It’s almost crab season! While you can always find delicious crabs at Costas Inn, the end of July all the way to September is the peak opportunity for catching fresh, fully-grown crabs. But it takes a lot to get these crustaceans from the Bay to your plate. There’s tedious work involved, and long hours that crabbers must spend under the hot sun. If you’re wondering how your bushel got to your table, read on to learn all about the process.
Blue Crab Facts
This species is nocturnal, meaning that they’re especially active when the sun sets. In Rhode Island, it’s illegal to fish for them after dark–luckily, we are not in Rhode Island. In Maryland, crabbers will wait from the afternoon until well after sunrise to catch crabs (depending on the season). They do swim, and are incredibly fast, which can make catching difficult. Also, their claws aren’t just for show–crabs can do a serious number on your fingers if you aren’t careful! Blue crabs will travel into deep waters, so wading into their territory is often an excellent way of catching them.
Catching
There’s walking directly into a crabby area with a net and picking them off one-by-one, and then there’s the more commercial method. This involves a crab pot: a cage of sorts that crabs can get into, but can’t escape from. Baiting these pots and dropping them to the bottom of the bay allows for catching crabs when the sun is out. Plus, you can catch more than one at once. But remember: crabs must meet certain specifications before they can be taken to the table. Every state is different; in Maryland, commercial crabbers must not capture more than five mature female crabs who are not bearing eggs–if they are bearing eggs, they must be put back. For recreational crabbers, they cannot catch any females at all. Times for catching crabs are seasonal and come with a whole list of regulations–click here for more information.
Eating Crabs
The best part! Crabs are usually steamed for 20-22 minutes, just like lobsters, and then served with beer and melted butter. They’re fun for all ages, because kids love the challenge of picking and adults love the socializing. Eating crabs is not only about the meat, but also the experience of working your way through them. A particularly successful crab meat search is revered, and the pastime allows Marylanders to connect, regardless of their location.
Hungry for more? Costas Inn has the best crabby menu in Maryland.
Costas Inn has been a family owned and operated restaurant for over 40 years. We were recently voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by USA Today. You may have spotted Costas Inn during one of our 9 appearances on the Today Show or heard one of our many interviews on WJZ TV Channel 13 with Ron Matz and Marty Bass. We were also voted #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal! You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for anytime eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! You can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube!