Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

[jimpittman]

Hey guys,<br />I live in Louisiana and do some recreational crabbing in the warmer months. The problem that I have is that a lot of the crabs I catch are just plain empty. Can anyone out there tell me how to determine a full crab from an empty one without weighing him or pulling his shell off or something radical like that. I would much rather return him to the water if I could tell how full he is.<br />Tanks<br />jimpittman

 

[neumanns]

Re: Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

Empty crabs, Hmmm...Thats a new one on me. Do you mean not much meat or something like that? Or is this reffering to something else. Just curious myself now.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

Ahh, the paper shell game. There is a considerable weight difference between a PS and a regular crab. It all comes from experience.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

 

[cjones4@hvc.rr.com]

Re: Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

Dont know about the crabs down there... but the Hudson River crabs are always kinda empty until we get at least one bridge jumper. Then they're nice n meaty.

 

[oddjob]

Re: Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

See if he it will take a shrimp or something, if not hes probably full. <br /><br />Sorry couldn't stop myself. I've never fished for crab, but I do buy I fresh from time to time. Whats missing exactly? the butter?, the meat in the cluster?, the meat in the claws? Help me understand what your talking about. <br /><br />Also, bridge-jumper?

 

[jtexas]

Re: Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

bridge-jumper, aka floater, one who wears cement overshoes?

 

[twitch]

Re: Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

We catch blue crabs here in NC. The easiest way to tell is to look at the belly, if its really white and clean not much meat.If the belly is stained and dirty there just right.

 

[ED21]

Re: Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

RHarper,<br /> I never heard that but it makes sense since it would take a new shell a while after sloughing to turn dark & dirty.<br />I usually just reach around in the bag & give a few the heft test until I find one that feels heavier. Then I end up giving most of it to my youngest daughter.

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

Our Dungeness crabs are usually pretty full in the winter cold water and empty in the summer. So we don't crab much in the summer! Not much help for Louisiana, is it?

 

[Brian J]

Re: Can anyone tell a full crab from mty?

Well the basic rule is squeeze their legs, If you are able to squeeze them in at all chances are they are not full. Staying hard is best as those girls say!