The Beaufort waterways are heavily populated with the Atlantic Blue Crab. These are some of the tastiest crabs out there, and when cooked fresh, well, your taste buds will be screaming for more. Fortunately, crabs are very easy to catch and require very inexpensive gear. Crabbing is an activity the entire family can participate in, and can be a lot of fun. Unlike fishing, crabs are always "biting", (or shall we say clawing ). |
| All you need to crab is a piece of string, most people use either nylon or cotton, as the crab really doesn't care much. A weight (an old spark plug could even work), a long handle net, a cheap one will do just fine, your bait, (chicken necks work the best), and a bucket to put all the crabs you catch. And... most important... your good luck fishin' hat and your best friend! |
| Take the string and tie the weight to one end. Then take your bait, (again a chicken neck... because they are tough, and the crabs don't eat it quickly), and tie it next to the weight. Nothing fancy, just wrap the string around the bait tightly and tie a knot around it. Tie a stick to the other end and you are ready. |
| The best places to go are boat landings, little tidal creeks, or really anywhere there is an open space around salt water. Piers and docks are fine too. You don't need a boat, just stand on the bank. The best times are near low tide, or what the crabbers call ebb tide, day or night. The crabs are close to the shoreline and actively feeding. Just throw out your bait and wait until you feel a little tug or pulling on the string. |
Then... slowly pull the bait in, in a steady motion, the crab will hang on until it is almost on shore. When you can begin see it, scoop the crab up into the net. The best way to net a crab is to bring the net in from behind the crab. He can't see it coming that way. It may take a few lost crabs to get the hang of it. | |
| To cook, you need a big pot. Fill it about 1/2 to 3/4 full of water. Bring to a full boil. You can season the water with whatever you like, crab boil season works good, or just some lemon pepper is fine. After the water boils, just place the crabs into the pot, now here's the bad part. They are still alive, but rest assured, they feel no pain. Leave them in the pot until they turn red. That's it. They are now done. ( It does not take long, so don't over cook ) |
| Be very careful handling the crab. The claws are it's main defense and he definitely is an expert at using them. A long pair of pliers or a barbecue or salad tongs work the safest. Also be careful of the spines on the sides of it's shell, they are pin sharp. They can be very painful! |
Once the crab turns red, take it out and put it on a large plate. Here's the messy part, getting to the meat. This is definitely an outside or big sink job. Break the shell in half, then separate the top shell. The meat will be white and is found towards the sides,
This is just one of the many joys of Lowcountry living in Beaufort South Carolina. If you have any questions just let me know! It would be my honor to assist you and your family with your Beaufort SC Real Estate needs! |
Comments(11)