Blue Land Crabs

[GrierHPharmD]

Okay, this could have gone into the Scuba Chef thread, but what I really have is a local question:

Are the blue Florida land crabs (Blue Land Crab (Cardisoma guanhumi)) edible? Palatable? Legal to harvest?

I'm pretty sure that they're edible. Palatable and legal are the real issues.

This seems like a pretty straightforward question, but I've gotten different answers from different online sources, and, as my house is in the middle of a massive crab migration, with them in my driveway, my back yard, trying to get into my house, etc., I'm just reviewing my options.

(Hmmmm, pest or lunch?)

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

-Grier

 

[algal bloom]

Got the crabs, huh?

 

[SueMermaid]

Insight? They certainly make camping, uh, interesting. They ate them on an episode of "Survivor" and lived to tell about it. Okay, I am not being informative at all, am I?

 

[DennisS]

I used to see people down along Old Cutler in Miami catching them when they migrate. They would use a stick and a burlap bag to catch them. I asked around and found out they pen them up and feed them coconut before eating them.

I haven't tried one yet. If they're that close, grab one and steam it up. We await your report. They should be easier and more plentiful than lobsters to get a good meal out of. I'll start looking for a burlap bag.

 

[murphdivers286]

I'm sure but I think it is legal to harvest them, but let me check for you. I know some widelife officers. I'll get back with you. OK?

 

[scubafool]

Don't know about the land variety, but the freshwater variety are supposed to be pretty good. I guess that that one I saw "hiding" under a ledge at Alexander Springs last Sunday morning was lucky he was in a national park, huh?

 

[DennisS]

No wonder they're running around, did they flip ya the claw. They're out of season.

http://myfwc.com/commission/2002/nov/68B-54.pdf

 

[baitedstorm]

dont give me any of your crabs on Saturday Grier!

 

[GrierHPharmD]

Not even if you orally inflate my sausage!

 

[jstuart1]

ROFL...about to hurt myself!!