Number 2 Males

[Merlin99]

Is there a difference in taste between male and female crabs. Centuries ago, when I was still living in Baltimore, people used to claim that the males tasted better than then females. There was even a thing called She Crab Soup which I assumed was made with female crabs, though I wondered if male crabs could be used for the same thing.

Any truth to that story about a difference in taste?

It's always disturbed me that females aren't turned loose, it just seems that it would help the population to keep the breeders in the water.

 

[black dog]

It's always disturbed me that females aren't turned loose, it just seems that it would help the population to keep the breeders in the water.

I was of the understanding that the commerial guys sold the females to the picking houses.
Non commerial sets them free.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

I was of the understanding that the commerial guys sold the females to the picking houses.
Non commerial sets them free.

Only if they want to. There's no requirement to release the sooks if they're the minimum size.

 

[Gilligan]

It's always disturbed me that females aren't turned loose, it just seems that it would help the population to keep the breeders in the water.

As far as I understand it, female crabs breed only once and when they are of a size to catch, that's already behind them.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

As far as I understand it, female crabs breed only once and when they are of a size to catch, that's already behind them.

Yeah, sort of.

BLUECRAB.INFO - Blue Crab Life Cycle

www.bluecrab.info

One of the big complaints with Virginia crabbers was they were taking sponge crabs, females that still had egg masses, during the winter. That's still allowed although the regs were tightened up. They're illegal in Maryland to catch although packers can still process them if they're from Virginia.

 

[Gilligan]

Yeah, sort of.

BLUECRAB.INFO - Blue Crab Life Cycle

www.bluecrab.info

One of the big complaints with Virginia crabbers was they were taking sponge crabs, females that still had egg masses, during the winter. That's still allowed although the regs were tightened up. They're illegal in Maryland to catch although packers can still process them if they're from Virginia.

I'm totally against taking sponge crabs...that's just a stupid thing to do.