Comms--how much do you get for females?

[SteveL]

I am not trying to stir anyone up or start a comm vs. rec contentious/bashing thread. I am a rec crabber/fisherman and I have never posted an anti-commercial comment on Tidalfish.

I ask these questions because I really wonder, and I have no idea the answers to these questions.

How much do you get for a bushel of females at the dock?

How does that compare to No. 1 and 2 males?

Does the dockside price vary throughout the season--does it drop to a low or very low level later in the season when the market may be flooded by females?

Is the money you get for females a "significant" part of your crabbing income?

I sincerely appreciate any and all responses, and I request that we try to keep this thread focused on the questions.

[POLECAT]

Steve,

I rarely keep a large quantity of sooks. I have in the past kept 4 bushels, but that was an exception. Usually I do not bother dipping them, but my guests do get a kick out of dipping, and it's fun for them.

The day I kept the 4 Bu, I got $50.00 per basket. Usually they bring around $40.00 per Bushel. I got lucky that day. The wholesaler was paying a premium price that day.

I do not encourage a market for females, so I have never been asked to provide them to my repeat customers. I keep them for myself only if catching is down considerably and I need meat for the table. Otherwise, they all go back or to my guests if they want them.

I can't say what they bring at retail since I do not offer them. At $40.00 (or less) a basket I think they should all go back. It would not upset me in the least if a total ban on all female crabs was instituted until the crab population recovered significantly. I doubt that will happen.

[Antman40]

.
How much do you get for a bushel of females at the dock?

How does that compare to No. 1 and 2 males?

Does the dockside price vary throughout the season--does it drop to a low or very low level later in the season when the market may be flooded by females?

Is the money you get for females a "significant" part of your crabbing income?

A bushel of females will bring anywhere from $10-$50 wholesale.

A bushel of #1 males will bring $60-$100 wholesale.

Prices usually start high, drop a little after the 4th of July and go through the floor so to speak after labor day.

Females make up almost none of my crabbing income.....if I do sell em' I don't sell em' wholesale. If I keep em' it's usually for meat or for friends.

Tony

[Capt.Nick]

Believe it or not.Back in the early 80s,I once bought 30 bu.from Augie on Millers Island ,who bought the boat load from a crabber in the upper bay and didn't need the sooksin sept. for $3 a bu.It paid for a days gas back then for his boat.about 70 cents a gallon.They were going for $6 a bu.most of the summer back then.2s at that time were around $15(5-6in.) & 1s (6 & up)were around $25.

[JB Crabs]

I only keep them if I want meat or someone wants crabs but can't spring for #1 or #2. I get $50.00 bushel.

[elkcrabber1]

i usually get around 30 for a bushel of sooks but that helps pay for gas and bait

[rrr]

$60 towards the end of this year.

[Crabslayer]

Even though it would cost us money, we would not be opposed to a moritorium on the take of mature females, as long as it is coupled with legislation against the import of mature females and products containing female meat. Does it make sense to prohibit the taking here, and encourage it elsewhere?

Phillips Seafood would never let it happen.

[shellfishshucker69]

unless im getting alot of sooks they usually get picked for the winter at my house but its feast of famine . In the summer i rarely get over a dozen or two and then it seems like in the fall i either get one maybe two baskets or ten baskets nothing in between. but the most i ever get wholesale was 35 a bushel for sooks and most of the time they pay the same for twos which they usually go home with me too or get thrown in with a basket of sooks im giving to my old man or family member. I like eatin em they got sweeter meat than a big old jimmy

[bigmouth]

true the jimmy has more meat but the sook is very sweet