Old Bay steamed crab

OK, being from Maryland-most of my family are in Annapolis now-Here's my take. You need about a half dozen jumbo blues to get the same amout of meat from 1 jumbo dungie. Dont know the price, but its high.The blue claw crab is better in a cake, but the dungies are much better plain or in chowder. They use the "backfin" meat for the cakes-mmmmm, I never much cared for eating a face of anything, so soft shell just doesnt do it for me...
Dungies are not hardy after caught so thats why you hardly ever see them far from the west coast, I think, cept cooked. Not like lobster, hardy bugs there. Blues are a little tougher than dungies but not much.
Anyway, my 2 cents. Oh, and you can wear a bathing suit getting blues. We used to get a bushel for 15 bucks at the waterfront in Wash, DC, or better yet, catch them for free in the Bay, now its over 100.

guitarzan ,
whats the skinny on softshell blues ? I've seen them on TV I believe , just dipped in seasoned crumbs and fried . Do you just eat the entire crab , guts , softshell and all , looked good - but sounded gross ? Also any idea on our crabs on the West Coast , I've caught 1000's of them over the years and never caught them when molting , do they just hide out until their shell hardens ?

OK, being from Maryland-most of my family are in Annapolis now-Here's my take. You need about a half dozen jumbo blues to get the same amout of meat from 1 jumbo dungie. Dont know the price, but its high.The blue claw crab is better in a cake, but the dungies are much better plain or in chowder. They use the "backfin" meat for the cakes-mmmmm, I never much cared for eating a face of anything, so soft shell just doesnt do it for me...
Dungies are not hardy after caught so thats why you hardly ever see them far from the west coast, I think, cept cooked. Not like lobster, hardy bugs there. Blues are a little tougher than dungies but not much.
Anyway, my 2 cents. Oh, and you can wear a bathing suit getting blues. We used to get a bushel for 15 bucks at the waterfront in Wash, DC, or better yet, catch them for free in the Bay, now its over 100.

Thanks for the info G-zan.

I never much cared for eating a face of anything, so soft shell just doesnt do it for me...

Next Elk I'm gonna have to bust out a broiled tuna head. This may be the best thing I've ever eaten!! And most likely for the rest of us too.

Z