BajaNomad - Shrimp and Crab?

Shrimp and Crab?

Cypress - 9-28-2006 at 10:29 AM

What's the availability of fresh shrimp and crab along the Baja side of the Sea of Cortez?

BajaWarrior - 9-28-2006 at 10:38 AM

Shrimp season just started in San Felipe just last week, plenty shrimp there. Blue crab are plentiful also from fisherman and markets.

jerry - 9-28-2006 at 10:44 AM

but you might starve to death eating the crab its so small

Diver - 9-28-2006 at 10:45 AM

Once you get to sur, the crab is harder to find but almost every campground will have someone selling shrimp and often scallops, every few days.

If you go through Cuidad Const. there is a great fish market in a tiny storefront one block east of the main drag that sells grande shrimp frozen.
.

Cypress - 9-28-2006 at 10:50 AM

Jerry, Small? From point to point, 6"s, 8"s? Smaller?

jerry - 9-28-2006 at 11:01 AM

i think smaller
i can compare them to a red rock or jap crab on the oregon coast for sizeand amount of meat in them

Cypress - 9-28-2006 at 11:35 AM

Thanks Jerry, Jeez! Not familiar with those Oregon coast species other than the Dungenes(spelling?), but if they're smaller than 6"s that makes picking crabs a losing proposition. :no:

Looks like crab won't be on the menu. :no:

Tomas Tierra - 9-28-2006 at 12:47 PM

Cypress-

don't give up on blue crab so easy..if they are truly 6 inches point to point, there will plenty of meat worth going for..this is a swimming crab, not a crawler, the body cavity is much larger (more meat!)...go for the biggest liveliest MALES you can get..Steam them live, get dirty.

I have never had the blue crabs from the SOC..Have had the ones from San Iganacio and other surrounding lagoons...YUMMY! Rivaling the one's I grew up catching on the Chesapeake Bay..

Datil Blues..

Tomas Tierra - 9-28-2006 at 12:48 PM

1011801270_005.JPG - 49kB

Cypress - 9-28-2006 at 12:59 PM

Tomas T. Thanks. Was raised on 'em down on the Gulf of Mexico. My memory is a little fuzzy about the the size of "keepers". Know all about the difference between males and females. The "sponge crab" females are off limits. Soft shelled blue crabs are a treat.

tripledigitken - 9-28-2006 at 01:02 PM

Don't forget about the wonderful Stone Crab available in San Quentin, just as good as the Florida variety.

Tomas Tierra - 9-28-2006 at 01:04 PM

I think they just raised the kepper size in Md to 5 1/4"..all the ones I've seen in Baja have been large males.....didn't know they were around san felipe, thats great,I gotta go get some

.....

Tomas Tierra - 9-28-2006 at 01:05 PM

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Rock (stone) crab..

Tomas Tierra - 9-28-2006 at 01:11 PM

DSCN0914.JPG - 48kB

Cypress - 9-28-2006 at 01:16 PM

Thanks for the Pictures Tomas T.

All those crabs looked mighty good to me.

jerry - 9-28-2006 at 01:45 PM

the rock crabs from the pacific are great
a lot like the dungenes but the shells are just like the name like a ROCK just the P-nchers are harvisted there nices sized if you do try them i sugest ordering them steamed only then perhaps go back and watch if they understand what you asked for i have 2for 4 times got them right if not there going to be grilled with a bunch of oil and chiles so you wont taste the crab and the meat is burnt to the shellin my eyes just runied

Cypress - 9-28-2006 at 01:51 PM

jerry and judi. Thanks. Might have to break out the safety glasses when eaten those dudes? :yes:

Tomas Tierra - 9-28-2006 at 03:35 PM

j and j,

What else do you know about blue crabs in san felipe??what time of year have you seen them being harvested? is there an estuarry or are they in the saltwater?

for me, those crabs are worth a trip in itself..I would love to save myself the drive all the way to san ignacio lagoon! thanx!

Any other san felipers who care to chime in??

Tom

BajaWarrior - 9-28-2006 at 03:50 PM

The traps are set in shallow water on sand bars. During this time and throughout the rest of the winter they are plentiful. Even the fisherman when pulling their nets pull them up because as scavengers the crabs are nibbling at the trapped fish or just tangled in the nets. They definately keep them but do throw the smalls away. They can be purchased in town from the fisherman on the malecon. Or further south where we are they can be obtained, but the water is still too warm I think for the bigger ones. They are also in our lagoon, in fact, watch out where you step. They can be seen swimming on the surface too. Oh, and they are delicious.

Cypress - 9-28-2006 at 04:17 PM

Is it legal for noncitizens to harvest shrimp and crab for their own use? :?:

Guess you could say "on a recreational basis" for private consumption.

Hey Chuck

BajaRob - 9-28-2006 at 04:34 PM

Welcome to Nomads. When the time is right, Monaco will set his string of 25-30 crab pots @ BSM. When we help him with the harvest, he rewards us with a sh**load of beautiful blues. Check your U2U. Rob

[Edited on 9-28-2006 by BajaRob]

Tomas Tierra - 9-28-2006 at 08:31 PM

BR
any relative idea when the right time is?? I'm thinking of a long weekend sometime this fall for a blue crab feast somewhere south of san felipe..

first time visiting the area...where should I go?? beach camping, a little solitude, and blue crabs would be my immediate needs..any ideas anybody??

jerry - 9-28-2006 at 09:35 PM

perhaps im just spoiled with the dungness in oregon
the king crag from alaska
martian crab (a relitive of the king crab) near rosarita beach i had mine at popotlain january was told march is even better for $20.00 itwas bigenoff to feed 4ppl they cracked it and deep fried it was great but im a steamed crab guy
the stone crab fron futher south on the pacific
so im not impressed with the other small ones
i had a soup in loreto with a leg or 2 and some body meat that was imposable to get out of the shell i should refrase that i couldnt get the shell out of the meat
in the soc theres shrimp golore some of the best in the world
the lobster is ok but better on the pacific sideyou can dip any of it in real butter ( mexican butter is great) and chase a bite with pacifico and your in heaven

Pacific crabs

Sharksbaja - 9-28-2006 at 10:15 PM

The plug:

We are proud to offer a Dungeness crab entree. It is 6oz fresh picked local crab. No shells to hamper your dining experience. It is served on a large platter with a garden salad, fresh fruit and steamed fresh veggie blend. Your choice of fresh drawn garlic butter, homemade dressings and fresh baked whole wheat italian or french bread. :wow:

This has become a very popular item at Sharks. Actually, almost as popular as our cioppino.

Many restaurants shy away from serving fresh crab because it ain't fresh for long.

It ain't cheap either. If you have to ask you probably can't afford it. :bounce:

Now, enough of the plug.
----
I have spent my whole life along the Pacific Coast. I have caught many crabs in my day.

Jerry is correct that the delicate texture and taste can be easily overwhemed by over-cooking and over-flavoring. :yes:

My all-time favorite is steamed Dungeness, next would be non-freezer burned, quick-broiled King Crab.Then I would say Red Rock Crab comes next followed by Spider Crabs.
I have tried the Atlantic and Gulf rock crabs, they are pretty good but those shells are rediculously thick and not that meaty. I haven't tried the crab in the SOC but those green lobster definitely need some help with flavor. Broiling with garlic butter seems the best. :biggrin:

I'd like to try those green babies. I've seen em while diving. Too bad they are off-limits. :cool:

I'll throw anything in our cioppino sauce. It compliments crab well. Just don't need to cook the flavor out. Couple minutes is all. (drool)

[Edited on 9-29-2006 by Sharksbaja]

Diver - 9-28-2006 at 10:23 PM

I'll be in Netarts bay with 6 traps down next weekend !
Last year we got our limit almost every day - 16 per person and all the rock crabs you can catch.
Oh boy, I hope the crab are filling their shells and waiting for my bait ! :lol:

My favorite is my wife's light and tasty crab cakes with freshly diced red and yellow peppers and jalapeno ! Just a touch of bread crumbs inside and rolled in Panko on the way to the pan ! Ooooo, I'm getting hungry !!
.

Sharksbaja - 9-28-2006 at 10:25 PM

Diver, I hope it's as good up there. They are killing them here in Yaquina Bay right now! :yes:

Diver - 9-28-2006 at 10:28 PM

And how did I forget her wasabi aoli !! Mmmmmmm.....

TT

BajaRob - 9-29-2006 at 04:03 AM

I haven't been able to figure out the the best time to soak the pots.
For beach camping, Shell Island is hard to beat. For an improved campsite there is Nuevo Mazatlan @ KM32.
This thread got my taste buds tuned up so I bought two live crabs @ the docks in Campbell River yesterday. Boiled em up in saltwater and dipped in drawn butter with sourdough bread.

sounds like fun...

Tomas Tierra - 9-29-2006 at 08:31 AM

shell island (peninsula-whatever:smug

with the kayaks. some hand lines with chicken necks and a dip net...don't forget the old bay spice!(drool drool)

Are crabs legal to take for greenkoats??

BajaRob - 9-29-2006 at 10:30 AM

It is my understanding that we greenkoats are not allowed to take shellfish. Enforcement is another matter.
Look us up when you come down. I will loan you my best Newport trap and buy you a Dos Equis fria.

Cincodemayo - 9-29-2006 at 10:47 AM

I think the best shrimp I've ever had was at the Bay of Conception. The shrimp boats come in during the day and we got 2 kilos for 10 bucks.
Fired up the Hibachi and feasted with those babies wrapped in foil with beer and butter....and a few shots of Tekillya. Damn those were tasty!
Can't get any fresher than that.

Over the Summer Safeway had a sale on Russian King Crab legs for $7.99 a pound...Great Rib Eye steaks for $4.99 lb too. Had a wierd craving for vodka after eating the crab for some reason....

[Edited on 9-29-2006 by Cincodemayo]

Cypress - 9-29-2006 at 10:49 AM

Legality of catching crabs by noncitizens? Tomas T.! Is crabbing with a string and a chicken neck OK?

Wouldn't want to break the law.

Is it legal or not? Anybody know for sure?

Tomas Tierra - 9-29-2006 at 05:53 PM

Baja Rob...

Look forward to it..I'll steam the blue crab!

Cyp, there is a personal consumption law for crab in that area, I read it on the back of the new twenty$ bill :lol:

I would be more than happy to buy them crab from a local providing they are live and kickin!

Cypress - 9-30-2006 at 04:46 PM

Crab, shrimp etc. Get the water boiling and toss 'em in!

turtleandtoad - 9-30-2006 at 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
Legality of catching crabs by non-citizens? Tomas T.! Is crabbing with a string and a chicken neck OK?

Wouldn't want to break the law.

Is it legal or not? Anybody know for sure?

According to the flyer that came with my Mexico fishing license, "it is illegal for any non-citizen to take shell fish or crustations!" [sp]

Cypress - 10-1-2006 at 07:19 AM

Seems like an odd law. :?:

Guess visitors way back when must have been foraging off the seashore. I suppose enough people camping in an area and eating carbs etc. could have an impact. Have heard of folks going into an area, catching clams and canning as much as they could haul home.

jimgrms - 10-1-2006 at 07:46 AM

cypress its been happening for years tourist taking 3 or 4 milk crates full of clams and eating a bbbdozen or so and letting the rest spoil . or catching 30 or so fish that will rot before they get them home . one of my pet peeves

Cypress - 10-1-2006 at 12:18 PM

jimgrims, I see! :light:

We can thank some of the "back in the good old days" folks for these restrictions.