WELCOME TO COVESIDE CRABS!Captain Richard and I welcome everyone to Coveside. We are unique in our approach to this industry. Please read on as I explain. Our business and philosophical model is four-tiered:1) We sell only what we harvest from our bay pots directly to the public. 1)We solely and responsibly harvest premium crabs (those nearing molting) and very, very few females. We never harvest a crab below 5 1/4 inches. My joy is our soft crabs (babies).2) We educate the public about the crabs, bay, and industry issues, both current and future.3) We voluntarily conduct onsite research to promote the study of the crab's biology and habitat.4) Through numerous efforts, We are both involved in committees to protect our industry as a current and future concern.So, let's talk about some of the issues that fuel my passion. It breaks my heart to know that so many folks will spend their hard-earned money on "light" crabs in late spring and all summer. We see many boats leaving the bay loaded with bushels and bushels of crabs that are "lights." There are no regulations to govern the quality of crabs harvested. The concept of "premium crabs" is a very serious matter here. Our intrepid Captain Richard and I know we set the standard for excellence bar very high indeed. Crabby Pride! At Coveside Crabs, we never sell crabs by the half bushel. It is a scam to cheat the customers. The lower part of the basket is significantly smaller than the top part above the band. Therefore, if you purchase ½ bushel of #1 Males, you would pay for 12-15 crabs you will not get. You are losing even more crabs if they measure a bushel by the cardboard box instead of the traditional wooden bushel basket. "THE BUSHEL BOX" DOES NOT EQUAL A BUSHEL BASKET! The box is obviously square, and crabs are roundish, so all the corners and sides are wasted space. There are usually about four dozen in the basket. You, the customer, always save money by purchasing crabs by the dozen. At Coveside, a dozen is counted out as a "Baker's Dozen" or 13 crabs.Why buy live crabs? Capt. Richard and I have been in stores claiming they sell "Maryland" crabs, and we know they buy them from the Gulf or the Carolinas. There are no laws in Maryland to require anyone to label the state of harvest for the crabs. Out-of-state crabs are stored for a long time before arriving at the retail location.Please have a look at our Facebook page to learn more.