Why I love opening day of crab....and the ongoing season!

[h20hunter]

I am 100% done in. Crab, steak, cirn, beers, time in the pool....cant handle much more.

[CP]

I’ve been having to toss back at least half of the legal sized crabs because they are soft.  Anyone else having that issue?

[Fishstiq]

3 limits from yesterday.  Do you guys throw the whole crab in and boil it or crack them and just throw the legs in?

Crack 'em first.  When there are higher levels of contaminants and pollution in the water, it concentrates in the "butter" of the crab first.  Get rid of that isht!

 

I’ve been having to toss back at least half of the legal sized crabs because they are soft.  Anyone else having that issue?

Yup, lots of soft shell right now.  Tons of females right now too from Everett to Edmonds, apparently there's a big mass of them moving through.  Should be moved on by Tues-Wed though.

[NRA4LIFE]

I'm eating a dungy crab salad sandwich as I type.  Had Chili Crab Friday after we got home.  That is some seriously good eats right there.

[h20hunter]

A few soft....yep. I crack 'em as well. Shuck 'em at the launch keeping the tops in case I get checked. Less mess at home and I think they cook up better that way. Also, more legs in the pot means quicker we can eat 'em.

[CP]

Do you guys throw the whole crab in and boil it or crack them and just throw the legs in?

I cut them like this then pull the shell off and flick out the guts.

[h20hunter]

Huh....the ol' cleaver method. I prefer to ice em.....get em good and cold. Then, I grasp the bundle of legs and claw with the left hand, grab same corner of shell with right hand and pull top shell off in one motion. Then, grasp both sides putting thumbs on the shell plate used for gender ID....break in half flicking guts out. Clean off the gills, remaing gunk, toss back on ice until cooking.

Lots of good ways including what CP showed. I simply like to do as much in the field as possible to keep the mess down at home.

[KFhunter]

I like the rock crab
 
anyone else prefer them or am I just weird, bit tougher to deal with ya but taste awesome

[h20hunter]

Taste good
Effort bad

[SemperFidelis97]

We crabbed all weekend out at my place near in Tahuya the total for the weekend was 38 keepers it was slower than last year, but still a great time.  We used mainly chicken, and pig fat off the hogs we slaughtered last year.  You could not ask for a more beautiful weekend to be out on the water.

[DoubleJ]

I like the rock crab
 
anyone else prefer them or am I just weird, bit tougher to deal with ya but taste awesome

Nope.  not weird.  I 100% agree

[DoubleJ]

We crabbed all weekend out at my place near in Tahuya the total for the weekend was 38 keepers it was slower than last year, but still a great time.  We used mainly chicken, and pig fat off the hogs we slaughtered last year.  You could not ask for a more beautiful weekend to be out on the water.

Is there a public dock out that way where I could throw a dock pot?

[sneakyjake]

Flip them on their back and punch them in the belly at the end of their abdomen.  You will see a little water come out and they will go limp as a rag.  Grab all the left legs with the left hand and the right legs with the right and slam the crab against something solid between the eyes and it will pop the shell loose.  Pretty sure I've tried most ways, but always willing to learn some new ones.  Seriously, punch them in the belly, kills them instantly.  I tought my 10 year old how to do this (she hits them with the back side of a hatchet) and she will clean a dozen crab ready for the water in no time just to impress our guests.  I supervise with a black butte and get the boil ready. 

[SemperFidelis97]

We crabbed all weekend out at my place near in Tahuya the total for the weekend was 38 keepers it was slower than last year, but still a great time.  We used mainly chicken, and pig fat off the hogs we slaughtered last year.  You could not ask for a more beautiful weekend to be out on the water.

Is there a public dock out that way where I could throw a dock pot?

I don't know of one personally DoubleJ there are allot more marinas, and big docks on the Hoodsport side which is close to you anyways that look like you could.  We have a private launch off of the northshore close to the Tahuya river, and we do most of our crabbing off of the boat.  I know if you watch the minus tides out there you can pick them up in the eel grass I actually got two out there on Saturdays low tide while out clamming.

[DoubleJ]

I'll check out hoodsport, thanks