Anyone know anything about crabbing?

[Zach Matthews]

Ok, I know this completely random, but I’m interested in maybe trying to catch some blue crabs this summer on our annual trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

[J.T. Griffin]

Zach, I crab in the Chesapeake Bay.

[Zach Matthews]

Not successfully, JT.

[tim willis]

Zach,

We go crabbing down on the Texas coast every summer and I agree with JT. Pots / traps will yeild you more crabs(usually) with less work once they are set, just set them and leave . String / Chick Neck / Net is definitely less costly and a great way to kill some time, relax and is very cold beverage friendly. In Texas all you need a state fishing liscense. Regulations are pretty basic: there is no daily limit on blue crabs, all crabs must be 5″+ width and no egg bearing sponge crabs. I definetly recomend a good crab boil / seasoning (we use a brand called ” Slap Ya Mama”) with new potatoes and garlic. Pair that with a campari tomato, basil and mozzeralla salad, some fresh frenc bread and a ice cold bottle of Vino Verde.

Tim

[Zach Matthews]

This sounds like fun, guys.

[mark lawrence]

Zach, Gulf Shores is an easy day trip from me.

[Zach Matthews]

Hey Mark –

That’s very generous of you.

[Corey Kruitbosch]

Went out and collected pots with my family up in AK, this last year. We mostly used scrap fish parts for bait.

[mark lawrence]

Hey Mark –

That’s very generous of you.  I’d love to do a little real redfishing; usually I am just tossing lines from the beach and I’ve never even seen a red in the surf (did see a ginormous Jack Crevalle once, though).  I think we’re going to be there in late June but I’m not exactly sure.  It’ll be for a week this summer, though.

I will most definitely have a day to devote to fishing; we just rent a beach house and never set a schedule.  I’m planning on fishing every day, maybe playing a little golf (which I suck at).

Zach

June is right in the middle of Tarpon season….

[Mike L.]

Make sure you steam them with Old Bay like a Marylander instead of cooking them however those southern freakers cook them which is so terrible and a waste of perfectly good crabs.

[Zach Matthews]

Hahahaha.

[dave nyberg]

Do what JT said. I crab the Chesapeake Bay too. Using a line and netting them is fun. You will need a little wt. to get the chicken necks/bait to the bottom.  Bring them in slowly after you seen the line go out. They will swim while they eat. Bring the net up under them.  You can do this on a pier or a boat. Steam the crabs separately from the corn, etc.  Old Bay is the “gold standard”.  
I still crab with my grandchildren. Lotsa fun.  I would think most bait/tackle shops can help you.

[Zach Matthews]

Thanks Dave, steaming them separately sounds like a good tip.

Zach

[Mike L.]

Ya, steam them separate.

[Zach Matthews]

Mike –

Any idea why a beer as good as Yuengling is now cheaper than PBR at my local Kroger?

[craig phillips]

Can’t offer any advice on crabbing, since it has been years since I did the chicken neck on a sting thing in Texas as a kid, but I did just place an order for 10 crawfish traps.

[Mike L.]

Mike –

Any idea why a beer as good as Yuengling is now cheaper than PBR at my local Kroger?  Are Yuengling employees so pleased with the product that they volunteer their services or something?

BTW, *why* do I need to steam them separately?  I’m just curious scientifically, though I always defer to expertise in cooking.

Zach

I have no idea why Yuengling is cheaper.  It has always been, and still is, about $1 more per 12 pack than the big domestics in my area (Bud, Coors, and Miller).  Of course the taste–which isnt reflected in the price– is much better than these beers.  I dont know how much PBR costs as I drink Natty Boh to represent the home town (even though it is no longer brewed here and I am not actually from here) when I need a ‘cheap’ ($6.99 for 12…the price keeps increasing) beer.  

As to your second question…I honestly dont know.  They just taste ‘better’ when steamed.  The meat is juicier and softer than when boiled.  It is fine to add the already steamed meat to soups or stews in order to enhance the flavor (think MD crab soup), but cooking it in the soup or stew is just not good.  There is honestly nothing like a well steamed crab (in Old Bay).  

[Zach Matthews]

Mike –

Ok, so the key then is really to *steam* them rather than boil them.

[dave nyberg]

There is a chance they will die if kept over night.  I have seen crabs kept in the river where they came from and live over night.  I don’t know why but a few of them lost their claws.  
No, do not eat dead crabs  

[Mike L.]

They can survive a couple days out of the water.  Keep them in a cool, dark, damp place overnight.  A bushel basket with a wet burlap sack over it will keep them alive pretty well overnight as long as it is kept pretty cool (60-70 degrees or so).  As long as their gills can stay wet they will survive but be sure they cant get into any standing water or they will all die.

Definitely do not cook and eat dead crabs

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