Crabs

[Pelagic]

Dungeness crab is the best.

Cleaning is very simple
Dungeness Crabs- How to quickly clean a live crab: http://youtu.be/VSZxBtslk0E

[weavis]

Originally Posted by StuM

<pedant mode>
While both are arthropods, they are different classes of animals. A cockroach is an insect, a crab is a crustacean. Neither are bugs, which are insects with sucking mouthparts. (Unless you are talking about Weavis' crabs ). </pedant mode>

But I know what you mean

I will have you know that a persons occupation will always link associated words with a different understanding..

I do not cook the crabs that came to mind when looking at Dockheads thread title, my sole aim is to remove them from their host without steaming or boiling them due to the possible pain it might cause given the location that the crabs are situated in, and the softness and tenderness of the human skin and allied parts.

But, if I am to elevate my self above specialist knowledge of a different scenario, My friend Howard who had a wet fish shop, would always invite me to cook his crabs for sale in the shop and keep a few for myself for doing so.

A big pot boiler, heavily salted, brought to the boil and then the aforementioned piled in for 6 or 7 minutes until red. Removed and hosed down with cold water to stop cooking and then arranged on trays and placed in the shop display. Fresh cooked crabs would be a 2 weekly treat during season and would all be sold in a matter of hours.

Every now and then, I would make Singapore Chilli crab in the shop and that became a favourite for a few customers, if there was any left after the staff got stuck in......

Belachan is Shrimp Paste.
Rempah is a mix:
8-10 Dried Chillies (can be adjusted according to preferred level of spiciness) – soak in water to rehydrate
6-8 Fresh Red Chillies
8-10 Candlenuts (available in most Asian groceries)
3 Cloves of Garlic
10-15 Shallots (depending on the size, around 200g-250g)
2 tsp of Belachan (fermented shrimp paste – available in most Asian groceries. Usually comes in a rectangle block) – lightly toasted till fragrant
pinch of Sugar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgkshE97_Hk

[Seacod]

As to effective bait for blue claws, calicos etc i knoe chicken works but a good slightly ripe bluefish head will have them climbing over each other to grab on....this for the LongIsland region at any rate...besides bluefish heads are cheap if not free ..

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[Cormorant]

Eel is also an excellent crab bait.

While we're on the subject . . . two great reads that are perfect for the long winter evenings:

On Chesapeake blue crabs and the watermen who catch them -- "Beautiful Swimmers" by William Warner.

On lobsters -- "The Secret Life of Lobsters" by Trevor Corson.

[El Pinguino]

In Chile they used to use penguins as bait.... until they pretty much ran out of penguins....

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Dungeness crab is the best.

Would that have anything to do with the two nuclear power stations located there

[colemj]

Originally Posted by brownoarsman

Also Mark, if you're in the Carolinas or Maryland, the crabs are running now, so get the easy catching while you can over the next two weeks!

We are in MD. So that explains why all of a sudden there are tons of crabs clinging to the pilings everywhere? They appeared almost overnight. They all seem to be fighting and mating - I can scoop up several of them at once in a net.

BTW, we don't boil them. We put them in a pressure cooker with 1/2" of water and bring them up to pressure. They come out red and dry.

Mark

[brownoarsman]

Yeah - it's crazy right now. Sailing up through the pamlico and into the Chesapeake (and down to st michaels with my parents last weekend), I could just reach out with a long net and scoop them out of the water. No need to bait, wait or anything. Just push the one degree button on the tiller pilot a couple of times and lean over!


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[brownoarsman]

Thanks for that chili crab recipe, weavis! I've been jonesing some of that since my surf trip around the world in 2010.

Has anyone tried the Bahamian crab and dough? Surprisingly hard to find, but good and cheap. Giant, sweet claws; but the dough dip in the jus (or the fat as the Bahamians call it) was only so-so. Still have to get my hands on the dungeness the pnw-ers rave about!


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[weavis]

Originally Posted by colemj

We are in MD. So that explains why all of a sudden there are tons of crabs clinging to the pilings everywhere? They appeared almost overnight. They all seem to be fighting and mating - I can scoop up several of them at once in a net.

BTW, we don't boil them. We put them in a pressure cooker with 1/2" of water and bring them up to pressure. They come out red and dry.

Mark

Originally Posted by brownoarsman

Thanks for that chili crab recipe, weavis! I've been jonesing some of that since my surf trip around the world in 2010.

Has anyone tried the Bahamian crab and dough? Surprisingly hard to find, but good and cheap. Giant, sweet claws; but the dough dip in the jus (or the fat as the Bahamians call it) was only so-so. Still have to get my hands on the dungeness the pnw-ers rave about!


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At home, I use a giant Wok with a metal stand. Put water under the stand bring to boil and then steam the crabs on top of the stand. Put lid on. A few mins and done.

Chilli crab is one of the top 50 tastes in the world.

[Wakey]

Weavis, that dish looks awesome but I'm not sure I'd want to cook that IN my house lol


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[weavis]

Originally Posted by Wakey

Weavis, that dish looks awesome but I'm not sure I'd want to cook that IN my house lol


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Oh you know you want to...............

[Dockhead]

Thanks for all the good advice, and also for the recipes!

We caught a couple on the first try! They are living in a bucket of seawater at the moment. If we get a couple more, we'll try Weavis' recipe.

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Thanks for all the good advice, and also for the recipes!

We caught a couple on the first try! They are living in a bucket of seawater at the moment. If we get a couple more, we'll try Weavis' recipe.

You're on your way to happiness!

Crab ... Butter ... Chew ... Beer Swig ... Burp!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Would that have anything to do with the two nuclear power stations located there

Pete, any tips for crabbing in the Solent?

I'm guessing that low tide when there's not to much current is the best time, right?

Any particularly good places?