The sun is shining in the sky, baseball season is in full swing (literally), and hemlines are creeping upwards every week—crab season is finally here! Every year, the crab yield depends on the environmental conditions in the Chesapeake Bay and the harshness of the winter. This year is predicted to be a banner year for delicious Maryland blue crabs. Why will this year’s crab season stand out?
Weather
This year, thanks to the mild winter, crab season is going to yield many delicious crabs. Over the past two years we have experienced low snowfall and fewer freezing days. Additionally, the Chesapeake Bay has benefitted from revitalization projects and started to regrow numerous types of grasses. 2013, 2014, and 2015 were tough years, as prices skyrocketed and crabs were low quality. 2017 is expected to have a generous crop, so prices will be fair and the crabs will be plentiful. As a general rule of thumb, the less expensive blue crabs are during the peak of crab season, the higher quality and tastier they will be.
Know Your Dates
Since blue crab season depends on the crabs being properly aged, it has set regulations to prevent over-harvesting or crabs that aren’t quite ready yet. Maryland blue crab season stretches from April 1st to December 15th. If you plan on taking advantage of the crab season yourself, make sure that you pay attention to the regulations set by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
What Should I Do with All the Delicious Crabs This Crab Season?
There are countless ways to prepare crabs, whether you simply steam them or make them into delicious jumbo lump crab cakes. Some of our favorite ways to prepare blue crabs include:
- A blue crab feast
- With some delicious savory and sweet sauces
- With a wide variety of side dishes that are easy to make and even easier to enjoy
Your Blue Crab Destination this Summer
Costas Inn has been a Baltimore tradition since 1971. You may recognize our restaurant, which was recently featured on the Food Network with Michael Symon on Burgers, Brew, and ‘Que! We were also voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by USA Today, as well as #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal. You may have also 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.
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!