OT Anyone ever tried RED CRABS?

[fshrgrl]

Hi Guys,
Has anyone tried red crabs?

What in the World is a RED CRAB? | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com (http://hamptonroads.com/2009/04/what-world-red-crab)

I want to know how you liked them :D

[Wes Blow]

I tried some last year, I thought they were okay. It's hard to beat the old Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab.

[lmontagnaj]

Julie:
Ther are VERY GOOD!!! I've had them a few times and will be getting more soon... Blue crabs are tastier, but the reds are still AWESOME and FRESH..

I tried steaming them whole, but it took a long time, so I clean them now 1st and can get a lot more crabs in the pot with a lot less mess..

Same as blue crabs, just a longer steam time...

I use Sea Salt, Old Bay or Cayanne Pepper (my favorite).

Also, if I'm just cooking a few I steam them in beer, but if it's a larger amount I use water and a little vinegar.

I do believe they would also be great as a crab boil with corn on the cob, assorted shellfish, artichokes and andouie sausage... MMGOOD..

[Lady J Sportfishing]

They are absolutely delicious. Not as good as blue crabs, in my opinion, but 2-3 times the meat for the money.

[Woody Fish]

Yes; and they were good. My good friend Jim Casey at Casey Seafood in Newport News is processing them from the nearby commercial fleet. They are much harder to process, are good, but I prefer the good old blue crab.

[mschwarz]

They are excellent. Some prefer to steam them, some prefer to boil them. I prefer the boil with a "light" cajun boil, lemons, garlic and beer. They are best if you boil and when finished crack open the shell to let boil water out, and then let cool to room temperature. In fact, the BEST, is to let cool to room temp, clean, and then refridgerate a few hours. It somehow really "sets" the meat and brings out more of the sweetness which prepared like this is close to lobster (if you spice the boil too much you will cover this sweetness; just like you would with lobster). Remember these crabs come out of 800 - 2,000 feet of water where the temp runs upper 30's so the fatty acids they store up in the meat (otherwise know as "flavor") are really tasty in the meat! DAS

[ictchfsh]

Tried a few times. Had no flavor at all. Cant beat a big old blue claw jimmy.

[jerryaycock]

I heard that there is a guy from up north getting MOST of them and shipping them and has been doing it for quit a few years.

[Tom Powers]

So you buy them at Casey's?

To rephrase it

Where do you buy them?

I have looked for them in the past but it seems I have only thought about it on weekends.

Oh and how much does it cost per Bushel?

[racn35]

yummy yummy in my tummy........what asain market has them right now ?

[bonedaddy25]

I stopped by Old Point Seafood this AM. There retail seafood market is not open yet, it will be in about 2 weeks. They will be selling 3 to 4 Lb bags of clusters for 4 dollars a pound or you can get a crate full for 120.00 of frozen clusters right now. The guy catching these crabs have not begun setting traps yet. They do expect to have live ones in a month or so.

[dwilliamsceg]

More meat, a bit milder flavor. Excellent alternative when the blues were slow. On that note, the blue harvest has exploded this season - Chesapeake Bay crab population up 49 percent -- dailypress.com (http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_crabs_0418apr18,0,6669703.story)

[fshrgrl]

So you buy them at Casey's?

To rephrase it

Where do you buy them?

I have looked for them in the past but it seems I have only thought about it on weekends.

Oh and how much does it cost per Bushel?

Here you go Tom, this is from the link to my blog. Old Pointe Packing in Newport News is where we got them. Talk to Jim. They will sell retail. They sell frozen clusters for about $4/lb and live ones for about $2.60/lb.
The cost per bushel is about $60.
I loved them!! :thumbup:

What in the World is a RED CRAB? (http://hamptonroads.com/2009/04/what-world-red-crab)
I had heard of Red Crabs, which are caught locally off Virginia. I asked a buddy to pick some up for me when he went to Newport News to get bait.
These crabs are huge! They are reminiscent of the well-known snow crab, but they are stockier and glow with a bright reddish-orange color.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g34/drjulieball/0415091125a.jpg


We simply steamed the crabs with Old Bay. I will take red crabs over snow crabs any day! They are delicious! The shell is relatively soft and easily torn, allowing almost effortless access to the meat. The meat is more delicate than that of the snow crab, but the taste is sweeter, bolder, and very rich. In fact, I forgot to use butter!
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g34/drjulieball/IMG_4552.jpg

What are they?: The Atlantic Deep Sea Red Crab is harvested off the coast, from North Carolina to Nova Scotia along the continental shelf. These crabs are found in deep water ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 feet, where the temperature is a constant 38 degrees. Jim at Old Point Seafood Packing in Newport News (757-247-0557) explains that these crabs average about two pounds, but he has seen a few as heavy as five pounds.

A little History: Local commercial fishermen have always caught these crabs as a by-catch in their lobster pots. After deciding to cook them, they discovered how good they are to eat.
In the early 90’s a commercial fisherman decided to target red crabs and market them. He had crab traps specially made which resemble a long accordion made of rope. These long traps are placed along the ocean floor. Once harvested, most of the crabs are shipped to Canada where the main customer is Red Lobster.
Jim explained that red crabs have not become popular because they live only a short while once removed from the water. Most seafood markets want live crabs to sell.

If you want to try red crabs, the folks at Old Point Seafood and Packing sell them to the public either whole or in cleaned clusters. The average price will run you around $2 to $4 per pound, which a lot less expensive than frozen snow crabs! They also carry other seasonal seafood and scallops fresh off the boats.
You won't be sorry!

[Hamweiser]

they are awesome! Steam them down and and wash them down with some cold brews!!

hamweiser

[Dangerous]

See my August 2008 post !!!

http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/virginia-angler/241984-i-need-3-bushels-jimmies.html

[daf]

Actually, a little more history. The red crab was being brought into Virginia as early as the late 70's. American Original processed red crabs in the late 1970's in Willis Wharf, Virginia (Eastern Shore). Capt. Bill Weisman on the Yankee Clipper started bringing them in live for unloading and processing. They used pots just like you see on "Deadest Catch" and used blue fish for bait.

They are very good and I sure miss them. I used to help unload the boat when she came in.

[diggy23662]

what about using them for bait, has anyone tried that yet or are they to expensive?

[kendall]

Julie if you want crabs.....I can get you some.....I got 3 bushels on friday and steamed them up and still eating....The stork party.....Puppies are here.....