Trying My Hand at Picking Blue Crabs
This week on Hook, Line & Dinner, I get a lesson in what it means to be in the family business. And no, not a Godfather-style family business. I’m talking about the Marshall family’s fifth-generation crabbing business on Smith Island.
Smith Island is a small island in the Chesapeake Bay, just north of Maryland’s border with Virginia. Smith Island has a very small population, and when I first arrived, I felt like I was the only one here. But I soon met up with Dwight Marshall for my lesson in crabbing.
Posing With the Marshall Family in Front of Their House on Smith Island
The Marshall family has been in the crabbing business since the 17th century, and Dwight has been at it for almost 50 years now. Compared to him, I’m not much of a crabber. But he’s good-natured and seemed almost humored by my mistakes. While we’re out there, I ask him, What’s it like living here?
“It’s a hard way of life, my boy. It’s not for everyone. I can see you need a bit of practice.”
He talks of an ever-changing fishery which will one day wipe the island out forever. Rising fuel prices, maintenance costs and low prices for the blue crabs are threatening the continuation of the crabbing business on Smith Island. The way of life on the Island is changing for good.
With my bushel full of crabs, I head over to get them picked in the town of Tylerton. I wanted to see how this was done. I expected an entire room of bustling picking going on. I knock on the door, and to my surprise, it’s two women. They are picking quickly and efficiently in total silence.
I sit down for a lesson in pickin’ with the two best on the island, and proceed to make a complete fool of myself. But these ladies have been doing it their entire lives, so give me some time.
Tune in tonight at 8pm ET to see how Maryland crabbing’s really done.
Authentic recipes from tonight’s episode:
- Mary Ada Marshall’s Famous Crab Cakes
- Grilled Rockfish with Stewed Tomatoes and Coleslaw
- Smith Island Layer Cake
crab cakes….delicious!!!!!
Mmm, Ben Sargent…delicious!
Great show…but. Very disappointing that they would feature Captn' Buddy. Mr "buddy" Harrison has a long running reputation for both hunting and taking fish illegally out of season. He has been arrested at least four times for for illeagal possesion of rockfish.
I'm so happy that you included the Chesapeake Bay! It was my request last season!!! Smith Island is a vanishing gem that may be gone in the not too distant future. It's a wonderful culture that I am proud to say includes many of my ancestors. Thank you for visiting Maryland! I only wished you had gotten to taste eastern shore cornbread, it's not the fluffy stuff that everyone else eats, more creamy and delicious pan fried for breakfast.
Love Smith Island and the Chesapeake crabs!! Glad you included a story on this tiny precious island!!
were do you buy smith island crab I'm in Michigan
call mary ada marshall on the island…at 410-425-2023 for the best crab cakes and crabmeat ever!!
i loved the Chesapeake crab show, that's one place I want to visit. Living on beautiful Cape Cod I've been crabbing for a long time plus I go for quahogs and oysters. I enjoy Ben's shows and all the different seafoods he collects.
This appears to be a whole tradition put together by generations. To my point of view, this is how traditions and brands are given birth to, with a lot of supported efforts from many members of a team working towards the same goal. I just hope that in a few years, when me and my family will already be famous in the yogurt business industry, people will recall those soft serve yogurt machine guys that did a great job by bringing this dessert on the market.
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