Maryland blue crabs are a fan favorite, especially for many people from the state and across the mid-Atlantic region. Although one of the most popular ways to eat them is steamed, there are many recipes that help bring out the delicious flavor of crab. Families also enjoy going out on the water and trying their hand at catching a few crabs for their own meals. If you were curious to learn more about them, here’s everything you should know about Maryland blue crabs.
Economy
Blue crabs are a major part of the Maryland economy. They’ve been caught commercially since the mid-1800s. They are home in the Chesapeake Bay, which stretches from Delaware to Virginia. Because of their popularity, it was necessary for there to be daily limits on catching crabs to help ensure a balanced annual harvest.
Fun Facts
The scientific name for blue crabs is Callinectes Sapidus, which means “beautiful swimmer that is savory.” They tend to dwell on the bottom of the sea and are predators to a variety of fish, including dead fish. They feast on other crabs, clams, snails, eelgrass, sea lettuce, and other decayed vegetation. Although they’re widely known as blue crabs, the color is usually a variation that ranges from blue to olive and bluish-green. Most of the crabs that we eat each year are actually fished from the waters surrounding Virginia instead of Maryland. You can tell the difference between male and female crabs by examining their abdomen. The abdomen of male crabs tends to look like an inverted letter “T” while female crabs change as they mature and look more rounded.
Crab Cuisine
Recreational crabbers require a license to fish in the Chesapeake Bay, but a license isn’t necessary if you’re fishing from docks, piers, or bridges. They are priced by size with larger crabs being more expensive. Most adults can eat up to a dozen crabs in one sitting. They are usually served with corn and baked potatoes.
YOUR SEAFOOD 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!