Chances are if you've eaten crab anywhere in the West, it was a Dungeness crab. These are the most common crabs in the Western Pacific and are among the tastiest, too.
You get a lot of meat per crab out of Dungeness. Dungeness typically has 25 percent of the its weight in pure meat. And that is a lot in the crab world!
There are three ways you get Dungeness crab; live, cooked whole or picked meat.
Live crabs are our favorite because you know they're fresh. Here in Westport live crab are always available. You can fish for your own or you can buy them off the docks in the marina. Choosing a live Dungeness crab is easy -- look for the lively ones. Listless and sad-looking crabs should be left alone. You want to buy one that is, well, crabby. To prepare your crab heat a large pot to a boil and drop the crab in. We offer them to the pot when the water is not yet hot but whichever way you are comfortable with is fine.
Boil a live Dungeness for 15-18 minutes in salty water.
For those of you who want to eat sustainable seafood, the Dungeness crab fits the bill. All the watchdog groups rate Dungeness as a "best choice" because there are lots of them, and they are caught in pots, not by trawler.
May 8, 2012
40-Pounder Helps Starts Westport’s Halibut Season
Sunday May 6th was the 2012 Halibut opener in Westport, where the ocean was flat and fishing was fantastic. Doug Heffner of Prescott Arizona landed this Halibut that weighed in at 40# to win his share of the Westport Charterboat Association Derby weekly prize.
Great fishing is getting into full swing at Westport right now. Both Rockfish (limit 10) and Lingcod (limit 2) are biting well, with most boats catching daily limits or close limits.
Early Chinook Season begins June 9th for hatchery Chinook only. The All Species Salmon season begin June 24th, five days per week Sundays through Thursdays. Check www.charterwestport.com/seasons to get species and limit details.
Try your luck at catching one of the big ones and winning one of Westport’s summer-long derby prizes. Contact your favorite Charter Service or go on-line to www.charterwestport.com for a complete listing of charter services in Westport or www.experiencewestport.com for more information about fishing and fun in Westport.
Westport is the place for getting your Pirate On at Pirate Daze! Every year Westport celebrates Pirates with Pirate Daze for a full 3 days in June. This year’s event is June 22, 23, and 24th. Pirates are everywhere and you will leave Westport speaking Pirate with Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! Ahoy, me Hearties! Blimey! and a little Scallywag. Pirate Daze features a weekend full of vendors, music, entertainment, kids games, raffles, costume contests (even one for your pet), and all Westport’s wonderful shops and restaurants. Put this exciting event on your calendar, make your reservations, back up the kids and head to Westport for a trip into Pirate Daze.
Westport's own Catch of the Day will be playing over the weekend too. Make sure to come out to see us!