Get to know the best time of year to catch, buy, cook, and eat crabs.
It should be no surprise that fresh and in-season crabs are best.
Here’s when to prepare for crab season in your area and how to make the most of it.
Credit: Chris M. Rogers
When Is Crab Season?
Some regions even stretch crabbing season into July.
Some Southern states, such as Florida and South Carolina, have a year-round crab season.
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Rachael Burrow
Some states have crabbing seasons during warmer months instead of winter, when crabs are more dormant and inactive.
Maryland, for example, has a crabbing season that starts in April and ends in November.
Most states list the permitted fishing season for each jot down of species on fish and wildlife websites.
Opening and closing dates, as well as size limits and bag limits, are also listed.
If your state requires a fishing license, double-check you have one for each fisher before hitting the water.
ensure also you don’t need an additional license for crab fishing.
Some states issue separate licenses for separate species.
Also, keep tabs on changes to season-ending dates.
Likewise, some states will not open crab season if overfishing threatens the population.
Fishing during these windows may be a criminal offense.
In September and October, crabs tend to be larger, so each crab contains more weight.
Mediums range from 3.5-4 inches, while whales are over 5.5 inches, on average.
This crab season begins in May and ends in September.
you’ve got the option to typically purchase these crabs inspecialty fish markets.
What Are Some Other Types Of Crab?
Some are cooked and frozen right on the boat, like snow and king crabs.
When buying live crabs, verify they are still moving.
Do not buy or cook raw crab that is dead.
Cooked crab can be purchased fresh or frozen, and it should be cold.
How To Cook Crab
When crab season rolls in, youll want to take advantage of it.
Luckily, there are lots of ways tocook fresh crab.
Here are some restaurant-worthy dishes to try:
When Is Maryland Blue Crab Season?Cameron’s Seafood.
