MARATHON, Oct 18 — Aaron Sutcliffe ate his way to the top in the fifth annual Stone Crab Eating Contest yesterday in Marathon, winning top honors as the most proficient consumer of Florida Keys stone crab claws.

More than 30 contestants took part in the challenge, celebrating the opening of the annual stone crab claw harvesting season, at Keys Fisheries restaurant.

Each challenger was required to crack and thoroughly eat their way through 25 stone crab claws.

Sutcliffe finished in 14 minutes and 20 seconds,

“In my family if you don't eat the stone crabs fast, you don't get anything,” he said. “And I love the things. They're delicious.”

Sutcliffe said he uses a butter knife instead of a commercial cracker or mallet, which he claims is his secret weapon.

Competitors included two-person teams as well, and Greg D'Agostino and Rick Palmer, both residents of Marathon, earning top honors with a time of eight minutes and 50 seconds.

According to reports, about 40 per cent of the average of 2.6 million pounds of stone crab claws that are harvested annually, come from waters off the Florida Keys.

The succulent crustacean is considered a renewable resource, since only legal-size claws are harvested, after which the crab is returned to the water to grow new extremities.

Stone crab season runs from October 15 to May 15. — Reuters

Aaron Sutcliffe raises his hands in victory after winning the Stone Crab Eating Contest at Keys Fisheries restaurant in Marathon, Florida October 17, 2015. — Reuters pic