Blue Crab Crabbing/How to Freeze Crabs (bait, set, pull, clean, cook)

We're going to take you blue crab crabbing using crab pots in Beaufort S.C. marsh creeks. We'll show you the bait we're using, give you a look at where how/where we set our crab pots, sort our catch to comply with the SCDNR rules and regulations size limit, let you see how we clean blue crabs, and show you how we prepare crabs for storage in our freezer. #bluecrab #crabbing #how to prepare crabs for freezer storage.
linktr.ee/SaltyReflections
Thank you for watching! There are MANY other ways to support our channel also:
*Become A Patron / saltyreflections
*Channel Donations Buy us a gallon of gas ⛽️ www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...
*Amazon Wish List amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3I0...
*OR ... Buy yourself something to support our channel:
Merch teespring.com/stores/salty-re...
Salty Reflections sells seashells by the seashore ebay.com/str/seashelllover
or message/email us directly.
Amazon Storefront amazon.com/shop/saltyreflections
Facebook / saltyreflectionsbsc
FB Group / 1126116031080445
Instagram @saltyreflectionsbsc
Email address: [e-mail]
Salty Reflections
P.O. Box 1798
Barnwell, SC 29812
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PATREON PATRONS!!!
With a special thank you to John & Dawn Hrdlick, Laurie Large, Glenda Roberts, Gracie Hood & Dorris Roberts.
Products affiliate links below (may earn commission):
Hero 7 Black Bundle
GP Dual Battery Charger + Battery amzn.to/2WrRuhV
Rechargeable Battery amzn.to/2WO39GM
50in1 GP Acc Kit amzn.to/2T0QQ8P
GP Floating Grip amzn.to/2xWirk8
GP 3-Way Grip Arm Tripod amzn.to/2WTrU43
SanDisk 128GB Ext MicroSD amzn.to/3crUnEJ
GP Tripod Mount amzn.to/2WrfsJZ
Costa M Sunglasses amzn.to/2YXEIJx W amzn.to/3dJq8JV
Zinc Sunscreen amzn.to/3bqPeeT
SPF 50 Sunscreen amzn.to/2WMxs0m
Two Ring Wire Crab Net amzn.to/3coaTFQ
Two-Ring Crab Net amzn.to/3cu9BsS
5 Ft Crab Net amzn.to/3bpPNWb
Blue Crab Pot Trap amzn.to/3byZMc9
Buoy amzn.to/3cs4Dgt
2-Pc Buoy amzn.to/2zvQgcg
Crab Trap line amzn.to/2T0pEHi amzn.to/3bn61zu
Pot Zinc Anode amzn.to/2WX4XNM
Hog Rings amzn.to/2WvKBw5
Crab Snare amzn.to/2WoZK1U
Crab Tong amzn.to/2YWm5FS
Crab Grabber amzn.to/2Ln9cwx
Steamer Set amzn.to/3fJ7RxU
4 Pc Steamer Pots amzn.to/3dDrR3g
Shrimp/Crab Boil 1 gal amzn.to/3cu07ho
Seafood Tool Sets 14Pc amzn.to/3csdNJV
19Pc amzn.to/2Z5cE6S
22Pc amzn.to/2YXd9ju
Ramekins amzn.to/2T2D2ur
Double Decker Wagon amzn.to/3fNCyCq
Clarks Flip Flop amzn.to/3bpVSSM
Crabbing tips & tricks: how to/what to use to bait & catch blue crab with crab pots/traps or baskets; how to measure blue crab/stone crab claws; how to clean/cook crabs; how to determine sex/maturity of blue crabs; regulations & requirements for crabbing in SC.
Inshore & offshore/deep sea fishing adventures: learn how to fish Carolina rigs using mud minnows, shrimp, squid or fiddler crabs catching spottail bass (bull redfish/red drum), spotted sea trout, sheepshead, flounder (gigging too), triggerfish, snapper, grouper, mackeral, bluefish, black drum, black sea bass, whiting, cobia, shark & more!
Shrimp trawling: how to shrimp dragging a 25 ft trawl net with our small 17 ft boat; checking our nets; showing/sorting our catch; throwing back bycatch (squid, bait fish, skates/rays). Watch as dolphin & shorebirds (gulls, terns, pelicans) follow shrimp boats to catch a meal.
Thank you for joining along for the virtual adventure!

[@madfishermanmadfisherman4299]

I have been eating those Deadman fingers for most of my life 20+ years. I never got sick or anything.

[@SaltyReflections]

🤔

[@kathy_beauty1955]

Steph looks like "the queen of the Nile" just cruisin. Oliver, you did good!! She's beautiful. You're not chopped liver yourself!!! Lol. You guys are so much fun!!!

[@SaltyReflections]

😊 You're sweet! Thanks for joining us for the ride along! 🌊🦀

[@louieshepheard6772]

I like to see different types of ways to catch crabs because I like to eat them they are delicious

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks for coming along with us on our crabbing adventure!

[@mariacambre8971]

Hi guys, I sure hope you video the 2nd day. I would love to see if you get more than you did the 1st day. Good luck, may there be more & plenty big ones!!❣🌴

[@SaltyReflections]

👍🦀

[@wandabrown3964]

Thanks for all the hard work and taking time to show me how to catch, clean, and steam the crabs 🦀.

[@SaltyReflections]

Our pleasure! Thank you for watching!

[@onamission4562]

The cool are puts the crabs in what I call the woo woo woo staged of just chilling like they been to a Love and Peace Rally lol. I love crabbing too in SC but ours crabs are something else they don’t behave lol.

[@SaltyReflections]

😆 Some of the crabs we catch are hard to deal with, too.

[@garywalton7176]

My Favorite Low Country Couple doing their thing..yall are making me hungry ! I can't wait to get me some the last week of September @ Edisto ! I've started using your cleaning method on those crabs and it's definitely the best !! Enjoy your harvest !!

[@SaltyReflections]

Just so happens we are visiting Edisto today for a day trip! Glad you are enjoying your crabs cleaned this way. We are so glad to pass along the knowledge! Good luck & hope you catch a bunch of those yummy blues! 😋🦀

[@garywalton7176]

@SaltyReflections Enjoy your day@ Edisto!

[@Danvers97]

Always love when yall take us crabbin with yall. Now i got a craving for some fresh blue crab

[@SaltyReflections]

LOL. Their sweet meat is yummy dipped in melted butter with seasoning. I love crab cakes, too.

[@user-jh7uy9lm6g]

Yeh u a good teacher!

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks for crabbing with us! 🦀

[@patifagan6774]

Very interesting. Thank yo so much .

[@SaltyReflections]

You are very welcome.

[@karenuntz6514]

Making me hangry for seafood guys!!! 😂😅😊❤

[@SaltyReflections]

Yummy 😋

[@bakergang89]

Yall have a nice place right on the water

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks, we love it.

[@cmlackey1]

Thank you so much for sharing, as always i love all your videos.

[@SaltyReflections]

🤗 Thanks so much for coming along! We appreciate it & the encouragement!

[@drumminsonlive9199]

Purdy cool I really like that square pot… thanks!

[@SaltyReflections]

Yeah, thats typically the only shape they come in down here as far as the pots/traps, either 1 level or 2, but always square. 🦀🦀

[@drumminsonlive9199]

@@SaltyReflections Oh yeah I was talking about the pot for steaming the crabs sorry.

[@SaltyReflections]

Oh! 😆

[@PalaciosCJ5]

Very informative. Thank you. I hope to be moving to your area soon and see you on the water.

[@SaltyReflections]

We're on the water a lot. You'll probably see us.

[@jasongrinnell1986]

Absolutely enjoyed the video.

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks

[@douglasmartin6770]

I really enjoyed your video Looking forward to the next one

[@SaltyReflections]

I'm going to pull pull pull for you guys. 🤪 🦀👍

[@Dave-zy6de]

I just subscribed love the crab content. I have a place in Louisiana on the coast we only have maybe 1.5 ft rides in my area nothing like what you have.

[@SaltyReflections]

Welcome to the family 😁

[@bowiegirl5662]

Great video!!! I always learn something!

[@SaltyReflections]

Glad you enjoyed it! 🦀🦀

[@dboogeman2002]

Loving your videos as always good neighbor! Keep it goin y'all.

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks. We'll keep pushing forward.

[@teresaandtimraidt9076]

Looks like a fine yuengling day to me. 3 more weeks to our yearly trip to the coast. Y’all hook us. We going crabbing.

[@SaltyReflections]

Awesome! Have fun! Hope you load up! 🦀🦀🦀

[@robrob3376]

Hi from Michigan. . In the 90s last week very high humidity... Love your videos.. I could watch them everyday!!! Very educational!!! Take care be safe out there... God bless you and your family.. ❤️🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@SaltyReflections]

❤️ Thanks so much. I'm truly thankful to be able to make these videos to share with you all. Keep cool and stay safe. 😎

[@lutherprince9304]

Thanks for taking us along!! Maybe next time I’ll stick around for dinner 😂😂

[@SaltyReflections]

👍😂

[@dianetbailey9185]

We love to see you crabbing, please take us with you.♥️🦀🙏🏻

[@SaltyReflections]

We try every chance we get! Thanks for coming along! We will definitely take you on our next trip! 🦀

[@jocook174]

Great Video

[@SaltyReflections]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@CrazyMooseManor]

Save some for me. Love watching you guys crabbing. Hopefully in 3 weeks they will be a little bigger. Cant wait to be back in that area.

[@SaltyReflections]

We'll leave you a few. LOL! Enjoy.

[@mikemcelveen2973]

Man,I wish I was down there now. When ya'll passed by pops place at the point I felt homesick. I need to get down there and decompress lol. You and Stephanie always put on a good show. Thanks for what ya'll do! Take care!

[@SaltyReflections]

Don't wait until it's too late to enjoy life. You guys have plenty of opportunities to enjoy yourselves. We'd be lost without our little piece of heaven.

[@gonzalomanriquezjr864]

Maryland had a feels like 106 temperature 😂. Back down to 85 now. I took the week off of crabbing. I was about to die out there lol

[@SaltyReflections]

LOL! All the folks that have moved to SC from up north are melting. I'm praying we don't have a power outage. We'll all be trouble. AC is the most important thing a person owns here.

[@gonzalomanriquezjr864]

@@SaltyReflections yeah I grew up in Florida but I have been gone so long I can’t do the heat anymore lol

[@Fishing4Reel]

New Sub and looking forward to learning more. Moving from Middle Tennessee to the Florida Panhandle, so I need all the help I can get.👍

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks! We'll keep sharing as many videos as we can. Enjoy the beautiful state of Florida.

[@lisacoyne1537]

🤤 yum

[@SaltyReflections]

😋🦀👍

[@charlesdennis2522]

Try using spoiled chicken as bait cuz I've seen a lot of good results of others using chicken over the fish as bait! Just a suggestion! Charles from Alabama but former SC native!

[@SaltyReflections]

Chicken is probably the best bait for crabbing that I've seen. We're just cheap and choose to use what we have. I'll use about anything to bait our pots. LOL. My buddy put some cooked crabs in his pots the other day.🤪

[@sharonb8714]

I love watching you crabbing videos! I do have a question about, if the crab dies before you get around to cleaning them, if it's got a big claw can you pull the claw off and cook it?? I know others have cooked the claws that has come off.

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks! Good question. I really don't know. Maybe someone reading the comments can answer this. We don't normally remove claws from dead crabs just to be safe. We do cook claws that have come off when we know the crab was alive, like while we are catching/cleaning them.

[@kathy_beauty1955]

If the Lord didn't mean for us to eat crab, he wouldn't have made them so easy to clean!!

[@MusicLover-oo8tv]

Don’t forget that deliciousness 😋 🥰🦀🦀❤️

[@SaltyReflections]

🤣✔️

[@SaltyReflections]

😋🦀✔️

[@MusicLover-oo8tv]

@@SaltyReflectionsOMG I just had blue crabs for lunch, that I’d previously frozen 😋 sooo delicious 🎶 🎼 makes you tongue & tummy sing 😉

[@roylesueur7510]

Awesome video try some JO spice number 2 instead of old bay it makes a world of difference, Enjoy

[@SaltyReflections]

👍

[@lisabeecats]

I would be very interested in you talking about your crab cages, and where to purchase those.

[@SaltyReflections]

Sure thing.

[@michaelmarsh2445]

Your right that is the biggest problem for sure

[@SaltyReflections]

We could be crabbing in the wrong location. l'll have to try different locations and see if we can find more crabs.

[@ocean8434]

I really learned a lot about how to catch, clean and fix some blue crabs. Sad to think the she crab soup/ soft shell crabs are going to be wiped out with all the commercial fishing . They need to regulate it and only let a few get caught at a time or learn how to raise them just for the soft shell crab time. Aloha!

[@SaltyReflections]

I agree. Hopefully, we'll start seeing lots of crabs in our pots, and our way of thinking is wrong.

[@officerkrupke4966]

b@@SaltyReflections Commercial crabbers are not the crabs enemy, they provide us with fresh seafood.. Crabs are cyclical, one year great, next year terrible. Last year those shallow areas you crab in lost a lot of crabs that couldnt escape the hard freeze. A bad year could have been caused by last years offshore winds not blowing the crab larvae back into your rivers. Overdevelopment is the major enemy of the crab.

[@bakergang89]

My wife loves the mustard i dont like that much if it but it aint to bad

[@SaltyReflections]

I could eat the mustard if I had to, but I prefer my crabs cleaned. Everyone's different, and that's ok with me. I don't knock others' choices, I just love to have fun with you all. Stay safe and take care.

[@tonyfrederick8772]

Enjoy your videos, when will be back catching shrimp?

[@SaltyReflections]

We've barely covered our fuel costs this year. Now, the sharks are so bad in our area that they're tearing up the trawl nets. Most of the commercial shrimping boats are docked and waiting on cooler weather. We'll be back trawling when it cools off, and some of the sharks move offshore.

[@deemichalski3078]

68* here today in Northern Michigan

[@SaltyReflections]

Enjoy those cool temps! We are melting here in SC, LOL! 🫠🤣

[@realclassamerican2774]

When You set pots UNDER 18' check them in 6 hours, then again in 24 hours. Over 18' varies depending upon location.... 12, 24 or 36 hours.

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks for the info. None of the commercial crabbers check their pots after 6 hrs. and almost all their pots are set in under 18'. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt though.

[@sandierads4223]

Hi guys! I agree with you that something is up. We are in Massachusetts and with my disability and not being able to get in the water anymore I needed something to still let me see the ocean as much as possible from a wheelchair, so I took up fishing. We are in central MA so the nearest taste of the Atlantic is an hour and a half drive but we go every weekend and we switch it up sometimes we go to Rhode Island or New Hampshire and Maine because our MA license allows us to fish New England. We are usually catching everything, this year nothing. Two scup and a skate fish that’s it from pier fishing every weekend since April. We are not seeing any dogfish or flounder literally nothing. We did have ecoli for a bit because of the rain but things were bad before that. Where did everything go? Just seems odd to me. I throw everything back because I’m only there to enjoy it, but we were thinking about getting a non commercial shellfish license because I love this channel so much and I figured we could drop a trap while we are sitting for hours fishing so we might still do that, even the trappers around here at least the ones we have spoken to are only catching the green invasive yuck crabs. My husband is after the lobster. Worth a shot. Thanks for all the lessons!

[@SaltyReflections]

We're glad to hear you are enjoying our videos. We're definitely not catching as many crabs as we were a few years ago. We might be crabbing in the wrong location. We really don't know what's going on. You guys try your best to enjoy yourselves and take care of each other. Hopefully the fishing will get better.

[@sandierads4223]

@@SaltyReflections Any day on, in or near the ocean is a better day than anything else in my opinion except for time with my boys. I have been here since the beginning and you two are my anxiety and pain relief. Bad day? I know right where I am going, your channel. Keep up the great work Oliver and Steph!

[@SaltyReflections]

@@sandierads4223 We'll try our best to keep sharing positive content. Thanks so much for helping encourage us. We have our ups and downs just like everyone else.

[@fredroberts3087]

An ole Mobile Bay crabber told me how the crabs migrate. He said the females head out to the Gulf and lay their eggs on their way out. Then males head up the delta, rivers, marshes, like where you set your traps. Thats why you are catching all males. Thence in the spring they meet back up in the bay and the cycle begins again.

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks for the info. We're still catching a few females.🤔

[@fredroberts3087]

@@SaltyReflections Sept. is the big month. I can go down to Dauphin Island in Sept. and catch nothing but laying females. Not anymore though I'm too old! lol

[@benbunting2491]

24 good, 48 for sure

[@SaltyReflections]

👍

[@jasonandstephaniewise5068]

I have never had crab 🦀 I can’t eat it because of my low sodium diet. But I would like to try a bite one time just to see how it taste.

[@SaltyReflections]

Blue crab meat is yummy. I think the blue crabs have a sweet taste compared to other crabs.

[@4oughthooksTx]

Hey, Salty - what do you do if a crab has algea on it? Can you scrub it off somehow? Also, if I leave crabs in my crab trap for the week will that scare other crabs from entering? Should I do something or is that alright?

[@SaltyReflections]

The algae doesn't affect the taste of the crabs meat. Dirty crabs are typically full of meat because they haven't molted in a while. Commercial crabbers in our area leave traps set out several days before checking them to see what they've caught. I'm not sure if leaving crabs in a trap will keep others from entering.

[@4oughthooksTx]

@@SaltyReflections Thanks, bro!

[@bakergang89]

How late in the year do yall catch blue crabs down there also is there a good time to come and catch flounder

[@SaltyReflections]

December. We catch a lot of big crabs in the late months of the year. My neighbors gigged some flounder a few days ago.

[@concettawysocki2142]

Can you use collapsible crab traps instead of crab pots?

[@SaltyReflections]

Yes, we can. We do a lot of crabbing using two ring crab baskets. They're designed sorta like the collapsible style traps.

[@jasontaylor5442]

What kind of skiff boat do you use

[@SaltyReflections]

Sundance

[@bakergang89]

Could u send me a link for the type of crab pot you use. Thanks alot

[@SaltyReflections]

I'll see what I can come up with and add the link to our video description.

[@kathy_beauty1955]

Just dip that frozen, thawed out crab in some good old garlic butter and chow down!!

[@SaltyReflections]

Yehbudi! 😋🦀

[@alanjaded8015]

How long do they keep frozen like that?

[@SaltyReflections]

We've eaten them after freezing them several weeks later. The key is to make sure you don't fully cook them before freezing them. We'll steam them around 5 min when we're ready to eat them.

[@stanfromgeorgia3117]

Help me out here where did you get that pot and what is it called

[@SaltyReflections]

Crab trap or crab pot. You can google them online or buy them at almost any fishing supply store along the coast. You can also find videos on KZbin that will show you how to make one. I hope the info you find helps you out.

[@stanfromgeorgia3117]

The one yall steamed the crabs in square pot with steam insert and lid

[@SaltyReflections]

Oh. LOL! 😆 It is a Red Copper pot. They sell them in many places but we received ours as a gift. It is one of our favorites! We use it for everything!

[@user-jh7uy9lm6g]

Medium horse shoe?

[@SaltyReflections]

🤔

[@alanjaded8015]

Females migrate to the ocean in July, that is why the marsh has all males. The males do not migrate.

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks for the info. Some of the females must stay behind because we're still catching a few. 🤔

[@dennist1243]

💖 "PromoSM"

[@SaltyReflections]

🤔

[@jimmyfumbanks6081]

2 pots . SC what are you going to do with 2 pots.

[@jimmyfumbanks6081]

Yes the sharks are attacking baits and swimmers left and right thanks to the climate deranged NOAA and the peta outlawing shark fishing. .

[@SaltyReflections]

It sucks for us recreational fishermen.

[@vincentrussell7246]

U haven't been making New videos,are you still shrimping crabs are so hard to eat unless you know how

[@SaltyReflections]

Most of the commercial guys are docking their shrimp boats for now and waiting on cooler weather. The sharks are terrible in our area now and tearing up the trawl nets. The ones that are risking their gear are mostly catching small white shrimp or small brown shrimp. I think it'll be best for us to wait on the cool weather and give the sharks time to head back offshore. We were barely covering expenses anyway. How about you?

[@cmz131958]

Good informative post.... me? I don't agree with allowing female crabs to be taken.. period... like we have up here in NJ & MD.. I get it about the diversity thing... if you don't harvest equal amounts of male/female.. an estuary can get overpopulated with a single sex of fish/shellfish... and that a number of female crabs are born sterile.. diverting a mating male crab to a she-crab that will not bear eggs.... not ever .. It's a hard question... maybe put a size limit on peelers regardless of sex.. NC .. 5" is 5" should apply to peelers too in my opinion?? Love your posts!

[@SaltyReflections]

Thanks! I know it would hurt the commercial crabbers temporarily if the peeler crab season was closed, but it could help them in the long run. I really don't know what the best solution would be. I hope everyone is catching more crabs than us.

[@charleslove9793]

never kill a crab before you cook them

[@SaltyReflections]

Why shouldn't we?

[@realclassamerican2774]

Where's the beer & ;vinegar folks? PLAIN Water??? ARE You serious? NO wonder these people would NEVER make a true Baltimore Crab cake, it would be Impossible with the way they cook them!!

[@SaltyReflections]

I've added lots of different seasonings in the water while cooking crab. It takes a truck load of seasoning to be able to taste it.