We reckon a big, buck mudcrab should be the unofficial Queensland seafood mascot. They are prolific in our warmer waters, easy to catch and taste DELICIOUS!
But there is more to the humble mudcrab than people tend to think.
For example, do you know the legal limit of a male mud crab in Queensland? If you don’t, you should get yourself a crab measure to make sure you’re not plucking any undersize fellas from their home. Hefty penalties apply. For those playing at home, 15cm is the legal size from the two widest points of a male mudcrab’s shell. In Queensland, females are totally no-take.
You’d be forgiven for getting a little confused when it comes to picking the perfect pot. Your local BCF store will have a range to choose from, and could we recommend asking the team’s opinion if you haven’t crabbed before. Even better, grab a crabbing accessory kit so you’re all compliant on the water.
The most humane way to put your crabs to sleep is by cooling them down. If you’ve got ice on your boat, once you’ve caught them they can go straight in that esky. Equally, pop them in the freezer when you get home and they quietly shut down after about 15minutes.
When it comes to cooking them, nothing beats using the saltwater you caught the muddies in. Scotty recommends taking a bucket or two of the same water, adding a handful of salt and putting it on the boil. Once the water is boiled, in go the crabs, bring it back to the boil then let it sit for around 13minutes. A good indicator is when the crab goes bright orange.
