The crabs hibernate through the winter, which allows them to build up fat reserves called “mustard.” Connoisseurs say this provides a depth of flavor you won’t find in any other type of crab. Why do Marylanders think our crabs are so special and taste so much better than other crabs when they can be found in such a wide range?Įxperts believe Maryland’s four distinct seasons contribute to the delicate texture and buttery taste of our favorite crustacean. A “Sally” is an immature female a “Jimmy” a mature male a “peeler” is a crab about to molt a “Sook” is a mature female and a “sponge crab” is a mature female carrying a sponge-like mass of fertilized eggs on her abdomen that can hold up to 3.2 million eggs. There are different names for each type of crab. A female has what looks like the Capitol dome and a male has a thin, triangle-shaped apron similar to the Washington Monument. When observing blue crabs, you can tell the difference between a male and female by the size and shape of their apron, a flap on their underside. It takes about 18 months for a blue crab to reach maturity and no longer have to worry about cannibalism from its older counterparts. They search for their food in the bay’s underwater grass beds, and these beds form a critical habitat that provides food, shelter and protection for younger crabs looking to avoid becoming a snack to a larger adult. Adult blue crabs sometimes eat juvenile blue crabs.
Blue crabs have three pairs of walking legs and a paddle-shaped swimming fin that can rotate 40 times per minute to allow them to stay in the water column.īlue crabs are opportunistic feeders who eat a wide range of foods, including mussels, oysters, decaying plant and animal matter. They have a shell that varies in color from blue to olive green and is about 9 inches across. It’s easy to see why - according to Maryland Department of Natural Resources, about 50% of crabs harvested in the United States come from Maryland waters.īlue crabs, as their name suggests, have claws that are bright blue, with mature females sporting a bright red tip on each claw. Despite this widespread range, blue crabs have always been closely associated with Maryland. Picking crabs is a tradition for many Maryland families, and the blue crab is as synonymous with Maryland as the state flag and Old Bay.īlue crabs, whose Latin name callinectes sapidus means “beautiful savory swimmer,” can be found in waters as far north as Nova Scotia and as far south as Uruguay. April 1 marked the beginning of recreational crabbing season in Maryland.