MD Commercial Guys?

[redneckshoreboy]

To all the Commercial guys on here.......Just wondering what you all were getting for crabs last year and were you were crabbing? Month?

Its just interesting to me, how far the price differs!

At one point last year (Sept) I was getting 50 for good ones at Easton PT.
Friends of mine in Cambridge were getting 60
Relatives inn Hooper's were getting 40
Wye crabs were at 70

[Sam Hill]....I could buy everything they catch down to Hooper's.....Truck a 1/2  hour away and make 20$ per bushell!  Thats Crazy!

[catchincrabs]

Do to the Hurricanes last year our prices held at $85.00 bu. #1's  40.00 bu. #2's normally they fall to $65.00 and $30.00 CC

[redneckshoreboy]

Man... ...did you sell to the public? or a buyer? where at?
Did you buy a new boat 

[ChrisS]

.....less competion in Baltimore, than on the shore. Prices are lower because there are less places to take your catch. When those places get floode the price goes down. There are thousands of places to sell crabs in Balitmore and catchincrabs prices seem very reasonable. I sold for 60 mixed #1's straight through the summer, no complaints. I think I'd let them swim free for anyting less than that.

[Crabslayer]

I got $120 for 1s, $150 for Jumbos (7" and better) and $75 for 2s.  I sell directly to restaurants and carry-outs in Baltimore.  My price held all the way til end of Sept. then dropped 1s to $110 and Jumbos to $130.  Got $60 for 2s.  One of my buyers used them for $1 crabs for Ravens Sundays.

[catchincrabs]

Man... ...did you sell to the public? or a buyer? where at?
Did you buy a new boat 

As a matter of fact I did now I'm broke again

[redneckshoreboy]

I know the feeling CC.....

I had an idea awhile back....If I could get a 1/2 doz crabbers together....all go in on a refregerated truck....all take turns every day driving to Ocean City or Baltimore once a day after the catch.....? Or even set up a crab depot! We would do alot better than we are now, on the shore!

Its not that I don't like to see people make money.....but alot of these buyers are not doing jack...and making just as much as I am!

Slayer....I bet you got one of those new boats to 

ChrisS......We need to get a lesson from these guy on Marketing 
They are both getting almost double the money we are 

[procrabber]

having this exact idea, id have to say there are hidden risks.  often you can sell all you catch, but you end up giving it all back when you cant sell them.  people order crabs and dont show up, weather gets bad so people cancel.  about 1/2 the time last year i ended up losing money for driving crabs around looking for a market. also I get up at 2 am and usually i am not done before 8 pm, and that is with 2 people helping me out. it is a loooooong day

im all for a co-op idea. this means though that the crabs that dont get sold end up costing the waterman and not the dealer.  had i lived near my boat, i would just sell them to a dealer, but since i live in downtown bmore, why not??

last year there was a guy selling crabs out of a truck im bmore and he was robbed to 800 at gunpoint... another factor to keep in mind before coming to the city with the highest murder rate in the USA.  boy i wish i lived in OC 

[ChrisS]

......I live on the water and often take my daily catch and put them them in live wells on my pier. I than take what's in there from the day before and sell them. They are much more lively after being back in the water after a days catch. PC, if you run into that again, call me on my cell and you can drop your leftovers in a livewell at my house and pick them back up the next day if need be, instead of loosing them. I like the ideas above, welcome them and will do what I can to help out.
Chris

[redneckshoreboy]

I hear ya PC.....I have had a gun to my head once during a robbery! and don't like it at all!   

Another problem is getting devoted waterman.....their are so many out their that start jonesing if they don't have a beer in their hand at noon!

But honestly if all we sold to, were restaurants and open fish markets, it would work.... Just need the right waterman!

ChrisS....I tried that once...with a live well....I must of had my crabs out of the water to long...I think the temp difference (air vesuses water temp) put them in shock and I lost half my catch...

[Crabslayer]

As a matter of fact I did get a new boat.

Why not start a co-op that would also handle picking as well.  That way there would not be any loss.  I know it takes capital to start and you have to have the proper equipment and such but it can be done if enough get together.  We work to hard all day to get small $$ from the buyers. 

If it worked for the orange growers in Florida, it can work for the commercial crabber.

Also I am sure grant money could be found for start-up costs.

[redneckshoreboy]

Good idea slayer  
Have Depot's set up all around the territory...each one set up for wholesale or retail...fresh or cooked....all centrally located.....a couple picking houses for unsold crabs.......all for the waterman....by the waterman!

We would have some control over the market then wouldn't we?

Thats a giant step!

[Crabslayer]

We would have some control over the market then wouldn't we?

And that is the key.  Nothing against the buyers, but it is time we start taking ownership.   Only great things can happen.

[island]

hey guys, a co-op would work but only with a limited number of boats. we have to remember someone else will alway cut your prices to get money. the other problem is pickers, thats why most picking houses have shut down. with all that said count me in. i have a 40 bushel box and 2003 truck. just need the retail market

[Crabslayer]

hey guys, a co-op would work but only with a limited number of boats. we have to remember someone else will alway cut your prices to get money. the other problem is pickers, thats why most picking houses have shut down. with all that said count me in. i have a 40 bushel box and 2003 truck. just need the retail market

Maybe we could see if a picking house that closed down is available for lease if the equipment is still there. 

[redneckshoreboy]

I don't know how it would work with a group like us.....we all crab so far apart......I am thinking that all the waterman would have to be inn on this....and I bet you could get 90% of the active to join inn....it may take awhile to get started, but I am almost convinced it would work!

 The only compation would be from other states.....nobody else would have a product to compete.....I am not talking about reaming the public...just get rid of those fly by night middle men...and get a fare price for our hard work!

[ChrisS]

Procrabber brought this up last year several times, I'm sure he has more than a few good ideas. Perhaps you should ask him his thoughts on it.
Chris

[redneckshoreboy]

I am sure he has something up his sleeve.......I know someone most have tried this one time or another 

[island]

it all depends what everyone has to offer. we sluff a lot of crabs down here and have a large amount of females. this would be good for the asian market

[redneckshoreboy]

we sluff a lot of crabs down here

You would do really good in the city!

[ChrisS]

.....a cool truck! couple hundred softcrabs. They sell for up to 6 bucks a pop in stores for whales and 2-3 for hotels.

[R D]

I don't know how it would work with a group like us.....we all crab so far apart......I am thinking that all the waterman would have to be inn on this....and I bet you could get 90% of the active to join inn....it may take awhile to get started, but I am almost convinced it would work!

 The only compation would be from other states.....nobody else would have a product to compete.....I am not talking about reaming the public...just get rid of those fly by night middle men...and get a fare price for our hard work!

Most of the major producers in Fl are directors in our fishing organization and i talk to them a couple of times a week. We are not happy either with the current situation with your buyers from MD. I'ts possible that if y'all get this started we may be able to work up something to give you winter and spring crabs to keep your markets and to keep the picking house going. We have been talking among ourselfs about doing the same thing. Just something to think on, your co-op wouldn't have to sit idle all winter and spring and we wouldn't have to take our crabs to the resterants and retail markets up north

[island]

R D were talking now but this could be good thing for all of us

[R D]

It could be and we will talk on it some more.I see were Black Irish called the C.C.A. to get them involved in the Rec. license cap discussion. These guys just don't know about that bunch of low lifes. But if they get involved they will probely cure your Rec. crabber problem for you. Their track record is clear, they either want catch and release or a very limited harvest for all Recreational fisheries.

[cw4340]

Do to the Hurricanes last year our prices held at $85.00 bu. #1's  40.00 bu. #2's normally they fall to $65.00 and $30.00 CC

  how big do you guys grade your crabs #1s# 2s