The first official day of fall is September 23, but one won’t find any indication of the season in Florida unless they visit the coastline. If they are lucky, they may catch a glimpse of a mullet migration that includes thousands of mullet of all sizes traveling together to the Gulf Stream in order to spawn.
The migration time varies, but it’s mostly from early September until the end of October. One of the most famous areas to witness this natural wonder is in Sebastian Inlet, but it can be seen off many Florida beaches.
Because the fish are vegetarian, fishermen opt to catch them with a castnet; one good throw could yield hundreds. That’s why the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission enacts a regional bag limit of 50 per person or boat (whichever is most restrictive) from November 1 through January 31 in the Manatee County area, according to their website.
Castneting is a longstanding tradition in our area. The early settlers depended on it as their major food source. The art of net making has weaved its way down through the generations. As fishermen sew their nets, they're sustaining a historical staple that still very much represents Manatee County culture.
Mullet was considered a delicacy to the indigenous natives, who were expert fishermen and made their nets of palm-tree webbing. The natives valued the high content of omega three oil and fatty meat that they preserved by smoking, according to the article “Preserving Old Florida: The Art of Making Castnets.”
When Spanish settlers immigrated to the area in the mid-1500s cotton twine was adopted as the material of choice. For centuries, fishermen constructed net spreads to dry their nets. The top of the net is called a horn for good reason, originally it was made from a steer’s antler. Today they are made from PVC, the article states.
Around the mid-nineteenth century, nylon was invented. Fishermen were much obliged to turn in their slow-drying cotton twine for something that was more water-resistant. However, the nylon nets had to be dipped in a chemical called Coppertox to preserve and stiffen them, and still were susceptible to rot. Modern nets are mostly polypropylene.
During the twentieth century, mullet widely came to be considered a "trash" fish, of little value as food. This downward shift in status corresponded with the rising economic stature of Florida’s seascapes as leisurely tourist sites. However, mullet roe never lost its value as it has remained a delicacy in many Asian countries.
While the fish may have gotten a bad rap over the last century, true Floridians still value the fish as a symbol of heritage, a fun fishing opportunity, and a satisfying supper (smoked, grilled, or fried).
The Rise of Stone Crab Season
Fishermen in Florida have been harvesting stone crabs since the 1890s. During that time, stone crabs were incidentally caught in spiny lobster traps in the Florida Keys. While stone crab was harvested in Florida through the twentieth century, it was considered a developing fishery until the 1990s.
FWC did not begin keeping track of the crab until the 1960s, when the crustaceans started gaining popularity, according to their website. Formerly, they weren’t considered edible as the stone crab itself is quite small and the shell is rock hard. However, stone crabs have large claws filled with white meat that can regenerate, making them one of the most sustainable natural fisheries. By 2010, there were 1.3 million traps registered to the FWC.
I will crack a claw to that! In fact, I’ll crack several!
Unfortunately, this year Hurricane Ian and inflation didn’t do us any favors with availability and pricing for either. My husband and I made our annual pilgrimage to Starfish Company in Cortez for stone crab and mullet. The stone crab platter cost a whopping $45.00 (compared to $25-30 in years past) and the restaurant had run out of mullet (we opted for scallops instead).
But as soon as I took my first bite I knew it was worth it. Stone crab served cold and dipped in butter – there’s nothing quite like it. Now all I need is my mullet fix!