Termite goes crabbing!
He wanted to make some money, so I let him do a very grown-up thing–commercial crabbing. He went with a well-established crabber, and he learned that crabbing is hard, hot, nasty work.
The crab traps are about three feet square, and when laden with blue crabs, can be quite heavy.
One by one, the traps are hoisted into the boat, the crabs dumped into the boat, the trap re-baited and dropped down into the water again.
The best part about Termite going crabbing was what he brought home for supper . . .
fresh, soft-shelled crabs. Pan-fried, mmmm good. Not so good for the arteries, but sure yummy in the mouth! We ate them with white beans and rice. These soft-shelled crabs are considered a delicacy, and sell for $7.00 each in a local seafood restaurant. We were happy to get them as part of the pay for Termite’s day on the crabbing boat.
Crabbing. Just one more way of life supported here in the Louisiana Wetlands.
I could eat these babies every day of the week. Went to a restaurant named Coffee’s Boiling Pot in Madisonville tonight with friends. I had a soft shelled crab with homemade fries. Cost………..$13.50 and it was a VERY small crab but plump. At my local seafood place I pay $3.75 each for fresh ones.
Termite, you are my hero. I know how hard crabbing is. Be safe out there.
Not much on the soft shells, only had them twice. Must be the way they were prepared. (HINT HINT) Actually, I think it was the whole dining experience that left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe I’ll give them another try someday. (HINT HINT) I do love a good boiled crab though. Slow as molases picking them, but well worth the effort when that first “clump” passes through my lips.
You have my mouth watering again! Boy do I miss some good LA seafood! Good life lesson for Termite. I’ll bet even tho the work was hard, he loved it.
Those look SO SO SO good – I am going to come down there some day BW and just eat myself to death… or at least till I pass out. 🙂
Heidi, Let me know when you’re coming down, I’ll come too. You’ve heard the old saying, “Misery loves company”, we can be miserable (from over eating) at the same time!
Well, girls, there’s no time like the hot summertime in South Louisiana for fresher than fresh seafood! We can get fresh shrimp, crabs, and softshells right now—not to mention the fish we might catch and cook!
I have some ideas of how to really get y’all down here when the Cypress Cottage is finished!!!!
I can’t wait!!!!
B.W., Get Busy!!!
The reason you don’t get a new blog post every day is because I’m working my hands until they’re numb in the Cypress Cottage!! Sheesh! What a task master!
You are making my mouth water for the delicious crab and beans. We cook a lot of “white beans” in Tennessee but we do not eat them over rice. I will give your “bean” recipe a try–I know it will be delectable!
Hi Martha! Welcome to the Bayou, where typically the beans (of all kinds) are eaten over rice, because the Houma Indians seemed to know that formed a complete protein! Come back and let us know how your beans turned out, ok? Make sure they’re good, and soft, and saucy!
Is that the one and only ‘Bayou Fabio’ in the first picture? Those crabs look delicious!
Well, yes, I do believe that might be part of Bayou Fabio, which didn’t get cropped out of that photo!
I wouldn’t mind a few of those soft shells myself!
That looks like the start of a great poboy.
I never put them on a poboy, but they sure go great with white beans and rice!