HOW MANY CRABS IN A BUSHEL?

[CRABGUY]

VA STATE LAW SAYS" REC. CRABBERS CAN TAKE 1 BUSHEL W/O LICENSE "
SO .......HOW MANY IS THAT ROUGHLY???

[Crabpop]

Well, Crabguy, I guess the number per bushel would depend on the size of the crabs.  More mediums will fit into a bushel then large.  The rule that I use is: the top of the bushel basket must fit in place (e.g., the two extensions on the lid must fit into the wire handles of the basket) without distorting its shape.  I've been checked several times over the years and have never had a problem using this rule...

Crabpop

[Steve]

It's discussed at length on this page:

http://www.blue-crab.org/buying_hards.htm

[Darrell]

If You are talking Wye River Jumbos or "Whales" They go about 35 to a Bushel..Of Course they are hand picked and held back to do this. If you had say 500 dollars you might get a bushle like this today. On Wye River most bushels we caught had about 75 crabs avg. "Back in the good ole days" it seems now! But thats the way things "cycle" in nature..I hope!

[CRABGUY]

THANKS FOR THE INFO.!!

THE FORMULA FOR PER POUND COST IS VERY INTERESTING
MY LOCAL CRAB HOUSE (EDDIES CRAB HOUSE ON
CAMPOSTELLA ROAD CHESAPEAKE, VA)
SELLS MEDIUM STEAMED 17.95 PER DOZ,
LARGE 25.95 PER DOZ.
AND MORE IF YOU WANT THEM FRIED

HARRIS TEETER: BACKFIN LUMP PASTUERIZED
11.95 LB

ALTHOUGH I WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL
I FIGURE IT'S STILL CHEAPER (AND MORE FUN) TO CATCH YOUR OWN

[crabjoe]

About this how many crabs to the bushel thing, it's not just the size of crabs, it's the bushel size itself.  I can't remember what site it was on but the volume a bushel basket can hold varies by state.  So depending on what state your in, your bushel may hold a smaller number of crabs then another states bushel.