Finding and Catching Softshell Crabs
Nighttime Summer Beach Activities Along the Southeast USA Gulf Coast
May 20, 2009
Softshell crabs are one of seafood’s delicacies. Pop them in a frying pan, and they can be eaten shell and all! The tender claws are especially delicious. Off the east coast of the southern United States, softshell blue crabs can be found in the bays and Gulf from Texas to Florida. Softies can be somewhat difficult to find. Crabs know when they’re at their most vulnerable, and they do their best to stay hidden while popping out of their old shell. Here are some tips to make a softshell hunting expedition successful.
When to Look for Softshells
Softshells can be found year round, but are more prolific in the summer. The weather conditions are more favorable then too. Softshelling can be done in the day or the night, although it’s more fun at night and more crabs will be out then. In the daytime, there’s no need for an additional light source, but at nighttime be sure to bring some type of light to shine over the water. A floundering light is best, as it uses mantles and is fueled by propane, so the light cuts through the water. Flashlights don't work well.
Since crabs like to hide themselves, especially when “popping,” just walking along a beach peering into the water won’t yield a successful softshell hunt. Crabs like to bury themselves in sand, so be on the lookout for eyestalks sticking up, or hints of blue-green shell in the sand. If there are seaweed patches, or other large patches of debris in the water, there will almost certainly be some softies hidden there. Crabs especially love seaweed.
Determining if the Crab is Soft
Mating crabs frequently have a “soft” partner underneath, so it’s worth it to scoop up a pair of copulaters. When a crab has a shell already popping halfway off, softness is imminent. Catch the popper and leave it in water so the shell will fully pop off, leaving them a softie. Don’t pull the shell off! The crab will not be soft unless it finishes the shedding process on its own.
Softies aren’t very energetic, as they’re spending all their energy on shedding their shell. Simply scoop a crabbing net over them. Don’t gig a softie! This not only gets sand and debris in the crab body, and also kills the softie before it’s ready to be eaten. Softies can just be picked up. If the softness of the crab is questionable, simply tap it with a net handle to see if the shell is hard.
How to Clean and Cook Softies
Cleaning
Softies are easy to clean, and cook quickly. Lift the two edges of the shell (where the now soft spines are) to clean out any poop, and take out the gills if desired. The gills are several rows of white, spongy-looking flesh just under either side of the shell.
Cooking
To cook, heat a frying pan on medium high with cooking oil. Coat the crab in flour or cornmeal, and season to taste. Salt, pepper, or creole spices are all good seasonings. Cook until the crab is crispy, and it’s ready to eat, shell and all!
All that’s needed for a successful softshell hunt: wait until dark, then get out the crabbing net and floundering light. Head for a beach with shallow waters at the shore, the murkier the water the better! Make sure to poke carefully through any seaweed patches, and look under any underwater stumps. Check bulkheads and pylons too. Investigate any pairs of mating crabs. These are the keys to catching softshells.
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