a German tale / story and the original title is „Hans im Glück“.

[@ManongdoMJ]

I dont understand why they only harvest the crabs claws? can someone please enlighten me

[@carlcotterill6283]

Erm just asking how does a crab feed it self when it has no claws i bet the octopus love them boats

[@sfllife03]

We have a complete different pulling style here I think it’s faster are way but we have 2 guys on the back and we break claws as we go and we bait the traps are self

[@ScottGerke]

their other boat does something similar to yours, except they pull from the side of the boat.

[@ginaespinoza8346]

I thought their supposed to only take one claw so they can defend themselves.

[@brianlee677]

They only get 20% or so after it's all said and done that's crazy.

[@dayanmendez4319]

You should go comercial yellowtail fishing

[@ScottGerke]

that's on the list!

[@shawnlockett4676]

So Jeremy would be the master baiter 😂😂😂😂

[@ScottGerke]

Finally, someone went there hahaha

[@jimmyfumbanks6081]

TATS 2 TRAPS A MINUTE ? , THEY ARE FLYING THRU THESE😮

[@Bridgeman-bg4jl]

No commercial fisherman tell the truth about how much they profit. It’s a cash business so taxes are pretty much optional. It’s a real hard way to make a living. No health insurance, no pension and dangerous even in Florida. How often do they go out? How long do they let the traps soak? How many total traps do they run?

[@EddyGarch]

So if I hear right, you pull 150 to 200 traps per hour and work 12 hours day including travel time , so you easily pull 1,500 to 1,800 traps a day? wow I thought I was good when I was doing that out of marathon in the 80's, but if you guys pull that many traps you guys make me look like a beginner.

[@glennjames7107]

A lot of people love crabbing, but to me, it's the most monotonous fishery out there that I've experienced.

[@SWFLstonecrabbing]

Bro if you only knew, you find so many cool species in the traps, all kinds of crabs, fish, octopus, expensive rare sea shells, and nurse sharks come up in these traps. Coming from a lifelong Maryland crabber, Floridas pretty cool man. Check my videos.

[@phantompower]

Barbaric practice, vast majority of crabs die after this.

[@xaiyellowfever]

The claws grow back to usable size in only a few months. They grow back to full size 12-16-18 months depending on the size. Nice clean breaks.

[@ScottGerke]

thanks for the extra bit of knowledge that I wasn't aware of!

[@johnbonamigo5696]

They have a 20% rate of growing back before dying. Most die before the 18 months. Its better than killing all but still

[@seekanddestroy7343]

Man I'm so glad you mentioned this. They will have a claw the following season. 5-6 months

[@ScratDuuD]

In Norway it is illegal to break the claws of live crabs and throw them back into the water. No such rules there?? It must be boring to get crabs without claws over and over again?

[@ScottGerke]

can the crabs you catch regrow their claws if broken off? I'd imagine that's a reason why they get tossed back. If they catch crabs without claws, they'll move the traps elsewhere.

[@adamyoung480]

Aloha. Different crabs.

[@ScratDuuD]

@@ScottGerke Yes, they can, but it will take 5 years for that to happen. 5 years of trouble for the crab to eat, not good. Animal cruelty...

[@ScottGerke]

@@ScratDuuD I understand your concern but generally it takes 12 months for them to grow their claws back.

[@JeffSmith-eq3kc]

​@@ScratDuuDdon't think you understand there are no stone crabs in Norway. I can't remove just claws where I am in the US because it's a blue crab not a stone crab. There are lots of types of crabs in the ocean.

[@tshark2787]

The researchers found that 12.8% of crabs died when no claws were removed, when one claw was removed properly, 23-59% died, when two claws were removed properly 46-82% died (view related publications).

[@professional.googan]

that’s wrong, when crabs have one claw they are willing to fight and hunt for food, with both removed although life is harder they play it safe and stay more reclusive

[@bettabomb1]

@@professional.googanyea scientists who study this for a living are wrong

[@medina4600]

Claw removal induced mortality within days when wound widths were greater than 7 mm, regardless of the number of claws removed. By Elizabeth Duermit-Moreau (2015) It seems proper removal for lesser wound size is one of the worst impacts. This same study mentions something similar to what TnZoutdoors says. One claw they keep eating live prey, no claw they only eat fish flesh guessing whatever they can scavenge. I still don’t think it’s cool leaving them with no claws but guess they’ll be alright.

[@RickyIcecubes]

​@@professional.googanThey burrow in the mud on the ocean floor and become stationary filter feeders. They continue to live that way until their claws have regenerated enough that they feel comfortable to return to normal crab life.

[@V3n0Mous1]

View what related publication?.. You didn't post the related publication

[@fredbailey363]

Why remove both claws?!?!? A death sentence for the crab since it can't defend itself and eat, smh.

[@drewchevy9843]

Florida law forbids the harvesting of whole stone crabs. Instead, fishermen remove one or both claws and return the live crab to the water, where it can regenerate its lost limbs in about 18 months. Claws must be at least 2-3/4 inches long to be harvested legally, and claws may not be taken from egg-bearing females.Oct 15, 2023

[@drewchevy9843]

Just in case ppl want to kno get em while there hot

[@thesimulatorguy4248]

Have you forgotten youre password?

[@brianbradley8631]

If my poor math skills are correct 800 pods in 9 hours is like 1.4 pods every single minute!...

[@jeffl915]

Don’t know what wholesale price is for those, but retail is nuts. I love them, but won’t pay $34 bucks a pound or more, and at a restaurant they maybe give you 5 claws for $40. Looks like recreational is the way to get these, and eat them cheap.

[@appa561]

Where are you getting 5 for $40 in a restaurant? That $40 for one claw here…

[@jeffl915]

@@appa561 We actually get 6 claws. There is a place just north of me called Frankie’s Raw Bar, best food at very reasonable prices.

[@appa561]

@@jeffl915 Seems to be a drive northwest would be worth the gas...

[@createausernametrue]

🦀

[@Goodwill_Hunter]

I thought the law say you can only take 1 claw..

[@justmyopinion7620]

How they going to eat without claws lol

[@mauricebrown9094]

So, you pull the crabs defenses from predators off them and toss them back in the ocean.??? One guy who has been doing this job for 25yrs, said their main defense from those predators will grow back in about 18 months.. I cannot see how this lottery is good for the grab.

[@leo1100]

I love the idea of sustainably harvesting crabmeat, however there are several studies carried out by the University of Miami that have shown that the minimum mortality of crabs that have both claws removed is higher than 60%. Also they state that it is very unlikely for such a crab to ever re-enter fishery due toe other factors such as predation and the long molding times. Mortality significantly decreased when crabs were only harvested at low water temps. Thanks for the great film, it's just not always as brilliant as it seems. Still better than importing farmed crab meat from Asia I guess!

[@FisherybyTrade]

Found this! Yeah, check me out sometime. I love the videos. I'm a native Floridian. Similar channel, I'm up north filming scallops and draggers rn. But hey, cool stuff. I see we are on similar ideas, I've fished for 10 years 😉 I know some folks.

[@ScottGerke]

I just checked out your channel and wow, you are a seasoned pro in many different fisheries...very cool. I tried getting your email address off YT, but it's not showing it to me. Could you please email me when you get a chance? Would be great to see if we could put a video together! Contact here: www.scottcgerke.com/contact Hope to hear from you soon 🙌

[@abbykako]

How the crab gonna feed itself for 18 months with no claw? Let alone defend itself.

[@hannahstrain4987]

You clearly didn’t watch the video he’s very informational about how they regrow their claws and what happens in the meantime

[@itsnotme3882]

9:24

[@giantmanice]

it regrows a usable claw much quicker, the claw will be full size in 12-18 months

[@jimmyfumbanks6081]

They are a day boat like you said , so why are you trying to show a bed .

[@sfllife03]

Now lobsters all them in the keys we don’t have them here like they do they are the fl lobster

[@sampath-kuruppu]

Hello ❤ Like join with you,im retired 12 year's service in sri lanka navy ❤

[@sfllife03]

Everglades city is the stone crab capital of the world we catch more crabs than anyone and we’re the first ones to do my great grandpa was doing it in the 60s in Everglades city they invented the stone crab trap in Everglades city sorry but that’s the truth my grandpa was one of the 5 guys that started the seafood festival in Everglades city and it’s a really big festival that happens every February I am also a stone crabber I am a 4th generation stone crabber and a 8th generation local native in Everglades city my family also has the Smallwood store in cHawk, Chokoloskee fl sorry but I can’t stand when people think the keys are the capital of the world there not we have 30 boats here in Everglades city over a hundred thousand traps most crabbers have 8 to 18 thousand traps here were do you think joes stone crab gets most of there crabs from they have a huge fish house they just redid plus Everglades city Tim Daniels the head stone crab guy this is we’re all his family is he’s my cousin

[@mikehawk7294]

Anyone down there need a captain with experience?

[@ScottGerke]

wow, now that's some awesome history you're a part of! Can you send me an email? I'd like to chat with you about some future video ideas. Here's the contact form: www.scottcgerke.com/contact I hope to hear from you soon!

[@richardstiglitz4228]

Aye I am Everglades right now little boi pull I am bout to dock right nest to triad come see me u obviously don’t know me this is my small boat lmfao ask a few men in Everglades about me

[@DottyGreenee]

Awesome story ❤

[@dhooter]

Native Crackers. Getting hard to find but they are still there

[@shalandawilliams1389]

Why take both claws? So cruel!

[@mr.v2689]

Lady just stop.

[@shalandawilliams1389]

Stop what? Having an opinion and compassion? Unfortunately I can’t cut that on and off….

[@itsnotme3882]

@@shalandawilliams1389 Pms

[@marcuslynn3449]

Darn too bad it's illegal to pull traps before daylight look it up scott

[@SMcda]

hey great video, kids don't try this at home

[@thedude4762]

Dont agree with taking both claws just not right

[@gotstars]

BREAKING CLAWS BOTH OFF LEAVE DEFENSELESS I THOUGHT IT WAS LAW TO LEAVE A CLAW FOR SUTSTAINABILITY

[@hannahstrain4987]

If you actually watch the video he’s super informational

[@gotstars]

i dont care they cannot even defend from a predator or get food without a single claw @@hannahstrain4987

[@kountrylife4k]

More than half of those crabs wont survive with both claws gone. 😢😢

[@TerryD5000]

they should really paint that boat, kind of ignorant not to. not like its hard, dont even gatta hardly care, i could do it in a day.

[@SHANECatLovinActivistHistorian]

about half the crabs die after having their claws broke off

[@mrkanangra]

These crab will not be in these spots in 10-15 years from now, and will be just like the King Crab fishery in Alaska, that had closed seasons. Ravaging the water of everything for short term profit is a sure sign of negligence and zero care for the future. Disgusting, and don't tell me BS otherwise.....Crab is NOT something we NEED to eat - it is some LUXURY wanna be rich person meal....

[@itsnotme3882]

So much hate and anger…why did you even watch this video, just to leave an angry comment?

[@francismarion6400]

Fukushima ruined that area not over fishing.

[@AttieLamprecht]

You really pisses me off with your holly smokes/cow ext you really know what holly means. Can not look at your program any more.

[@vincentrussell7246]

See that sh- t ain't cool u breaking both claws I guess you are catching 800 lbs a day, u cheating that's what I think

[@bailemdon]

Don't "Sport" Stone crabbers take just one claw

[@DeanSchumacher]

Yes we only get one claw it should be tht way for them too those crabs can't defend themselves 😊

[@TnkTales]

Join a ship

[@elliotknight7531]

You should go up to the maryland and work the day with @fvsoutherngirl

[@ScottGerke]

That would be pretty rad! At some point I'll reach out to him :)

[@redheadedstepchild2380]

Worst type of fishery for sustaining the resource , in the world. FAIL. FAIL. The Chinese are more humane. These guys are trash. I fish commercially. I know right from wrong.