My first Dungy

[pjb3]

I go every weekend if you ever want to get out, could use the company and have some GREAT HOT SPOTS, always limit out

[BOWHUNTER45]

Making me 

[Heartsblood]

I go every weekend if you ever want to get out, could use the company and have some GREAT HOT SPOTS, always limit out

I live right down the street from you. Well... 'bout 20 minutes down the street (I-5). I'd be very appreciative to go out with you pjb3!

[lokidog]

Here are some pics on how I clean crab.

1.  Grab crab upside down with both hands, copy the one hand shown in pic since my other one is on the camera.
2.  Find a dock cleat, I also used a pic at home, holding crab firmly, jam the cleat/spice into the mouth region of the crab.
3.  Lift by legs so that shell pries off.
4.  Peal tail off from bottom, pull off gills, and rinse. 

Obviously, this is not the best way if you do not have ice to put them on or will not be cooking them soon.

BTW, be CAREFUL, they can still pinch you for a few minutes after the shell has been ripped off.  I was reminded the hard way when my 7 1/4 incher grabbed onto my left middle finger today.   

[C-Money]

Cool pic's! I hope I can clean one some day!

[pjb3]

Cool pic's! I hope I can clean one some day!

U don't have any there?

[C-Money]

LoL! When I get fresh crab, the girl at Harvest Foods cleans them for me! I sure want to catch my own some day. I have always wanted to try over at Westport off the dock. Looks like fun!

[gaddy]

wish i could get over there & do some crabbin. thinking on bringing my 14' duck boat up to unit 7. my bro says he knows a spot. we used to boil em whole when i was a kid so as not to boil out the flavor. had a friend that lived over there years ago & he cleaned em & boiled them in fresh water. not good, very bland.

[MP123]

If you don't eat them right away.... they seem to last longer in the fridge when you cook them after popping the shell and pulling off the guts and gills.  It also takes less time to cook.

Yup, plus you can fit more in the pot without the shells! 

[SemperFidelis97]

I would have to agree with gasman you dont need a fancy setup around here I use my 12ft boat for crabbing far more often than my cuddy.  Most of the water around here is quite mellow hell I use an electric trolling motor as well most of the time.  Pulled 23 in one trap here about a week ago on hoods canal no more than a half a mile off shore in maybe 70 feet of water.

[trippledigitss]

SWEET! Good arent they? And they much better when you catch them yourself vs buying them. 
 
By the way FC was paid back this weekend for his good karma.     I took him up to our cabin in the San Juans and got him 3 daily limits in 2 1/2 days. Went up friday evening and came home Sunday afternoon with 55 dungy and about 6 red rock crabs.    Nice crab too, nothing under 6.5" and tossed back several legal ones at 6.25" to keep ones at 7-7.5 inches and some even close to 8! I'll post a pic or two on a new thread a bit later.
 
Personally I prefer the method of cut in half & clean them then cook. I think they cook faster. But I also think they taste better cooked whole but my wife & kids wont eat them that way - they say they 'dont like them boiled in their own guts & poo...' - whatever, I like them both ways. I use an axe & chop them in half. Only problem is saving the shell for F&G.    Loki's method works good too but they cut the heck out my hands! Then you end up breaking the body in half to clean it anyway....

[LndShrk]

Here are some pics on how I clean crab.

1.  Grab crab upside down with both hands, copy the one hand shown in pic since my other one is on the camera.
2.  Find a dock cleat, I also used a pic at home, holding crab firmly, jam the cleat/spice into the mouth region of the crab.
3.  Lift by legs so that shell pries off.
4.  Peal tail off from bottom, pull off gills, and rinse. 

Obviously, this is not the best way if you do not have ice to put them on or will not be cooking them soon.

BTW, be CAREFUL, they can still pinch you for a few minutes after the shell has been ripped off.  I was reminded the hard way when my 7 1/4 incher grabbed onto my left middle finger today.   

Loki,

I learneda new trick this weekend on that as well. If you lay the crab on that cleat belly down and give it one good whack on the top of the shell it pops right off.. (Eliminates the wrestling match)    

As for fishing for crab. The docks and piers are a good start but if you are limited to shore think about a surf rod and good beaches that people set pots off of. ( The snare traps work good for this).

A few pics from this season so far..

[jackmaster]

we also clean them before we cook them but we also steam them instead of boiling

[trippledigitss]

LndShark - Thats a good idea to crack them and then vac pac the meat only. Storing all my crab is always the biggest problem as I leave legs and body sections together and freeze them that way but there is no efficient way to store them in the freezer. FC broke all his legs off the body sections and that worked well too - but my wife likes serve them in halves and we also think cracking them at the dinner table during your meal is half the fun too - but your way make for killer storage! Might do that with some of them and maybe try FC's way too...

[LndShrk]

LndShark - Thats a good idea to crack them and then vac pac the meat only. Storing all my crab is always the biggest problem as I leave legs and body sections together and freeze them that way but there is no efficient way to store them in the freezer. FC broke all his legs off the body sections and that worked well too - but my wife likes serve them in halves and we also think cracking them at the dinner table during your meal is half the fun too - but your way make for killer storage! Might do that with some of them and maybe try FC's way too...

trippledigitss,
Yes I have tried many methods of keeping crab frozen and have found that Nothing is as good as fresh crab. However. By cracking it and vacuum sealing it you can open a pack in the AM and put it in a strainer container in the fridge and by dinner it is still very very good for the eatings.. However we do so much more than just eat it plane. too. 

Crab & Shrimp stuffed mushrooms
Crab stuffed Salmon
Alfredo crab
Crab salads
Crab baked lingcod
Crabcakes


Just a few of the favorites..