By Richard Seale
Buying blue claw crabs
The full moons of July, August, and sometimes September are very special in
the lives of our NC blue crab populations. It is during these times, in the estuaries
of the Neuse, Pamlico and Albemarle waters that millions of female crabs become
sexually mature and are mated by male crabs.
The process begins with the female crabs sending out chemical signals,
pheromones, which inform the males that females are matured. The apron on these
mature females changes in color from creamy white to blue and orange. The male
crabs have been preparing for this by fattening up as best they can. Why? Because
the male crabs take on the task of protecting a mature female for about a week,
carrying her under him before she molts. Grabs are cannibalistic and soft shell
crabs are normally lunch to other crabs, as well as many other predators, including
humans. However, in this mating period, the male crab protects the female as she
undergoes the final lifetime molt of her shell. At that point, the male rotates the
female into an upside down position and mates her, after which he rotates her back
right-side up and carries her under him until her shell hardens.
As is usual in nature, males vie for females, so there are battles between males
and thus bigger, stronger males get the better mate choices. Also during the
“carrier” or “doubler” period, the males do not feed, but live on stored fat and
muscle tissue. Knowing these facts can help us buy the best and tastiest crabs for a
steamed crab feast.
Crabs store fat under the points of their shells and in the center of their body
cavities behind the eyes. The crabs with stored fat reserves have the most meat, and
the meat has a better flavor. To determine if the crabs we are to purchase are “full,”
a simple thumb and index finger “squeeze test” of the area under the shell point
works well. Crabs that are “empty” have a shell point underside that flexes, while
crabs that are full have shell point undersides that are very firm. Crabs about to
shed could have a separation split that would crack along a straight line. Holding
the crab at the base of the swimmer leg is the only safe place to hold a live blue claw
crab to perform this test (see accompanying photo). The first part of the selection
process is to determine if the crabs for sale are full or empty, regardless of size.
Empty crabs are also known as “white bellies.”
Legal crabs must be at least five inches from shell point to shell point. Crab
market sizing is not standardized legally, but there are sizing charts that run in
about half-inch increments up to about seven inches. Prices go up as the size
increases.
Size description
Size in inches
Crabs per bushel
Small
5" to sy/
84-96
Medium
572" to 6"
72-84
Large
6" to 672"
60-72
Jumbo
672" to 7"
48-60 (not very easy to come by)
Generally, the Baltimore Jimmy designation, so revered on Maryland’s and
Virginia’s Delmarva Eastern Shore, has been reserved for full male crabs that are
six inches or larger. Crab cracking houses there are not averse to charging $75 or
more per dozen for such crabs. A crab salad made with fresh picked crab meat,
mayonnaise and seasoning salt, and spread on an open-face toasted English
muffin, is what my father called “nectar of the gods.” We are well blessed to have
recreational access to Callinectes sapidus, our “beautiful swimmers.”
Revisiting stone crabs. My article last month on stone crab claw harvesting
brought me a phone call from Wally Lawrence of Beaufort. He wanted to remind
Demonstration of technique for checking a 7" Baltimore
Jimmy for “fullness,” though this crab has been cooked.
—Photo by Richard Seale
me that it would be good
to mention that stone crabs
have a closed season from
June 15 to August 15. My
article noted that none of that
information is in the official
NC Division of Marine
Fisheries Recreational
Fishing Guide sheet. In
fact, that data is only in the
DMF 328-page “rules” book,
well hidden on page 44,
and is not something most
recreational fisherman obtain
or reference. I called the
DMF and was passed on to
Officer Steven Anthony, our
local Marine Patrol officer.
He did not realize the official sheet did not contain any stone crab information.
He agreed this was not a good thing. I have written to all the members of the NC
Marine Fisheries Commission, making them aware of the situation and making
some suggestions for their consideration. I will keep you posted as to what I learn.
Hunting seasons are upon us. Although I find it hard to believe, the 2016-17
hunting seasons are upon us. Dove season opens on September 3, and deer archery
season opens September 10, as does the September teal season. Where does the
time go? If you intend to hunt teal, remember to get your NC license (if you do not
have an NC lifetime hunting license) and federal duck stamps (everyone needs one
of these)—and to plug your shotgun to the three shot load limit. The same shotgun
load limit applies to dove hunting. Have fun and be safe.
Remember every gun must be treated like a loaded gun, so make sure it is always
pointed in a safe direction, away from people. Unload the chamber and open the
breech if you crawl under fences or jump ditches. In dove hunting, be sure you
shoot up into the sky only, with I'^h or smaller shot. Wear glasses to protect your
eyes from falling shot. At the end of the hunt make doubly sure your gun's chamber
and magazine are truly empty, and leave the action in the open position.
The opening of dove season is a traditional social event in North Carolina and,
thus, there can be some pretty infrequent and inexperienced hunters in the field
around you. The opening day is often called a dove shoot, not a hunt. Only go into
fields you have permission to hunt and do not shoot toward any houses—and all
will be well.
Fileted breast of dove is not an inexpensive meat. A common estimate is that
seven shots are not uncommon per dove. At less than 3/4 of an ounce per dove,
it could take 22 doves to provide a pound of meat (the daily limit, however, is 15
doves), which could require about six (25-shot) boxes of shells. At perhaps $4.50 a
box, a pound of dove filets could ring up a tab of $27.
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