SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
I did look at the map, the area where blue goes to Port St. Joe/Apalachicola area which is further east than PC.
I don't live in Destin, I'm actually just on the other side of the AL/FL line(on the AL side). I have been diving Destin every other week or so lately and was just throwing out the idea when you mentioned the maroon colored crab.
You're correct, I haven't seen any stonecrabs without the black tips and I generally don't get close enough to see if they have spikes on the segments. When I see these crabs, they are usually well under wreckage or beyond reach in the crevices of rocks.
I dove a local wreck in Gulf Shores last night(7/22) and came upon a very large stone crab that was much lighter than the normal maroon crabs we usually see. I suppose it could have been molting, but it was a tannish/sandy color. This is in Alabama. I went with the intent on spearing some Flounder but let a neophyte friend use my polespear instead - I wish I brought my roomates camera(in retrospect) - that was one of many creatures I would have liked to have gotten a photo of last night.
Anywho... back to your crab? Anything like this? http://www.bertaut.com/6-6-98b.jpg
I don't live in Destin, I'm actually just on the other side of the AL/FL line(on the AL side). I have been diving Destin every other week or so lately and was just throwing out the idea when you mentioned the maroon colored crab.
You're correct, I haven't seen any stonecrabs without the black tips and I generally don't get close enough to see if they have spikes on the segments. When I see these crabs, they are usually well under wreckage or beyond reach in the crevices of rocks.
I dove a local wreck in Gulf Shores last night(7/22) and came upon a very large stone crab that was much lighter than the normal maroon crabs we usually see. I suppose it could have been molting, but it was a tannish/sandy color. This is in Alabama. I went with the intent on spearing some Flounder but let a neophyte friend use my polespear instead - I wish I brought my roomates camera(in retrospect) - that was one of many creatures I would have liked to have gotten a photo of last night.
Anywho... back to your crab? Anything like this? http://www.bertaut.com/6-6-98b.jpg