Jonah Crab Claws

[Bottom Knocker]

Anyone have access to or know where I can obtain (locally) Jonah crab claws?

They are often marketed as "Stone crab claws" whcih are found in the gulf of Mexico and expensive) but they are bycatch of lobster and fish traps on the north-east coast. They are usually about 5.00 a pound..

I have found them steamed and fresh near coastal towns from NJ thru MD. (had em every day while in Cape May)

I hear they are not shipped far because they dont freeze well (the meat sticks to the shell).

Anyone with info, please let me know

If you folks have never tried em, they are a cross in taste between lobster and crab.. very similar to Dungenous and Stone crab claws..

..they are really great but a very tough shell (wooden mallets dont quite do the trick)

Thanks guys!

[jrhjr]

Personally I don't care for them, for all of the reasons noted. I'd rather eat Blue Crabs or buy frozen Dungeness.
You can get them as you stated as a bycatch product from guys that fish out of Chicoteague and Wachapreague also OCMD.
I was hunting Sika Deer at Chincoteague with my brother and a bunch of other guys. We'd had a successfull day and wanted to celebrate with a bushel of oysters. My brother went off to the dock and came back with the oysters and a fifty quart cooler full of crab claws. Got em right off of the boat and gave the guy like fifty bucks for what must have been 30+ pounds. Quite a deal but I still don't care for them.
If you go to Florida they'll charge you a fortune for them. Stone Crab Joes in Miami Beach has made a whole career of it. The waiters ther "hiss" at each other as they come and go from the kitchen. Very Strange!