Blue crabs are extremely wanted. Despite the fact that these crabs may be discovered up and down the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico, essentially the most prized are discovered within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

However…I do know what you’re pondering… ‘That’s all well-and-good, Patterson. However what does the Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, or watershed must do with this “Jimmy”? Higher but, what, or who, is “Sook”?’ I do know, I do know. The Chesapeake Bay crabbing group has some distinctive names related to their crabs. And, no, these names usually are not some reference to ‘individuals’ or ‘locations’. These are phrases related to the crab sizes.

How Crabs Develop

As a crab matures, they’ll incessantly shed their smaller shells (outer coverings) to make room for his or her bigger, rising our bodies. This molting happens in the course of the hotter months, which regularly coincides with the height season. That is when crabs are usually at their largest and good for harvesting.

How Crabs are Measured for Harvest

Blue crabs usually are not measured by weight, they’re measured by dimension. Blue crabs have a novel wanting prime shell, their carapace. The carapace is extensive on the heart, coming to 2 sharp factors on the sides. It’s at these factors (additionally known as ‘suggestions’) that blue crabs are sized to find out whether or not they meet the necessities for harvest and as to what sizing class they’ll be grouped.

All male crabs harvested from the Chesapeake Bay have to be, on the very minimal, 5-inches from level to level. Feminine crabs have just a few additional guidelines hooked up (I’ll get to that in a bit bit) however, usually, feminine crabs are harvested at 4 1/2-inches from level to level.

Crabbers use a gauge to measure crabs proper out of the crab pot, proper there on the boat. This gauge, virtually like a notched ruler, is marked for straightforward assessing. Smaller crabs are launched (to develop greater and make extra crabs) and harvested crabs are sorted by dimension. 

Jimmies, Sooks and Sallys

Right here’s the place we get into all of the enjoyable names and phrases. However, belief me, after this temporary intro, you’ll be sizing crabs like a champ. 

#1 Males or Jimmies

These are the phrases used to outline massive blue crabs. These crabs vary from 5 1/2-6 1/4 inches from level to level. 

Jumbo Jimmies

These are the additional massive (XL) male crabs, coming in at 6 1/4+ inches from level to level. Massive boys. 

#2 Males

These are the usual sized male crabs. These crabs vary from 5-5 1/2 inches from level to level. 

Sallys

All crabs may be recognized by the sample on their underside shell. Male crabs have a pointed sample (we name it the Washington Monument-looks so much prefer it), females have a triangular sample (crabbers name it the ‘apron’). Sallys are immature feminine crabs. Their aprons are rather more triangular and lighter in shade. Sallys have to be 5-inches from level to level with the intention to be harvested. 

Sooks

Sooks are mature feminine crabs. Their apron is rather more rounded and darker in shade than the immature Sallys. Sooks shouldn’t have a registered dimension however most crabbers harvest Sooks at 4 1/2 inches. 

Massive Feminine

These crabs may be both Sooks or Sallys. However, with the intention to be known as ‘massive’ they have to be over 5 1/2 inches from level to level. 

Commonplace Feminine

Just like the #2 Males, these are feminine crabs that vary from 4 1/2-5 1/2 inches from level to level. These additionally could be a combination of Sooks or Sallys. 

Sponge Crab

These feminine crabs are prohibited from harvesting. They’re known as ‘sponge crabs’ due to the tender, spongy egg sack hooked up to their aprons. Crabbers (novice to skilled) know to softly return these women again to the water as they’re within the course of of creating extra crabs. The true queens of the Bay.

Choose a Crab, Any Crab

Right here at Cameron’s Seafood, we like to offer the individuals the blue crabs they crave. Whether or not that’s Sooks, Sallys, or Jimmies, we have now you lined. Head on over to our on-line store to take a look at our blue crabby catalog. We provide a number of the most interesting crabs harvest from the Bay, all True Blue licensed, caught, steamed and shipped the identical day!