The local blue crab season officially opens every year on April 1st. This year it couldn’t come soon enough for crab house owner Richard Smith, 49, owner of Seafood Stop in Fallston, Maryland.
Every year Marylanders wait patiently for heavy, sweet, local blue crabs. This year crab house owners throughout Maryland are hurting for customers due to the recession.
“We carry Louisiana crabs throughout the winter, but because of freight costs the crabs are almost double the price than Maryland crabs,” Smith said. “People can’t afford to spend over $50 dollars for a dozen of crabs; they need to conserve their money in times like these.”
The start of local crab season always stirs excitement for die hard crab fans. The prices of local crabs are cheaper, and the qualities are better than out-of-state crabs.
“We run specials at the Seafood Stop during the week in the summer; you can get crabs for $1 a piece,” Smith said.
Despite the news coverage on the condition of the Chesapeake Bay and the population of the blue crab, this year looks like it will be a great year for heavy sweet crabs.
“In past years, the news has scared people away from eating crabs, saying that if we over fish them there will be none left for future generations,” Smith said. “Last year the state changed the law so now commercial crabbers have a shorter period to crab female crabs, in hopes to protect the crab population.”
Smith is looking forward to this year’s local crab season and hoping his business picks up relatively quickly. It has been a long and slow winter for crab house owners in Maryland.
So whether you’re celebrating Memorial Day or just a sunny afternoon, stop by your local crab house and get some of them hot, sweet, local crabs, hon. Your local crab house owner will appreciate your business and you will definitely enjoy those crabs!
Every year Marylanders wait patiently for heavy, sweet, local blue crabs. This year crab house owners throughout Maryland are hurting for customers due to the recession.
“We carry Louisiana crabs throughout the winter, but because of freight costs the crabs are almost double the price than Maryland crabs,” Smith said. “People can’t afford to spend over $50 dollars for a dozen of crabs; they need to conserve their money in times like these.”
The start of local crab season always stirs excitement for die hard crab fans. The prices of local crabs are cheaper, and the qualities are better than out-of-state crabs.
“We run specials at the Seafood Stop during the week in the summer; you can get crabs for $1 a piece,” Smith said.
Despite the news coverage on the condition of the Chesapeake Bay and the population of the blue crab, this year looks like it will be a great year for heavy sweet crabs.
“In past years, the news has scared people away from eating crabs, saying that if we over fish them there will be none left for future generations,” Smith said. “Last year the state changed the law so now commercial crabbers have a shorter period to crab female crabs, in hopes to protect the crab population.”
Smith is looking forward to this year’s local crab season and hoping his business picks up relatively quickly. It has been a long and slow winter for crab house owners in Maryland.
So whether you’re celebrating Memorial Day or just a sunny afternoon, stop by your local crab house and get some of them hot, sweet, local crabs, hon. Your local crab house owner will appreciate your business and you will definitely enjoy those crabs!
