when do you ice up the crabs

[ranger521]

When coming home should i throw ice on the crabs or will this kill them.  And should I put them into the steamer while they are cold.

[tattoo]

yes you can do that . but make sure the water can drain out . and yes you can cook them up while cold . they ar much easier to handle when they are cold. 

[thecameraguy]

I put my crabs in the cooler when I get back to the ramp. Take whatever ice I have left and dump it in the cooler. Usually stop and get a bag on the way home. put the cooler in the boat with the drain plug open and make the 2 hr trek home. Crabs are docile but alive when I get home.

[ranger521]

Thanks for the replies and happy crabbing.

[headlessblade]

I carry ice in my cooler in a plastic bag and place on top of them as i catch them so they settle down . I stopped draining the water because they don't die. The ice seems to place them into a hibernation state there alive but they are really slow until they thaw out...

[madcrabber1113]

Just dont submerge them in fresh water it will kill them.

[Pok.ColtsFan]

We dump ice on them when we get home, right before we are going to handle them. Within a few minutes they're stunned and don't move.

[jack1747]

I ice them as soon as I get in off the boat.  Sometimes it's 10 hours before I steam them.  Once the ice is on, I steam them all.  Even the dead ones.

[Rusty Gate]

I ice when I get home. Once iced I then hose off my gear and reorganize it for the next outing. Then I'll set up the cooker....I might even have a COLD beer at this point   Typically once I've squared these tasks away the crabs have calmed down to the point I can clean and season them, and cook'em up shortly there after.


RG