Neuces Bay 4/1/2012

[Swimmerl Crabber]

I will post picture this evening.

Eighty-three traps. About 120 blue crabs to 8 inches. 3.5 lb stone crab claws. Took another 7 traps out to wash.

Kept half dozen 7 to 8 inch blue crabs for beer.

Will run the traps on Thursday if weather permitting.

Swimmer.

[ROCK ON]

WAY TO GO SWIMMER...
ENJOY THE CRABS AND OF COURSE THE BEER...
ROCK ON

[Ronster]

Nice.   Post those photos!

[Night Wing]

The water is sure warming up fast. I crab on the upper Texas coast and where I crab, the water temperature is 76 degrees.

I have a feeling we're going to miss Spring and jump into the high temperatures of Summer in about two weeks time.

Looking forward to seeing your photo.

[Swimmerl Crabber]

Here are the half dozen for the crabber before steaming.

[tattoo]

Nice , wtg

[John WAsmuth]

Gota love that!

[capt. ron]

Now that's some pretty crabs but shouldn't they be red.

Ronnie

[Swimmerl Crabber]

Hi, Ronnie,

I cooked them after taking the picture. Otherwise, I would forget taking pictures before eating them.

Will pull traps tomorrow. I put in 13 brand new traps last Sunday and will see if they are better or just the crabbing is slow.

Ning

[capt. ron]

Around here new or freshly washed don't catch very well.  They usually have to sit 2 weeks before ya catch any amount of crabs in them.  Don't gauge this run.  Might take awhile.

Ronnie

[crabbywaters]

Did you say steaming? I thought all you southern guys boiled them big old crabs.

[Swimmerl Crabber]

Hi, Ronnie,

Thanks for the advice.

I will wait and see.

Ning

[Swimmerl Crabber]

Hi, Crabbywater,

I am first generation Chinese. We like fresh and original flavor of the crabs, even though I did cook stir fry crabs with ginger and scallion, fried crabs and also tried BBQ crabs before.

The big crabs are from the river where the water is less salty. I let the live crab sit in fresh water/tap water for 10 minutes with one water change to get rid of the residual salt in the gill. I then brush the shell clean. I may put a tiny amount of salt under the apron. I then steam them above water, not boil. The crab meat tastes very sweat this way. There will be no spice flavor to overwhelm the natural sweat flavor.

When I open a seafood shack on the bay in six month to one year. I will try different recipes, include the Maryland style with beer, sausage, corn, potato and of course some spices.

Ning

[John WAsmuth]

Ning catches some very tasty crabs!

[CrabbyLAD]

nice looking crabs... I know what your talking about not letting the seasoning over power the
sweet crab flavor..  I like to steam a few without any just to see the flavor.. Good luck with new
traps... are they galvanized  or dipped? Good luck this season and with your crab venture..

[Swimmerl Crabber]

Hi, CrabbyLAD,

The traps were pre-made with coated wire, yellow and red.

If you steam crabs, pick the crabs from blackish water or river. I can taste the difference between crabs from salty bays versus rivers. The steamed crabs are best when they are just out of steamer and warm to touch.

Swimmer

[Dreampixels]

Hi, CrabbyLAD,

The traps were pre-made with coated wire, yellow and red.

If you steam crabs, pick the crabs from blackish water or river. I can taste the difference between crabs from salty bays versus rivers. The steamed crabs are best when they are just out of steamer and warm to touch.

Swimmer

Ya be right on that one bud!

[Night Wing]

Love to see them big crabs. 

[Swimmerl Crabber]

Night Wing,

If you crab in river, you will get big crabs.

Swimmerl

[Minister956]

Hi, Crabbywater,

I am first generation Chinese. We like fresh and original flavor of the crabs, even though I did cook stir fry crabs with ginger and scallion, fried crabs and also tried BBQ crabs before.

The big crabs are from the river where the water is less salty. I let the live crab sit in fresh water/tap water for 10 minutes with one water change to get rid of the residual salt in the gill. I then brush the shell clean. I may put a tiny amount of salt under the apron. I then steam them above water, not boil. The crab meat tastes very sweat this way. There will be no spice flavor to overwhelm the natural sweat flavor.

When I open a seafood shack on the bay in six month to one year. I will try different recipes, include the Maryland style with beer, sausage, corn, potato and of course some spices.

Ning

In Marianna, fl. They have one of the largest springs in the state, water is crystal clear you could drink it as you swim. I noticed locals walking around the in the water grass bending over and picking up crawfish. So I tried it, trap them between your big toe and second tow. Caught about a dozen cooked them up... Wow those were the best crawfish I'd ever had. That being said, Do Blue Crabs in clear water taste better? What does salinity have to do with the taste? Ocean is cleaner does that make crabs taste better? Should you cook a live crab on day one if you plan on eating him on day three, Or keep and cook him live on day three?

Thanks
Ruben

[Swimmerl Crabber]

The difference is there between river crabs and bay crabs. I can taste the difference but do not know why.

I like to steam them then eat the freshly cooked crabs, if I have to keep them a live in a walk in cooler, it will still be good.

Once the crabs are cooked, you can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days. But I can taste the difference between freshly cooked crabs and refrigerated crabs. The difference is there.

Just try it, and you will know the difference.

There is no clear water here in the South Texas. The river is clear if there is no rain.

You may find some river crabs and bay crabs to see the difference. If you seen a lot of barnacles on the crab shell, it is likely from oyster reefs or bay. The river crabs tend to be clean and without barnacles. The river crabs or crabs closed to river are more likely to be big male crabs with also virgin females. My largest male crab from the river was about 9.25 inch. There may be bigger crabs in the river but I can not catch it since the door size of the traps is set.

[crabbywaters]

My grandfather always would say those bay crabs are the best. I've noticed the difference between river crabs and bay crabs. I've really noticed the difference between crabs I've cough near ocean city and the crabs I've cough in lets say the wye river.