Crabs in KY

[Ward]

Greetings.

I hope to have a monthly crab feast for my friends (in Northern Kentucky) this year starting in July.  The challenge, of course, is getting them here.

I have a couple of options:

1)  Krogers, the large local grocer, can get them for $175 a bushel.

2)  As an airline pilot, I fly for free and thus would consider flying into PHL and take public transportation downtown, pick up the crabs, put em in a cooler and fly back to CVG (Cincinnati).

3)  I could also bring crabs back on my way back to CVG from visiting my grandmother in Fortescue, NJ (I know some of you must know Fortescue..any of you crab in that area?).

The first option is rather expensive and the crabs wouldn't be as fresh as I would like.

The second option is best if I'm not already in southern Jersey.  And I would do the third option if visiting gram.

So....

assuming I take the second option.....

There is a CVG to PHL flight that arrives at 0900.

Where can I go, taking the "metro" or whatever you call the "train", downtown to pick up crabs?

Would you suggest I purchase cooked or live?  I prefer live (obviously) as cooking them would be part of the feast.  (BTW, this is the set I'm buying for this purpose... http://www.bbqguys.com/fry-kits.asp ...search for model 38094.)

What size cooler should I purchase?  Colemans has said a 50qt; I'm looking at the 62qt located here...http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=6262-748&categoryid=8560

I would have to use a lot of tape to ensure the cooler is well sealed, so they won't receive any oxygen.  Perhaps that 62qt cooler is the way to go.

The earliest practical return flight is at 1317 with arrival in CVG at 1520.  If I was to pack the cooler with live crabs at 1000, would they survive until 1600?  If they die, but are kept cold, are they still OK to steam and eat?

What else should I consider?  What are other airports, with public transportation, I should look into, perhaps BWI?

I want to mention, and thank, procrabber for his quick response to an e-mail I sent him.

Thanks for the help.  I'm sure I'll have follow-up questions.

Ward

[on the hook]

Know the Fort rather well. Crabbing sucks right "now", and has 4 the last few years. Crabs DO need air to live. First option sounds like it is really the cheapest, and easiest. Only thing is, you order a bushel, and get it how long after they were caught. Lets just say 5 doz 1's at 35 is $175. Thats buying live. Decent price too. A bushel, at same price may(probably) yield the same #, but how many are dead? Could be as much as half dead. Just a thought. You can't buy them anywhere there? Least then you KNOW they are alive.

[Ward]

Know the Fort rather well. Crabbing sucks right "now", and has 4 the last few years. Crabs DO need air to live. First option sounds like it is really the cheapest, and easiest. Only thing is, you order a bushel, and get it how long after they were caught. Lets just say 5 doz 1's at 35 is $175. Thats buying live. Decent price too. A bushel, at same price may(probably) yield the same #, but how many are dead? Could be as much as half dead. Just a thought. You can't buy them anywhere there? Least then you KNOW they are alive.

I was just there last weekend and Jenkins had some crabs for about $80 or so a bushel.  That's the price I paid last summer.  I called Marty's and Dills and I believe the prices were somewhat the same.  Made a new contact in Bivalve (sp?) during Bay Days.

I don't know what I'm going to do.  I'm going to try to visit gram once a month and may just buy when returning to CVG.

I remember the good ole days of catching them off the deck with fish heads.

Ward

[procrabber]

I would have to use a lot of tape to ensure the cooler is well sealed, so they won't receive any oxygen.  Perhaps that 62qt cooler is the way to go.

they need a little air

The earliest practical return flight is at 1317 with arrival in CVG at 1520.  If I was to pack the cooler with live crabs at 1000, would they survive until 1600?  If they die, but are kept cold, are they still OK to steam and eat?

they are not ok to eat after dead for longer than 1/2 hour, most that are alive at 10 will be alive at 4 if they are on ice

[Ward]

I would have to use a lot of tape to ensure the cooler is well sealed, so they won't receive any oxygen.  Perhaps that 62qt cooler is the way to go.

they need a little air




The earliest practical return flight is at 1317 with arrival in CVG at 1520.  If I was to pack the cooler with live crabs at 1000, would they survive until 1600?  If they die, but are kept cold, are they still OK to steam and eat?

they are not ok to eat after dead for longer than 1/2 hour, most that are alive at 10 will be alive at 4 if they are on ice

Thanks Pro.

Well, that's why I was thinkin of the 62qt instead of the 50qt cooler; in theory, 12qts of air would remain.  BTW, FWIW, Coleman said the 50qt would allow for lots of ice...so that's why I assumed 62 would be better.

That's good to know that they should survive the journey.  I would use lots of ice.  Now I need to check on the weights.  I think DAL charges extra for stuff 75 pounds of more.

[indoe]

Here is a way to keep the cooler cold and give the crabs a little more Oxygen. For the ice I would freeze some bottles and put them on top of the crabs. Then keep the plug off so that the crabs can get some air. You could have your grandmother to freeze some bottles for you in advance. You would also have less crabs drown from the water at the bottom of the cooler. Hope this gives you some ideas. I would personaly try to get some localy. That way you are sure the crabs will be alive.

[Ward]

Here is a way to keep the cooler cold and give the crabs a little more Oxygen. For the ice I would freeze some bottles and put them on top of the crabs. Then keep the plug off so that the crabs can get some air. You could have your grandmother to freeze some bottles for you in advance. You would also have less crabs drown from the water at the bottom of the cooler. Hope this gives you some ideas. I would personaly try to get some localy. That way you are sure the crabs will be alive.

That's a good idea about using bottles and leaving the plug open (though I don't know what Delta would think of that).  I was thinking of using good quality zip-lock bags to hold the ice (or freeze with water in them).

I would prefer getting them live (or steamed in front of me) and carry them back to KY.  But perhaps the $175 is worth having them shipped here.

[DocSmith]

Ward -

Buy them at Kroger's (watch them count them out and don't accept any dead ones) and let them do all the worrying and work.  That's what the $175 gets you. Get some JO spice to steam them in.  As an airline pilot, you should be aware that you've given us your time schedule, so beware - your crabs might be "hijacked" by KC, et al!

Doc

PS  Hope none escape into the passenger compartment during the flight!

[on the hook]

Well, whatever you decide, post results. Maybe try different techniques, if time allows. Jenkins is a trip alone! Sometimes hes cheap, and others??? Sounds like a good price now. Depends on WHO at Bivalve! DO NOT BELIEVE ANYONE AT B------S!!!! Have gotten 1/2 bushels of 1's-- Few nice on top, mostly mixed 2-3s and a LOT of dead. Put the real nice ones on top Believe me, this isn't just a local practice either GOOD LUCK

[indoe]

If your going to keep the plug open I would use frozen bottles. The crabs will put holes in the plastic bags and you'll have water all over the plane. The bottles should hold up pretty well. I use them all the time when I go crabbing.

[Ward]

If your going to keep the plug open I would use frozen bottles. The crabs will put holes in the plastic bags and you'll have water all over the plane. The bottles should hold up pretty well. I use them all the time when I go crabbing.

That's a very good point; hadn't thought of that (obviously).

OK, it sounds like this is the thing to do...

1)  If I'm visiting gram then go ahead and buy live crabs on the way home using frozen water bottles.  As far as the Oxygen situation....  What if I open the cooler right before checking it in allowing fresh (?) air in?  They would be sealed until I get the cooler back in CVG...perhaps a total of 3 hours.  With lots of ice to keep it cold, you think they would make it???

2)  If it's going to be an in-and-out, then find a place in PHL that sells them cooked.

Can anyone suggest a place in PHL that sells cooked crabs???

THanks.

Ward

[Steve]

What was the outcome?

[Ward]

Hello Steve,

What was the outcome?

Well I haven't done the CVG-PHL-CVG deal...doesn't look like I'll have to.  I believe I found a local source for crabs at reasonable prices and am visiting them tomorrow to check em out.

About a month ago I had Kroger's order some and paid $50 for twenty #1s.  They weren't bad but they weren't as meaty as I remember...course that wasn't the best time either.

I visited my gram at Fortescue about two weeks ago and paid $16 for a dozen cooked mediums...won't do that again...they are just to small (they were out of #1s).  I did buy a couple collosal...them's good eatin.

[beach bum]

They don't have "All You Can Eat" crab houses in Kentucky yet? Must be the last state in America without one.