Coastal Seafoods

Fresh or pasteurized cooked crab meat is available for purchase as jumbo lump (whole large lumps), lump (smaller whole lumps), backfin (smaller flakes of white meat) and claw (smallest, cheapest and most flavorful) which has a blue/gray tinge. Male hard crabs are usually called “Jimmies,” mature female crabs are usually called "sooks”. Jimmies are generally larger and meatier, therefore more desirable for eating whole (steamed or boiled). Sooks, which have more fat, are often sold to commercial processing plants to be picked and packaged as fresh or pasteurized meat. For crab feasts or picnics, always ask for Jimmies.