Tangier Island Virginia

Tangier Island is a small but beautiful island in the Chesapeake bay. Shallow water and marshy areas surround the island. The grassbeds are home to countless young blue crabs which come to grow and shed. This fishery for shedder crabs, known as "peeler crabs" are a main source of income for watermen. The commercial crabbers of Tangier Island catch crabs by traps, nets or scrapes and then hold them in tanks until they molt. The resulting soft shelled crab is a valuable seafood delicacy.

A blue crab may shed (or molt) its hard outer shell 18 - 23 times during its three-year life span. Each time it backs out of its shell, it's a soft shell for only a few hours and must be removed from the water immediately in order to prevent the shell from becoming hard.

Soft crabs that are purchased live should be kept moist and stored in a drip-proof tray, between wet newspapers or paper towels in your refrigerator. Soft crabs are also available already dressed and should also be kept under refrigeration.

Cleaning a soft crab is easy. With a pair of scissors, cut off the mouth and face behind the eyes. Cut off the apron. Lift the top shell and snip out the lungs on each side, then rinse under cold water before cooking.

photo credit: highcamera.com

This aerial photograph of Tangier Island, Virginia is available as a full frame print from Highcamera Aerial Photography

Just up the bay is Smith Island Maryland. Smith Island is a small island in the Chesapeake Bay. The nearest mainland port is Crisfield. The island is home to three small communities, Ewell, Tylerton and Rhodes Point.