You can identify the male crabs by the bluish color on the tip of the claws. From 1977 to 1989, the yearly catch of blue crab ranged between 6.9 and 11.7 million pounds, and was valued between $1,928,000 and $4,474,000. Yes you don t eat a female blue crab if it has an egg sack that has turned BLACK that means she ready to lay and that its not good for the population. Descriptions. Aquaculture of blue crabs at the hatchery starts with only one crab — a female carrying eggs. You can also identify the male crabs by looking at the bottom side or belly of the crab. Blue crab tips made simple. Deep down after doing research on here and chatting with others,you will find useful info from some new friends.ENJOY! You can also identify the sook crabs by looking at the bottom of the crab. Lots of crabbers and crab lovers on here. #3 Sook Crabs – The number three Sook crabs are the mature female crabs which means they are able to mate and carry eggs. If you need to make more crabs, continue layering them on top of one another and seasoning them. Eating Habits Once you have all of your crabs in the steamer, put the lid on so they can cook. Crabs are cooked while still alive because dead crabs have bacteria that make them dangerous to eat. Blue crabs are found in huge numbers throughout the Gulf of Mexico and up the Atlantic coast. The crabs are sold live to processors who boil, pick, and can the meat, to fish houses, and to supermarkets for sale over the counter. Peace River Seafood serves up fresh, all you can eat blue crabs Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00 am - 7:30 pm (no crab served after 7pm). The lungs and stomach of a crab are not poisonous to humans, but they taste bad and are not digestible. Males generally have narrow, thin flaps, whilst females have wider, more rounded flaps used to carry and protect eggs. but if the sack is Orange you can eat them and should. You can quickly identify the sook crabs by the orange color on the tips of the claws. ! You can use either fresh or frozen blue crabs. Dungeness crabs and blue crabs have both edible claws and bodies. The female common shore crab carries around 180,000 eggs under her abdomen flap. Most states have high daily limits, and if you know where to go and how to catch them, you can easily harvest enough blue crabs to have an epic boil for you and your fellow seafood lovers.. During mating season, a female blue crab can release up to 2 million eggs. Pricing as of November, 2017 was $30 and you can also order a dozen steamed crabs for $48.95 if you are looking for something lighter to share. A male blue crab’s apron is long and has a pointed tip, which is often facetiously called the “Washington Monument” by watermen. The megalopae and juvenile crabs are consumed by various fishes and birds, as well as other blue crabs. Scientists test the crab, obtained from a local fisherman, for parasites and disease. BLUE CRAB IDENTIFICATION #1 Jimmy Crabs: The number one Jimmy crabs are male crabs that are full of meat and typically the most sought after crabs. Make sure frozen crabs are completely thawed before you … Is Maryland Blue Crab Really From Maryland? A male blue crab, also called “jimmy” by boatmen, can be identified by its bright blue “chelipeds” or claws.Aside from its claws, a male blue crab can also be identified by the shape of its “apron,” which is the flap on its bottom. If you enjoy crabs, lot's of info and good chat about crabs. They are healthy ask the Vietnamese they eat the female cabs when the eggs are inside and eat the eggs inside it is very Healthy! You may be surprised to learn that if you are eating crabs in Mayland during the off-season, then you are probably not eating native Maryland crabs at all. Why not go ahead and donate to this forum. 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