Q: What kind of Crab is this?? A: A tasty one!!

Worked OT from 7-12, and then had the afternoon free since wife and daughter were down in Hollister for a birthday party.  Raced home, ran the yak down to the beach, and launched into the flat seas under sunny blue skies.  Was absolutely beautiful out!!  

Went and dropped my crab ring in the middle of a kelp patty where I have had luck before, and then paddled out and around the corner to the Adam's Reef area. Set up a Halibut rig with a hoochied whole squid, cracked a beer, turned on some tunes, and began the drift back.  

Not one single bite, but was loving the weather, the beer, the music, and just being out there feeling the weight bounce along the bottom and fantasizing about Mr. Flattie seeing my bait and coming off the bottom to inhale it.

When I got back and pulled up my crab ring, there was a big ol' crazy weird looking crab in it, and right before the ring got to the surface a baby octopus darted out of the bait cage into the water, and I impressed myself by reaching down with my left hand and plucking the little booger right out of the water!! I love eating those guys!!
 

The crab was big, heavy, gnarly and covered in barnacles....not sure what kind it is but it tasted great boiled up in Zatarain's crab boil!!!

Here are some pics...any help on IDing the crab would be greatly appreciated!!

Sincerely,

Jim

I think it's a sheep crab. They get ginormous.
http://www.divebums.com/FishID/Pages/sheep_crab.html
The first time I ever saw one was on a dive at the channel islands.
The skipper of the Peace said they have very very thick shells.
Was that the case?

Thanks Tote!!!

Yep, definitely looks like a sheep crab to me, and yes the shells were very thick and hard to crack!!
 
Sincerely,

Jim

Yup sheep crab otherwise known as a spider crab. They say they have very thick shells but if you find a big enough one they are good eating.  From the size of the one you caught, I would actually say its a medium size one if you believe that. I have seen some down south so big they pretty much fill up te entire crab ring.

Nice....

way to hit the off the menu species

Those Sheephead crabs have thick armo can't break the shell with the "regular" cracker (hammer works fine)    The meat is sweet and tasty!  Thanks for the report and pictures Jim.

Creepy looking but tastes great.

not sure what kind it is but it tasted great boiled up in Zatarain's crab boil!!!

"It was the last of its kind..."   

Cool crab and great report, Jim!   

nice report jim, that is one ugly crab, as for the octopus, im with you, one of my all time favorite foods, cant get enough of them, thanks for sharing, cameron

They sell those crabs down in San Pedro.  The shell on the big ones is SUPER THICK but they are very sweet.  Wouldn't mind catching a couple

oww the spider crab. A regular catch down south the CIH wall is loaded with some nice size ones have gotten a bunch 3 times that size. Alot of work have only kept one due to the amount of work they our. Have seen some 3-4 ft wide at cataline but deep like 100ft... When i use to dive.

Dude the Zatarains will make anything taste good!

Dude the Zatarains will make anything taste good!

Yeah you right!!!!!!!!!!
 
 

Wow cool pulling up unexpected stuff especially when it taste good. 

Jim, you ever thought of being on the show Survivor?     I can just see it now, you jumping in the ocean and eating anything that moves     Thanks for the great report, I was laughing so hard my eyes were tearing up