How To Pick A Maryland Blue Crab

Chances are that professional crab picker Joyce Fitchett has picked thousands upon thousands more than you. 

In this video by Chesapeake Bay photographer Jay Fleming, professional crab picker Joyce Fitchett from Crisfield explains how she picks meat from the body of a Blue Crab.

Here's how she explains it:

My name is Joyce Mitchell. I'm from Crisfield, Maryland. I've been picking crabs all my life, since I was 5 years old. I am now 70. I am now going to show you how I pick the crab.

How to pick a crab

1. I first take the back off.
2. Clean the mustard out.
3. Cut the legs close to the body.
4. Cut the top piece off straight across.
5. You have a piece of lump meat on the right side.
6. Lift that out, and pick the grooves with the meat in.
7. Clean off the gills.
8. Cut the legs close to the body.
9. Cut straight across on the top piece.
10. Clean the meat from the top piece.
11. Cut the little thin layer of bone and pick out the grooves.
12. Go to the body of the crab. Lift out the lump and pick out the grooves.
13. That is how I pick the crab. Thank you. That's it.