buying crab on line and freezing in the shell

[mardenq]

wheres the best place to buy crab online ?,also the last few local crabs I had I just froze them in the shell and when defrosted and peeled they seemed fine,anyone else just freeze them in the shell ?.Id just buy local if I could find anyone selling some

 

[kelpy kid]

I also freeze crab down in the Shell, obviously the crab must be in the peeling process with the split at the rear and I've had no problems at all using them that way. As far as local crab for sale, I'm sure someone will be able to help.

 

[Phil83]

I like to de-lung mine before freezing but have seen plenty that don't.

 

[Philthebag]

I short term freeze them in the shell for 2 weeks max, not sure about long term freezing

 

[fish fingers]

Treat your bait like you would your food answer No simples I bet your top anglers do.nt do it this way as Phil says also the lungs are where the bacteria are so need taken out

 

[Bushwhacker]

It depends where the crab come from when freezing them in the shell.
If they are from an open beach they will last a while.
If they out of river traps and have mud in them they will go off quicker.

 

[magpies]

I got a batch last year frozen whole in the shells. They looked fine but I didn't catch much on them. That could have been down to me of course, and the marks I was fishing, but I caught more on other baits at the time. They didn't smell right to me.

 

[codhunter40]

Would recommend to de-lung them 100% as prevents them from rotting esp if freezing them for any length of time.. Worth the little effort to ensure yr baits as good as possible!..

 

[brownmike]

Treat your bait like you would your food answer No simples I bet your top anglers do.nt do it this way as Phil says also the lungs are where the bacteria are so need taken out

good advice

 

[g.ordon]

cant see the point of freezing em down with the shells on anyway, just more hassle baiting up when yer go chucking.

 

[topbanana]

Done it, and it's fine, end of.

 

[regpude]

???.

???.

Done it, and it's fine, end of.

.whats this reply about nicky.?

 

[Philysafc]

I now freeze all my poppers in there shells but only vacuum packed , this keeps all the air out and they keep for over 12 month and are fine defrosted , the lungs will still be pinkish if purged before freezing and the plus side is you don't have to shell them in the house and you have legs which peel easier after frozen to tip ya hooks ... Each to there own really but it's a lot easier whacking them in a vacuum bag and freezing them after a day's fishing
Tight lines

 

[Boro5707]

Pinkish lungs on a peeler? Light brown if alive, black if dead are the only colours I have seen on a peeler. Never seen a pink lung on a peeler