Undersized Crabs served

[JackB]

I won't name the restaurant but a friend of mine said that he was surprised in an AUCE crab order there were many crabs that were easily under the legal size limit of 5 1/4 inches. [after mid July]. Has anyone else run into a similar situation?

[highball]

Not me.. Had some great crabs over the last few weeks, but all were of more than size limit and very good. Now we always buy by the dozen. I don't go for the AUCE!!

[Z06RL]

I only know of one AYCE whole crab restaurant in OC, so I'll just assume it's the one I'm thinking of.

[captpat]

Does it rhyme with Bloopers?

[JackB]

I only know of one AYCE whole crab restaurant in OC, so I'll just assume it's the one I'm thinking of.

OK, I give up. What is a "whole crab restaurant"?

[Z06RL]

OK, I give up. What is a "whole crab restaurant"?

Many of the restaurants in Ocean City have all you can eat buffets and serve crab legs. Just the legs. But some places serve the WHOLE crab. After I got to thinking about it, there are several, but I don't eat the whole crabs, so I'm not the best authority.

And I was thinking it was the one that rhymes with Fill Ups.

[highball]

Probably B Mammas....... But you are right--there are dozens of AUCE crab places.... In fact JR's Ribs now has AUCE crabs!!! Makes one wonder what's with the crab SHORTAGE??? that everyone blames on the prices....

[fpk]

I won't name the restaurant but a friend of mine said that he was surprised in an AUCE crab order there were many crabs that were easily under the legal size limit of 5 1/4 inches. [after mid July]. Has anyone else run into a similar situation?

Me too, and it did rhyme with Bloopers.

[NACLH2O]

AUCE...unfortunately, I'm not aware of any of these places in the lower eastern shore that offer an "AUCE crab option that directly employs a crabber...they buy crabs from brokers that buy from Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, MD, NJ, etc...basically, any atlantic or gulf coast waterman...

That said, not all size requirements are the same...the chesapeake is different than the atlantic coastal regulations....not only for size but for male vs female as well, below is from the DNR...

Chesapeake Regs...

APRIL 1 - JULY 14
5 " Male Hard
3 1/4" Male Peeler

JULY 15 - DECEMBER 15
5 1/4" Male Hard
3 1/2" Male Peeler

Atlantic Coastal Regs

Minimum Size (measured from tip to tip of spikes):

Male Hard Crab - 5 inches
Soft Crab - 3 1/2" inches

Peeler Crab -
3 1/4" APRIL 1 - JULY 14;
3 1/2" JULY 15 - DECEMBER 15

enough on crab size....buy a dozen of nice crabs and skip the AUCE, unless you want to kill 3 hours eating and drinking...you know you can just hit the claws and backfins.......at best you are getting number 2's (mediums) at worst, they steam some peelers....they are small....and not meant to be steamed...but hey, the kid in the sorting room or the steam room will cook a shoe if it's in the basket....

[Z06RL]

I was told that Waterman's DOES buy local.
NACL, great info.