Fat crabs

[30A Skunkape]

We just boiled a mess of blue crabs straight outta the bay. I mean, 10 minutes from trap to boiling pot. Talk about good; so fat and sweet! Also threw some shrimp, red potatoes, mushrooms, onion, JDarg banana peppers and a head of garlic into the boil (used Zatarains crab boil). We have plenty left over, too, so I am thinking crab omelettes in the morning and some for the neighbors. Thanks to Smiling Joe for lending me his propane burner

[Miss Kitty]

...will you still have access to this crab pot in October???

[Hop]

yum...the bounty of nature...

[30A Skunkape]

...will you still have access to this crab pot in October???

We can make it happen...if the crabs cooperate

[Miss Kitty]

We can make it happen...if the crabs cooperate

[ShallowsNole]

Sounds yum! We ate the last of last year's crabs from the freezer Sunday evening, and they were yummy - but not yummy like fresh.

Time for Fuzz to drag out the trap!

[seacrestkristi]

IMHO, phat crabs are better than lobster Did you catch 'em in a trap or on string with a net?

[Smiling JOe]

lobster doesn't even come close to comparing with phresh phat crabs.

I talked to some kids at the Western Lake boat ramp in GB on Monday night, and they caught phour phresh phat crabs in ten minutes.

[seacrestkristi]

That's phphphantastic! How phunn.

[Teresa]

yummy! crabs are the best!

don't know why, but I do not like the crabs out of Western Lake. I do like 'em right out of the bay!

[Allifunn]

We just boiled a mess of blue crabs straight outta the bay. I mean, 10 minutes from trap to boiling pot. Talk about good; so fat and sweet! Also threw some shrimp, red potatoes, mushrooms, onion, JDarg banana peppers and a head of garlic into the boil (used Zatarains crab boil).

We will have to do this at the Wash-A-Way!!!!! PULEEEEESE!!!!

[Smiling JOe]

yummy! crabs are the best!

don't know why, but I do not like the crabs out of Western Lake. I do like 'em right out of the bay!

Maybe Western Lake isn't salty enough to give the crabs phresh flavor. The salinity is really low, low enough that the alligators are liking it very well.

[peapod1980]

Maybe Western Lake isn't salty enough to give the crabs phresh flavor. The salinity is really low, low enough that the alligators are liking it very well.

Zzzzip! Zzzzzip! Zipit!

[Smiling JOe]

Zzzzip! Zzzzzip! Zipit!

I forgot that you don't subscribe to the Walton Sun. The last edition had a photo of a medium size gator, and I know a few people who have reported seeing a few. Ask Jdarg about the one she recently saw.

[jtnkelly]

IMHO, phat crabs are better than lobster Did you catch 'em in a trap or on string with a net?

Humor an inland person: how do you catch crabs on a "string"?

[Smiling JOe]

Humor an inland person: how do you catch crabs on a "string"?

tie your string to a chicen neck (heard of the term, "long-neckers?") and lower it to the bottom. Watch for the crab to come and start eating on it. pull up string and hold it over net or bucket and drop the crab in. No one said that crabs were smart.

[Jdarg]

Zzzzip! Zzzzzip! Zipit!

Yes, you have to hear my giant gator head story. It was as big as JohnR's bus. No lie. I ain't kidding. Could have eaten a horse.

Really, it was pretty durn big. Anr the next day, some guy was flyfishing and standing in the water about 20 from where I saw the gigantic gator!

[Uncle Timmy]

Really, it was pretty durn big. Anr the next day, some guy was flyfishing and standing in the water about 20 from where I saw the gigantic gator!

Well, I didn't need that leg anyways............

And does this story tie in with Mrs.Hop's Loch Oyster Lake Monster story?

[Jdarg]

Well, I didn't need that leg anyways............

And does this story tie in with Mrs.Hop's Loch Oyster Lake Monster story?

Her gigantic creature looks more like a serpent- this was clearly a gator- looked like the big one in Peter Pan!! I could hear him ticking.

[Scooter]

We'll be in Grayton Saturday. Would love to go crabbing on the bay. Skunkape - Do you use chicken necks and a crab net? Where can we crab on the bay? Yummy - blue crabs and cocktail sauce.

[Smiling JOe]

FYI - cocktail sauce is used to cover up the taste of bad seafood. With these Crabs, you don't need sauce, just a dash of Old Bay.

[30A Skunkape]

We'll be in Grayton Saturday. Would love to go crabbing on the bay. Skunkape - Do you use chicken necks and a crab net? Where can we crab on the bay? Yummy - blue crabs and cocktail sauce.

You can use chicken necks. I caught hardheads (catfish) and used them for bait. I crabbed off our dock, not sure about where else is a good public access spot...probably someplace off 331 I imagine, or maybe a quieter spot in Point Washington by the boat ramp.

[peapod1980]

Yes, you have to hear my giant gator head story. It was as big as JohnR's bus. No lie. I ain't kidding. Could have eaten a horse.

Really, it was pretty durn big. Anr the next day, some guy was flyfishing and standing in the water about 20 from where I saw the gigantic gator!

Oh, lawd. I wanna know, but I don't.

[ShallowsNole]

FYI - cocktail sauce is used to cover up the taste of bad seafood. With these Crabs, you don't need sauce, just a dash of Old Bay.

Or garlic butter. Not heavy garlic, just a touch. If you can stand to take the time to dunk it before sticking it in your mouth, that is...

[Scooter]

Thanks Skunkape. We'll find a place. Can't wait to crab and drink beer. What a way to spend a day. I used to crab down in Lafitte. Of course, this was probably before your time. Or maybe you were about 2.

[Jdarg]

Oh, lawd. I wanna know, but I don't.

I will take you on a tour of gator spotting places when you are here.

[peapod1980]

I will take you on a tour of gator spotting places when you are here.

I'll need to be fortified before I go.

[FL Dawg]

What are you using for bait in your traps? How long did it take you to catch a heap of crabs? I caught 1 monster yesterday and put him in a cooler full of bay water but he died. Can I freeze him and cook him once I have enough in my trap. I'm guessing I should have just left the monster in the trap but I didn't want them to eat each other if more were trapped also. Obviously I am a 1st time crabbing rookie.

[Scooter]

Okay FlDawg. You need crab catching lessons. You drowned your crabs in da bay water. Just a little water to keep dem hydrated. No you cannot freeze dem. Once they are dead you have to throw dem out. Put some chicken necks in da net and drop it in da water. Wait 10 minutes and pick it up real quick. Drink lots of beer while you're doing this and you are sure to catch lots of crabs.

[Smiling JOe]

Bay water won't drown the crabs, but you probably suffocated the crab if you closed the lid on the cooler. They do need oxygenated water.

After catching them, you can clean them and freeze the crabs until you have enough to cook a meal. Note, they are best tasting when fresh, not frozen.