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Blue crabs #15203004 09/07/20
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland woodson OP Campfire Tracker
OP woodson Campfire Tracker Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland	Went out with my cousin crabbing Saturday. Running 1200’ trotline baited with necks with 6’ spacing with snoods. Started at legal time, half hour before sunrise. It was a grind and took till 3:30 till we filled a bushel. Nice mix, some real nice, dark/hard 7” crabs and a couple legit 8” beasts. Sorry no pics of the finished steam. That’s about 3lb of meat we finished picking Sunday after giving away 2 dozen and having a crab feast with friends and family.

GB1

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15203367 09/07/20
Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 18,667 Likes: 1 S sse Campfire Ranger
sse Campfire Ranger S Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 18,667 Likes: 1	it would be nice to drive the nor'east sometime sampling seafood

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15203502 09/07/20
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland woodson OP Campfire Tracker
OP woodson Campfire Tracker Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland	Pic from a previous steam. My pot can do a full bushel and 12-15 ears of corn in one pass.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15204491 09/08/20
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 9,111 Likes: 7 T TimberRunner Campfire Outfitter
TimberRunner Campfire Outfitter T Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 9,111 Likes: 7	Wow. Makes me want a crab Benedict for breakfast. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15207889 09/09/20
Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 21,199 N.. Newaukum, Washington J Judman Campfire Ranger
Judman Campfire Ranger J Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 21,199 N.. Newaukum, Washington	Nice grocery shopping trip bud. Looks dandy! 👍 Ping pong balls for the win. Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies. Ain’t easy havin pals.

IC B2

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15208160 09/09/20
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 44,882 Likes: 9 M mathman Campfire 'Bwana
mathman Campfire 'Bwana M Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 44,882 Likes: 9	How are you seasoning them?

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15208188 09/09/20
Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 18,667 Likes: 1 S sse Campfire Ranger
sse Campfire Ranger S Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 18,667 Likes: 1	never had a softshell, either...time is shading the bucket list

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15209417 09/09/20
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,995 Texas G gkt5450 Campfire Regular
gkt5450 Campfire Regular G Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,995 Texas	sse, Softshells...that’s a must. Get er done!! Good luck and good eating! America, Our Country and we’re taking it back.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15209548 09/09/20
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 61,064 Likes: 20 Iowa/NW Ontario W wabigoon Campfire Kahuna
wabigoon Campfire Kahuna W Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 61,064 Likes: 20 Iowa/NW Ontario	I like all $eafood. These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15209617 09/09/20
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 4,874 Oregon 4 4th_point Campfire Tracker
4th_point Campfire Tracker 4 Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 4,874 Oregon	Old Bay, I presume? I like Blues, a lot. When I visited relatives in FL last, I made sure to get some. More expensive than I would have guessed though. Have eaten the most in MD, where I got hooked. Living in the PNWet, we have some really good Dungeness crabs, especially the seasonal fatties. But right now, I still lean towards the Blues Last edited by 4th_point; 09/09/20.

IC B3

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15209621 09/09/20
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 3,842 Austin, TX Whiptail Campfire Tracker
Whiptail Campfire Tracker Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 3,842 Austin, TX	Nice! Bring me some crab and I'll take you swimming at Deep Eddy. Quando omni flunkus moritati

Re: Blue crabs Whiptail #15209764 09/09/20
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 18,505 Likes: 2 Colorado antlers Campfire Ranger
antlers Campfire Ranger Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 18,505 Likes: 2 Colorado	Hey man, you ever get them big golden colored donuts at Round Rock down there...? Every day on this side of the ground is a win.

Re: Blue crabs antlers #15211432 09/10/20
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 3,842 Austin, TX Whiptail Campfire Tracker
Whiptail Campfire Tracker Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 3,842 Austin, TX	Originally Posted by antlers Hey man, you ever get them big golden colored donuts at Round Rock down there...? Yes we still have Round Rock Donuts but I live in south Austin so I don't get them very often. I'm more of a Shipley's guy. Quando omni flunkus moritati

Re: Blue crabs 4th_point #15212441 09/10/20
Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 23,686 Likes: 1 western VA J jackmountain Campfire Ranger
jackmountain Campfire Ranger J Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 23,686 Likes: 1 western VA	Originally Posted by 4th_point Old Bay, I presume? I like Blues, a lot. When I visited relatives in FL last, I made sure to get some. More expensive than I would have guessed though. Have eaten the most in MD, where I got hooked. Living in the PNWet, we have some really good Dungeness crabs, especially the seasonal fatties. But right now, I still lean towards the Blues Old bay is decent, J.O.'s is better IMHO. Virginia part of the chesapeake it's the go to

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15212485 09/10/20
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 44,882 Likes: 9 M mathman Campfire 'Bwana
mathman Campfire 'Bwana M Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 44,882 Likes: 9	Get some Zatarain's, and boil them so the seasoning is in them not on them.

Re: Blue crabs jackmountain #15212607 09/10/20
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 4,874 Oregon 4 4th_point Campfire Tracker
4th_point Campfire Tracker 4 Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 4,874 Oregon	Originally Posted by jackmountain Old bay is decent, J.O.'s is better IMHO. Virginia part of the chesapeake it's the go to Hell yeah, I need to give that J.O. a try! Thanks for the posting that, jack. Did a quick search, and it seems like J.O. is used by more restaurants. I'm ignorant on the Bay spices, but like options. Jason Last edited by 4th_point; 09/10/20.

Re: Blue crabs mathman #15212769 09/10/20
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 4,874 Oregon 4 4th_point Campfire Tracker
4th_point Campfire Tracker 4 Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 4,874 Oregon	Originally Posted by mathman Get some Zatarain's, and boil them so the seasoning is in them not on them. For whatever reason, Blues seem to be steamed and not boiled. I think partly, to keep from getting the natural crab juices diluted with boil water. And the meat is pretty sweet and delicate, so it doesn't need spices infused in the meat. For something like a mud bug, I can see doing a boil.

Re: Blue crabs 4th_point #15213434 09/11/20
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 44,882 Likes: 9 M mathman Campfire 'Bwana
mathman Campfire 'Bwana M Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 44,882 Likes: 9	I had them both ways and I like them boiled and seasoned. Not over seasoned mind you. People sometimes have a false impression of Cajun country cooking being laden with cayenne and whatnot. I don't like seasoning overdone.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15213437 09/11/20
Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,413 Likes: 1 Corpus Christi,Texas baldhunter Campfire Tracker
baldhunter Campfire Tracker Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,413 Likes: 1 Corpus Christi,Texas	Oh man,I love those crabs. ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~ As Bob Hagel would say"You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong."Good words of wisdom...............

Re: Blue crabs mathman #15216383 09/12/20
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland woodson OP Campfire Tracker
OP woodson Campfire Tracker Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland	Originally Posted by mathman How are you seasoning them? JO #2, it has a higher salt content than #1. Superior to Old Bay IMO.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15216419 09/12/20
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland woodson OP Campfire Tracker
OP woodson Campfire Tracker Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland	The crabs are placed in a ice bath for 20-30 minutes. This stuns them which makes placing them in the pot easy and their claws stay attached. Each layer of crabs gets coated with diluted yellow mustard then liberally coated with JO#2. Rinse and repeat. The fluid to produce the steam is a gallon of apple cider vinegar, gallon of water and a beer. Get the burner going full blast, place crabs in with lid closed. Start a 25 minute timer when you see rolling steam coming out of the pot. This works if you have a bushel of crabs or two dozen. Throw in corn when you have 10 minutes remaining.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15216638 09/12/20
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 25,116 Likes: 1 South Carolina MadMooner Campfire Ranger
MadMooner Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 25,116 Likes: 1 South Carolina	Nice! Love some blue crab. Dungee’s out here are nearly as good and easier to pick, but man, a heaping pile of spiced blue crab and cold beer...... “Life is life and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die.”

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15217599 09/12/20
Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 21,885 Likes: 12 Anywhere people are Less Stupi... C CashisKing Campfire Ranger
CashisKing Campfire Ranger C Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 21,885 Likes: 12 Anywhere people are Less Stupi...	We keep four pots in the water most of the time. I buy 100 lb of menhaden at the beginning of the summer as bait. Steamed up a dozen or so the other day and just collected another dozen or so with the wife 30 minutes ago. Also had a nice pound-and-a-half puppy drum in one of the pots. Nothing fancy but super easy living somedays. If you are not actively engaging EVERY enemy you encounter... you are allowing another to fight for you... and that is cowardice... plain and simple.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15217619 09/12/20
Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 21,885 Likes: 12 Anywhere people are Less Stupi... C CashisKing Campfire Ranger
CashisKing Campfire Ranger C Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 21,885 Likes: 12 Anywhere people are Less Stupi...	We hate Old Bay here... Tabasco in cakes... crumbled potato chips added sometimes before the skillet. If picking... just roasted garlic and butter bread on the side... Beer is good while picking, but gin and tonic with key lime is better IMHO. If you are not actively engaging EVERY enemy you encounter... you are allowing another to fight for you... and that is cowardice... plain and simple.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15217623 09/12/20
Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 21,885 Likes: 12 Anywhere people are Less Stupi... C CashisKing Campfire Ranger
CashisKing Campfire Ranger C Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 21,885 Likes: 12 Anywhere people are Less Stupi...	Originally Posted by woodson Nice looking pile of crabs. If you are not actively engaging EVERY enemy you encounter... you are allowing another to fight for you... and that is cowardice... plain and simple.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15217664 09/12/20
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 942 North Carolina CWT Campfire Regular
CWT Campfire Regular Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 942 North Carolina	I do not like all that spice on my crabs. It takes away of the delicate flavor of the crab. That's just me in NC. Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms should be a convenience store; not a government agency.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15218980 09/13/20
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 67,774 Likes: 6 N. Central Florida, and Miami Mannlicher Campfire Kahuna
Mannlicher Campfire Kahuna Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 67,774 Likes: 6 N. Central Florida, and Miami	Just south of me, in the Ocala NF, there is a salt water spring. It feeds into Lake George, which feeds the St Johns River. It is a great place to get blue crabs. I often get some when camping in the area. Sam......

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15221225 09/13/20
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland woodson OP Campfire Tracker
OP woodson Campfire Tracker Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland	Mannlicher how do folks from Florida cook/season their crabs?

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15221228 09/13/20
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland woodson OP Campfire Tracker
OP woodson Campfire Tracker Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,749 Maryland	The idea of “crab cakes” in other states hinges on blasphemy.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15221637 09/14/20
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 67,774 Likes: 6 N. Central Florida, and Miami Mannlicher Campfire Kahuna
Mannlicher Campfire Kahuna Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 67,774 Likes: 6 N. Central Florida, and Miami	Originally Posted by woodson Mannlicher how do folks from Florida cook/season their crabs? I can’t speak for the other 21+ million folks here, but I boil them. Don’t really Add anything other than salt in the water. They come out tasting remarkably like crabs. Sam......

Re: Blue crabs Mannlicher #15221651 09/14/20
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 67,774 Likes: 6 N. Central Florida, and Miami Mannlicher Campfire Kahuna
Mannlicher Campfire Kahuna Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 67,774 Likes: 6 N. Central Florida, and Miami	since you mentioned crab cakes, this is the recipe, scaled down, that I used in my various seafood restaurants. They sold well. Quote Crab Cakes One beaten egg 1/4 cup Hellmann's Mayo Several tablespoons of chopped scallion/ parsley mix Dash of Salt, 1/4 tsp white pepper 16 ounces of Lump Crab meat 1/2 cup bread crumbs. (A Hot Dog roll in the food processor works great for the crumbs). Add in 5 or 6 Ritz crackers when you make the crumbs In a bowl, mix the first 4 ingredients, then add in the crab meat. Mix in the crumbs, until you get a mixture that will hold together when you make a patty. Add a little more Mayo if needed to keep the cakes together. Do not add much more though. Form patties in your hands. Have some of the crumbs on a plate. Briefly lay them in some of the crumbs, and sauté in a mix of butter and olive oil. Brown on one side, then turn and brown on the other side. Sam......

Re: Blue crabs Mannlicher #15221853 09/14/20
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 42,070 Likes: 8 Huntn/Fishn Heaven-NW Ontario New_2_99s Campfire 'Bwana
New_2_99s Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 42,070 Likes: 8 Huntn/Fishn Heaven-NW Ontario	Originally Posted by Mannlicher Originally Posted by woodson Mannlicher how do folks from Florida cook/season their crabs? I can’t speak for the other 21+ million folks here, but I boil them. Don’t really Add anything other than salt in the water. They come out tasting remarkably like crabs. That exactly how we did crabs in Australia !!!! Fresh white bread, butter, picked crab, cracked black pepper, squeeze of lemon - OMG !!! Oh, & cold beer. Paul. "Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"

Re: Blue crabs Mannlicher #15225467 09/15/20
Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 21,885 Likes: 12 Anywhere people are Less Stupi... C CashisKing Campfire Ranger
CashisKing Campfire Ranger C Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 21,885 Likes: 12 Anywhere people are Less Stupi...	Originally Posted by Mannlicher since you mentioned crab cakes, this is the recipe, scaled down, that I used in my various seafood restaurants. They sold well. Quote Crab Cakes One beaten egg 1/4 cup Hellmann's Mayo Several tablespoons of chopped scallion/ parsley mix Dash of Salt, 1/4 tsp white pepper 16 ounces of Lump Crab meat 1/2 cup bread crumbs. (A Hot Dog roll in the food processor works great for the crumbs). Add in 5 or 6 Ritz crackers when you make the crumbs In a bowl, mix the first 4 ingredients, then add in the crab meat. Mix in the crumbs, until you get a mixture that will hold together when you make a patty. Add a little more Mayo if needed to keep the cakes together. Do not add much more though. Form patties in your hands. Have some of the crumbs on a plate. Briefly lay them in some of the crumbs, and sauté in a mix of butter and olive oil. Brown on one side, then turn and brown on the other side. We do the same here, but sometimes reduce the breadcrumbs and add ridged potato chip crumbles of similar volume. Also works well on fish cakes. Did a Jurel fish this way last winter and it came out wonderful. Added a fair bit of Tabasco. Jurel is a Pacific Ocean variant of a jack crevalle... that many claim is inedible. If you are not actively engaging EVERY enemy you encounter... you are allowing another to fight for you... and that is cowardice... plain and simple.

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15229780 09/16/20
Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 28,879 Likes: 13 West of the Blue Ridge Pappy348 Campfire Ranger
Pappy348 Campfire Ranger Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 28,879 Likes: 13 West of the Blue Ridge	Originally Posted by woodson The idea of “crab cakes” in other states hinges on blasphemy. Boy Howdy. Have to say though that I had some fine ones at the now-defunct Austin Creek Grill in Hatteras. They had a for-real chef there, and while not exactly Maryland style, they were outstanding. Had to go to Easton on Monday on estate business, and picked up a bushell, already steamed, my first this year and maybe my last since my business on the Eastern Shore is about done. We've been eating them like pigs and froze a bunch as well for later. Nothing better. What fresh Hell is this?

Re: Blue crabs woodson #15248343 09/22/20
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 23,123 Likes: 2 Annapolis, Md. G gnoahhh Campfire Ranger
gnoahhh Campfire Ranger G Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 23,123 Likes: 2 Annapolis, Md.	Originally Posted by woodson The idea of “crab cakes” in other states hinges on blasphemy. Yep. "You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty

Re: Blue crabs Pappy348 #15248345 09/22/20
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 23,123 Likes: 2 Annapolis, Md. G gnoahhh Campfire Ranger
gnoahhh Campfire Ranger G Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 23,123 Likes: 2 Annapolis, Md.	Originally Posted by Pappy348 Originally Posted by woodson The idea of “crab cakes” in other states hinges on blasphemy. Boy Howdy. Have to say though that I had some fine ones at the now-defunct Austin Creek Grill in Hatteras. They had a for-real chef there, and while not exactly Maryland style, they were outstanding. Had to go to Easton on Monday on estate business, and picked up a bushell, already steamed, my first this year and maybe my last since my business on the Eastern Shore is about done. We've been eating them like pigs and froze a bunch as well for later. Nothing better. Jeez. You went right by my house and didn't even toss one or two out the car window to me, or stop and pick a couple with the cold beer I woulda provided! I like them steamed with rock salt about as much as steamed with Old Bay. "You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty

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