Crabs

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by PortClydeMe

haha!

"Mom, are those crawfish?"
"Yes, honey. But don't tell Uncle Dockhead, he thinks we're having boiled Maine lobsters tonight."

Yum! Whatever they are, they look delicious!

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Yum! Whatever they are, they look delicious!

Crawdads are the best in the world.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

I thought you were asking about CRABS you eat, not crabs the kids play with..

We are still in the "playing with crabs" phase

Hope to graduate to "eating crabs" by and by, but this will require some more playing with crabs, err, that is, "practice"

[Sos]

Dockhead,

The two in your bucket look like Velvet flyers - the sort kids catch with handlines and bacon. You can eat them. I had them from a place on the Lizard - not much meat but tasted good.
The sort you want are edible crabs. You won't get these with a handline. You will have to put a pot out (overnight is best) baited with fish. The best place for this is where there are other pot bouys around. Beware that fisherman are very protective of these spots and my remove unknown pots! I once worked on a fishing boat catching crabs and lobsters of Selsey.

[IdoraKeeper]

Nothing is better than properly prepared crab. Soft shell varieties I am not so familiar with. Dungeness we get up here are actually very delicate in taste. Large hard shell crabs should be cleaned prior to cooking for several reasons. You don't eat the guts and gills so don't pollute the cooking water with their effluent. Legal Dungeness are large and a couple crab is a feast for one person. If you catch a bunch you can get more in the pot if cleaned first. I don't mind the cleaning/killing as long as I am going to eat them. If roles were reversed I have no doubt they would eat me.
Word of warning..nothing stinks worse than crab garbage..clean, cook, eat and dispose right away. A crab feast is pure bliss.

[northoceanbeach]

If the horrible death bothers you, you don't HAVE to kill them. You can just do what you did, catch and release. Just look at sea creatures but not kill.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Sos

Dockhead,

The two in your bucket look like Velvet flyers - the sort kids catch with handlines and bacon. You can eat them. I had them from a place on the Lizard - not much meat but tasted good.
The sort you want are edible crabs. You won't get these with a handline. You will have to put a pot out (overnight is best) baited with fish. The best place for this is where there are other pot bouys around. Beware that fisherman are very protective of these spots and my remove unknown pots! I once worked on a fishing boat catching crabs and lobsters of Selsey.

Thanks -- very useful!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Pete7

. . .Now, off the top of my head, the RNLI jetty North Calshot would be a good location. On my first ever dive in 1984, I came across a large lobster there. The pontoons in the Hamble entrance like the one next to the big slip and Sea Start. Hurst Castle or the entrance to Newtown Creek would be worth a go. What your looking for is underwater features as crabs like to hide in holes or under ledges, next to posts etc. . . .

OK, I think we'll try Newtown Creek with a pot -- inside the entrance, you say?

[sailpower]

I lived in Maryland for many years and they take their crabs seriously!

To add to the crab experience, Old Bay is a treat and available via Amazon.

Google Image Result for http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81mJ3OWgUjL._SX425_.jpg

[rassabossa]

If you're in northwest Florida in May, check out the Blue Crab festival in Panacea, FL. All the usual redneck activities: Mullet toss, crab cleaning contest (amazing to watch how fast it can be done), country music, "parade", crafts, lots of good food.

[fjwiley1]

e-bay $7.70 starting bid.....


Life is Good if You Keepa Smilin.....

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

OK, I think we'll try Newtown Creek with a pot -- inside the entrance, you say?

I think there is a deepish hole at the entrance, but you might have to sink the line and run it ashore out of the way of other yachts. Probably best left overnight. However, season is coming to an end and they are heading out to deeper waters over the next couple of months.

Actually, Hempstead Ledge looks interesting, there is a 21m hole next to a bank at 2.6m. Drop it in the hole.

Pete

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Pete7

I think there is a deepish hole at the entrance, but you might have to sink the line and run it ashore out of the way of other yachts. Probably best left overnight. However, season is coming to an end and they are heading out to deeper waters over the next couple of months.

Actually, Hempstead Ledge looks interesting, there is a 21m hole next to a bank at 2.6m. Drop it in the hole.

Pete

So the wee beasties like to live in holes? The learning process continues . . .

[Pete7]

Now we do expect some video footage of this crab pot you know. Forget underwater anchors we want some real action on CF.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK6Vg7cJSFA

[Wakey]

Fun video..

Growing up in South Louisiana, as much as I like a crawfish boil, blue crabs are the bomb.

We boil them whole and eat the bits (yellow/green fat) out of the shell.


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