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Experience authentic Maryland seafood with our Live Hotel Soft Crabs, freshly harvested from the legendary Chesapeake Bay and shipped straight to your door. These soft shell crabs are caught during the peak molting stage, when their shells are tender and entirely edible, delivering the true taste of the Bay in every bite.
“Hotel” grade soft crabs offer excellent flavor and value, making them a popular choice for restaurants and home cooks alike. Hotels are perfect for classic preparations like frying, sautéing, or crafting some soft shell crab slider sandwiches. When cooked, they deliver a rich, sweet flavor and a satisfying texture that seafood lovers crave.
Our live soft crabs are carefully packed and shipped to ensure they arrive fresh and ready to prepare. Whether you’re planning a seafood feast or adding a regional favorite to your menu, these crabs provide a dependable and delicious option.
This is like the 6th time I've order from them and I've been impressed everytime. My family and I live the crabs, the size and the taste. I would recommend, actually I have recommended.
Michaela Broussard
We live in Tucson Arizona. I grew up on the Northern neck of Virginia eating blue crabs. For my 80th birthday I had Crab Dynasty Ship a bushel of blue crabs and some soft shells.
The crabs were absolutely delicious.
Mary Page Jones
Great quality. We had live crabs, lump, and soft shells and couldn’t be happier with our order. Really made our anniversary dinner special to have a taste of home a long way from home.
Catherine R.
Live Hotel Soft Crabs – Specifications
Size
Hotel: 4" to 4.5” (measured point-to-point across the shell)
The smallest option, perfect as an appetizer or in sandwich 'sliders'
Product Details
Species: Soft Shell Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)
Form: Live, uncleaned (must be cleaned prior to cooking)
Texture: Exceptionally tender, fully edible shell during molting stage
Flavor Profile: Sweet, delicate, and slightly briny with rich crab flavor
Appearance: Blue-green when alive; turns vibrant red/orange when cooked
Harvesting & Sustainability
Wild-caught from the Chesapeake Bay & Maryland waters
Harvested at peak molting stage when the shell is naturally soft
Responsibly sourced under Maryland crabbing regulations to support sustainability
Handling Instructions (LIVE PRODUCT)
Keep refrigerated immediately upon arrival (40°F ideal)
Store in breathable container with damp newspaper or paper towels
Do not submerge in water
Clean and cook within 24 hours for optimal quality
Cleaning Requirements
Remove face, gills (“dead man’s fingers”), and apron before cooking
Rinse thoroughly under cold water after cleaning
Ready for frying, sautéing, grilling, or broiling
Packaging & Shipping
Shipped live in insulated packaging to maintain temperature and vitality
Packed with gel packs
Overnight delivery for peak freshness
Carefully handled to minimize stress and mortality during transit
Nutritional Information (Approx. per 4 oz / 100g)
Calories: 120
Protein: 20g
Total Fat: 2g
Carbohydrates: 0g
Cholesterol: 70mg
Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, and Magnesium
Seasonality
Peak season: Late Spring through Early Fall (Late April–Early October)
Limited availability due to short molting window
