Dungeness crab price $/lb for '09 season

[ML8000]

Last year DezzerSF started a great thread that was very useful. In that vein, here's the price comparo thread for '09.

Walked through Oakland Chinatown today during lunch. The going rate was $3.99. The crabs looked small but lively.

[Shrinkrap]

3.99, country square market. Went looking for frozen shrimp...

[shanghaikid]

3.69, lucky seafood in oaktown chitown a few days ago. these are washington crabs, very tasty.

[Shane Greenwood]

FYI, local dungeness crab is not in season now. This thread is about prices for the '09 season, which is over for local crab. Next season starts up in November and usually peaks shortly thereafter. This time of year they are probably coming from much farther north.

[Shrinkrap]

Sorry! I was surprised to see them! I read somewhere the "local"Season runs "to June". Is that not so?

[Shane Greenwood]

I couldn't find anything that pinpointed the exact end date, but generally they say June. The season tails off in Spring depending on conditions too. I think the local season peaks in Dec and Jan.

[Civil Bear]

Crab season is open in Northern California until June 30 or July 30 depending on the county. Due to the rough seas this winter, I'm not terribly surprised that there may still plenty of crab of the CA coast.

[rworange]

I think the poster said the crabs were from Washington which makes the SF crab season sort of a moot point ... anyway ... whatever the season ... the post said they were tasty ... and low cost.

[ML8000]

$3.69 in the middle of summer...yeah it would be nice to be local crabs but at that price, I'm more then fine with it...I think I'll head over to Lucky Seafood.

[kc72]

$6.99llb today at Richmond 99. $7.99/lb for lobsters

[goodeatsgal]

Bought crabs off the boat at Pillar Point yesterday. $4.00 a pound. The man told us the season is still looking good - had taken a dip for a while but now has gone back up. He said the crabs are plentiful and hard.

[sydthekyd]

"hard"?

[wolfe]

As opposed to soft.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab...

[baron45]

New May Wah on Clement St: $7.99/lb for the big ones.

[Cynsa]

$6.99 lb. for two-pounders in the tank at Basa Seafood Express today.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6256...

The water in this tank on 24th Street is crystal clear and the crabs are feisty - always a good sign.
The last time I looked in the tanks on Clement Street at the-other-seafood- place that is not-New-May-Wah, the waters were so murky I couldn't see the crabs.

-----
Basa Seafood Express
3064 24th Street, San Francisco, CA

[Shrinkrap]

$2.99 /1b at Corner Square Market, at least in Vacaville.

[brocante]

Just got home from an outing on the Sonoma coast. Stopped at Spud Point Marina and paid $16 for 3 live crabs. That's $3.49 a pound which is the wholesale price.

[CoolWiz]

$3.69 /lb for live crabs at 99 Ranch, Mountain View.

$3.99 /lb or live crabs at Marina Food, San Mateo.

[alina555]

$3.99 live crab at 99 Ranch, Foster City

[crabfreak]

CoolWiz or anyone out there know what the current price's are for crab over the valentine weekend.

Thanks In advance

[wolfe]

May be up due to competing holiday. Roses are up for Valentine's day, why not crab for Chinese New Year?

[CoolWiz]

Live crabs $4.99 /lb at 99Ranch Mountain View. Sold out at Marina Market, Daly City.

$3.99 /lb cooked and cracked at Safeway.

[baron45]

Live crab at Sunset Super on Vicente: $3.99/lb for smalls, $5.99/lb for the bigs.

[kemi5]

$2.99 # @ Marina Market in Cupertino. Each crab was approx. 1.5 # each. Will report back on the taste, and quality.

[baron45]

Live crab at New May Wah on Clement: $3.99/lb for smalls, $5.49/lb for the bigs. Wing Hing btwn 7th/8th were sold out.

[CoolWiz]

Live crabs back to $2.99 /lb after the holidays at 99Ranch Mountain View and i suspect at all other 99ranch branches. Horay!

I also saw an online ad for cooked and cracked carbs for $2.99 at Lucky's.

[baron45]

The boats at Pillar Pt Harbor were selling live crabs for $4/lb today.

[beerandpork]

A couple days delayed (12/31), but live (and feisty) ones were $3.99/lb at Sun Fat in the Mission. They were $6.99 at the Ferry Building earlier that day. Glad I waited. A great NYE treat.

[beerandpork]

Down to $3.49/lb today at Sun Fat, although there are far fewer in the tanks, and one of the two I got was missing a couple legs. Still delicious. Crab stock time!

[BernalKC]

Sun Fat: $3.49 live, $3.99 cooked

[js.ep]

Pillar Point around 1pm still had plenty of crab and seven boats in I think. $4/lb, mostly just under 2lbs each. Really crabby crabs.

The guy I talked to didn't think they would be able to get back out until Mon or Tues because of rough seas.

[chuckl]

thanks for the report, I'm in Pacifica, so Pillar is easily doable. How big were the crabs?

[jan_b]

I did a walk through of Oakland Chinatown crab prices today. Most places $3.69 (Lucky was $3.99) though the tanks looked pretty empty at around 1 pm. Lucky and Surf and Turf told me (if they are to be believed...) that the price would be the same tomorrow for NYE. I'll be there tomorrow!

[Stephanie Wong]

$3.69 per lb. with 2 full tanks on Dec. 31 about 12:30 pm at Lucky Seafood on 8th St. (Oakland Chinatown).

[sev3rity]

Any more updates regarding live crawfish in the Oakland area? I'm looking to buy 15-20 lbs worth for a NYE crawfish boil with the family (a very large family).

[CoolWiz]

Live crabs $4.99 /lb at 99Ranch in Mountain View and Fremont and $3.49 at Marina's at Foster City.

Cooked and cracked $2.99 ($5.99 Buy One Get One Free) at Safeway.

[baron45]

Per their website, the Tigerfish boat will be selling crabs (presumably live) on Dec 31 at the Emeryville Marina for $3.50/lb:

http://www.tigerfishsportfishing.com/...

[jillyju]

Per your link, they are already sold out. Too bad.

[sidhene]

Purchased at Trader Joes in Lakeshore today: whole, cooked at $3.99 a pound. I was skeptical (because they must be cooked and packaged elsewhere) but the flavor was pretty good.

[annabana]

Bought some big crabs at Mollie Stones in Saus. on Christmas Eve. Delish! Cleaned, cooked and cracked for $3.99 @ lb and they were so good. Price remains until Tues.

[zeram1]

Heads up for Safeway - going to be a "buy one get one free" this coming week!

[zinfanatic]

Fresh crab for $3.49 a # today at Ranch 99 in Richmond

[mochimunchie]

Cooked crabs at Costco Richmond $3.99/# today. Looked big.

[shanghaikid]

fresh crab at hung wan market @3.49 oaktown chinatown.

[rworange]

$4.99 for cooked crabs at Berkeley Bowl West. They are the largest I've seen so far.

Also they had a sign for live crawfish if anyone is looking for that.

[taiphun]

Thanks for the suggestion on Alioto Lazio at the Wharf, Krys - we swung by this morning and picked up two cooked and cracked for about $23 - forgot to ask for the weight but without the shells they were close to 4 lbs without the shells. She did say they were two of the bigger ones from that catch..

We got there around 10am and they weren't ready yet, so they let us leave our car parked there while we wandered the wharf for a few hours.

Edit: Pillar Point in Halfmoon Bay had one boat selling crab, $3.99/lb and they were small, mostly around 1.5 lbs each.

[rworange]

Thanks for reporting back. Glad it worked out

[rworange]

Live Crab - $2.99 / lb at San Pablo Supermarket

[taiphun]

Any updates on cooked fresh crab for this week before we fly home on Wednesday?

Just saw this thread a little too late - my options so far are some supermarkets and Half Moon Bay which we're headed to tomorrow. Maybe Fisherman's Wharf in SF if we can get in and out quickly. Will definitely check out Pillar Point Harbor...

[rworange]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Alioto-Lazio at Fisherman's Wharf.

It is one of the few class acts in the Wharf area.

Here's a thread from the Chow Digest

Quality Crabs at Low Prices
http://www.chow.com/digest/2008/12/quality-crabs-at-low-prices/

My report
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/579682

This is not the crab stand in front of Alioto's restaurant but a totally different owner down the street with huge tanks of crabs that are top quality and reasonably priced. They also know how to package your crab for your trip ... or you could opt to have it shipped.
http://www.crabonline.com/

[taiphun]

Thanks Krys,

We stopped by 99 Ranch in Cupertino, they had lots of live crab at $3.99, and a few iced ones (missing legs, etc.) for $1.99.

They wouldn't cook the live ones for us though, and the restaurant next door said they are too busy to do so as well. We asked Joy Luck and they refused to cook our own crab (BYOC), but were more than happy to cook one up at $22 a dish.

[frangelica]

They are terrific...run by two of Alioto's granddaughters. I have crab shipped every year to my niece in Boise for her post Xmas birthday. For less than $100 I send 3 crabs and sourdough bread. The crabs arrive still alive...a little "stunned" (I believe that is term Annette from AL used). My niece thinks I am the best Aunt in the world and her friends and neighbors always call to thank me too.

[little big al]

On Christmas eve morn I experienced a real Christmas miracle at Alioto-Lazio. At the (surely hopeless I thought) request of my Industrial room-mate I stopped there on my morning commute to Sausalito in search of crab for his family dinner. Much to my surprise I was able to get not only 4 cooked for him, but one live for us. The live was still $4.50 lb. weighed in at a full 2 lbs., and cleaned out ( yes I weigh it)to a very generous 9.75 oz. P.S. Don't forget the free parking right out front.

[rworange]

Ah ... another Christmas miracle was Whole Foods was selling cooked crab for $3.99 lb. Not in the same league with Alioto-Lazio, but for WF, this was an impressive price. Don't know if that is still the price. It was the Oakland WF.

[shanghaikid]

on saturday, dublin ranch 99's tanks stuffed with crabs @3.99
lucky seafood in oaktown, @2.99 , live shrimp @4.99

[JadeM]

I saw cooked whole dungeness crabs today at the Stonestown Trader Joe's $3.99/lb in the refrigerated meat section. Saw some large ones (2+ lbs).

[jan_b]

I always check Lucky and Hung Wan on 8th and Sun Hop Fat on 12th when I do my crab shopping in Oakland Chinatown, but ML 8000 mentioned Surf and Turf in the same breath as Lucky. Where is that? Are there any other live crab spots in Oakland Chinatown that I am missing?

[ML8000]

Surf Turf Supermarket is at the corner of Webster and 7th, NE corner. It's just a market with a butcher and seafood. It seems newer, cleaner however. The other place I check are the markets across the street from Lucky on 8th.

[kc72]

Pretty sure my relative said they got some at Tin's Market (7th and Harrison) for $2.69/lb last week.

[gordon wing]

Live Crab - $2.99 / lb at 99 Ranch Richmond. They also have free calenders at the checkout stands today.

[junesix]

Anyone know the prices from the boats by the pier?

[ShopperGirl]

Dungeness Crabs are $3.99/lb at Andronico's--until 12/15.

[baron45]

$2.99/lb at Ranch 99 in Daly City. Costco SSF has cooked ones for $3.99/lb.

[shanghaikid]

koreana plaxa had crab at 2.99/lb. didn't check conditions of crab. hite beer is 1.49 (large)

[nicedragonboy]

I've been hearing rumors of $2.00-2.25/lb live dungeness in Oakland. Any confirmed sightings?

[ML8000]

I talked to a neighbor who went to Oakland Chinatown today. The prices were the same - $2.69 to $3.99 /lb and there's a lot. Could be one merchant was having a sale but I didn't hear it.

[nicedragonboy]

ah...found out. Sun Hop Fat, on E. 12th St. was selling for $2/lb. Line was insane apparently...or so my mother tells me.

[kc72]

In today's Raleys Nob HIll ad, $2.99/lb for fresh cooked wild-caught dungeness crab

[DezzerSF]

$5.99/lb cooked at Mollie Stones on California St, SF. Pass.

[SFguy]

Folks...don't focus on price but the freshness of the crab. Some live crab sit in these grocery store tanks for weeks eating whatever is in the water (guess). Is this really worth $2.99/lb.? You get what you pay for with crab..Go for the live ones at the source (Half Moon Bay or Pier 45). I want something pulled from the Pacific Ocean in the last 24 hrs. Nothing else is acceptable. Please be an informed crab shopper and not a bargain hunter...save that for your xmas shopping.

[lmnopm]

Sometimes, HMB or Pier 45 isn't exactly accessible. Today's Andronico's crabs were perfectly fine. For $3.99/lb, cracked/cleaned in the store if you desired, no additional charge, it made for a decent Sunday dinner. There didn't seem to be anything approaching 2 lbs in the mid-afternoon, so we just got 3 crabs instead of 2. That, a Acme sour baguette, a salad, and a Viognier that JC Cellars makes in France and imports, a great dinner for a cold winter night.

[Shrinkrap]

"I want something pulled from the Pacific Ocean in the last 24 hrs. "

Is THAT what this thread is about?

[SFguy]

Sorry I have standards and that's what my friends expect when I cook for them . You are free to serve/eat what u like. Please watch Food Inc sometime for mass produced food and how its raised and stored. Crab in tanks in grocery stores are the same as Tyson chickens. Its gross and disgusting Andronicos keeps a tank----yikes.

[ML8000]

The ones coming into NorCal markets right now (in peak season) are fresh and local and if you get there in the morning you can see them bringing them in off the truck. This is the case in Oakland Chinatown (Lucky Seafood, Surf and Turf Market, etc.) .

The fish wholesaler tend to come in around 10 a.m. (as Stephanie Wong above notes) and if you get to know the fish mongers they'll tell you when and of course you can witness the old Chinese ladies making a mad rush just then...they literally wait for the trucks. Turn over on fresh, local and cheap is high. For $2.99 I'm more then fine with this arrangement.

[Shrinkrap]

So I think you we saying if you can't get to the source, you don't recommend eating Dungeness crab? Or maybe cooked is better than tanks? Shouldn't that be a new thread?

[Civil Bear]

Crabs in captivity do not eat. That is why it is important to get them fairly early, as they tend to loose mass as time passes. This should not be a problem with the local markets though, as turnover is quite high. Also, some places like G&G have their own boats.

[Sushi Monster]

The crabs in the live tanks at R99 turn over every day -- at least once a day. With the kind of volume these operations do, I'm not going to waste time worrying about how long they've been in the tank. I'm more concerned about getting there before they're down to the last three crabs of the day.

Sushi Monster

[RWCFoodie]

Absolutely some of the best ever yesterday at Manila Super in San Mateo/Foster City - $2.99/lb - very, very lively - all claws intact - 2 weighed just under 4 lbs. Some of the sweetest with the most crab fat I've seen...

[artemis]

i went to marina market today (a sunday). $2.99/lb. i asked for two crabs, the biggest he saw, thinking it would be about 4 lbs if i was very lucky. two crabs = 5.1 lbs. WOW. they were very lively. i steamed them myself (first time!) with delicious results. what a deal.

[Civil Bear]

Unfortunately going to the source is no guarantee. Had a few jumbos (3lb+) from Bodega Bay last night and they were very disappointing. Nowhere near as sweet and tasty as the ones I got from New May Wah a few weeks ago.

-----
New May Wah
719 Clement St, San Francisco, CA

[Melanie Wong]

Which supplier did you purchase from in Bodega Bay?

[Civil Bear]

Sorry, but I can't say. I didn't make the trip.

[Melanie Wong]

I asked because the two most well-known places, The Tides Wharf and Lucas Wharf fish markets, tend to have the highest prices and the close-to-dead crabs but they're easy to spot from the highway. I take the road out to Spud Point and buy from the boats or a truck in the parking lot.

[Civil Bear]

Ah, I was told they were purchased for $3.99/lb from the Pazzano (sp?) Brothers out by the marina.

[Melanie Wong]

Thanks, yes, that's one of the suppliers at Spud Point Marina. Sorry to hear the crabs were disappointing.
Paisano Brothers Fisheries 1820 Westshore Rd., 707- 875-3576

[PorkButt]

Still $2.69/lb at Lucky Seafood #2 in Oakland. The size seems to be ticking up and today's specimens were at 1.9 lbs up from the 1.75 lbs after opening day.

[janie01]

Went crab shopping today. Whole Food cooked crab was $4.99. Manila Oriental in South San Francisco $2.99 for live crab. Not much choice at noon today but there was a sign saying there would be more coming in. Dead crabs were $1.99 a pound. DM Market (I think that is the name of it) on Hickey Blvd shopping mall was $2.99 with a new batch of big crabs at 12:30 today. I got one about 2 1/2 pounds and walked over to Andy's Chinese Restaurant next door and had them cook up 3 crabs for about $25.00. The ginger and green onion crab at Andy's is finger lickin' good!

[bkaufman]

$2.99 at Ranch 99 in El Ceretto.

[Shrinkrap]

$2.99/ilb live and jumpin' at the newly re-opened Country Square Market in Vacaville. Woot woot!

[Shrinkrap]

I would love it if someone could post a line or link about cooking live crab. I've been searching for a thread I vaguely remember. Something about boiling/ steaming back side down to catch the innards?

This MIGHT be it..

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/4734.....

[wolfe]

Use the permalink, saves scrolling.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/4734...

[Shrinkrap]

Oh! THAT'S what that's for! Thanks!

[DezzerSF]

$4.99/lb cooked at Andy's in Sebastopol

[Eugene Park]

Foster City 99 Ranch had live crab yesterday (12/4) for $2.99/lb. I got 3 lively ones that weighed a total of 7.18 pounds and had the fishmongers steam them for me. Took them home and devoured them with lemon and butter.

[Sarah]

I wonder if all 99Rs will steam crabs for you -- does anyone know re El Cerrito store?

[Sarah]

Just called the store -- No!

[Melanie Wong]

Sign at the entrance of G & G market in Santa Rosa (and presumably same at Petaluma branch) said $3.59/lb for live or cooked crabs.

-----
G & G Supermarket
701 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy # E1, Petaluma, CA

G & G Supermarket
1211 W College Ave, Santa Rosa, CA

[Columba]

$3.99 this week per G&G sale flyer - weather & supplies permitting.

[CYL]

Nob Hill has a 2-day crab sale at 50% off for Saturday & Sunday only (12/5 and 6) while supplies last. At the regular price of 4.99/lb, it reduces to 2.48/lb At the Mountain View Nob Hill this morning at 9 am, lines were forming and crab was going fast!

[CYL]

I normally buy live crabs, but here are two of the Nob Hill 50% off crabs totaling less than $10. Meat was more juicy, firm, and sweet!

[susancinsf]

I know this is slightly OT for the SF board, but Raley's, sister store to Nob Hill, in Merced had the same deal this weekend. I'd prefer to buy live in SF, and the crabs were a little small, but they had plenty and they were sweet. Had a nice cioppino dinner this weekend! I presume all Raley's and Nob Hills probably had them.

[Shrinkrap]

$4.99/pound, "local", cooked and "cleaned" at Nugget Market in Vacaville today.

[Melanie Wong]

Saw the sign for "Local live crabs, $3.49/lb" at Santa Rosa Seafood this afternoon.

-----
Santa Rosa Seafood
946 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

[BernalKC]

$3.69 at Whole Food -- I think it is a one-day sale.

[rworange]

Lucky in El Cerrito had a sign on the door saying crab will be $2.99 Friday Dec 4 - Mon Dec 7. I think they are cooked since that is what I saw in the case today.

Berkeley Marina Sport Fishing was selling live crab off the local boats for $4.99 live, add $2 to cook them ... but they will give you drawn butter with your cooked crab

Berkeley Marina Sport Fishing - Crab salad, Live crabs, barbecue and kimchee
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/671489

[dpant]

You can get fresh Dungeness at any Safeway- they will clean and crack it free. $3.99 this weekend.

[wolfe]

Front page Chron, bottom 2 inches, Lucky 12/5 -12/8 $2.99 cooked.
The $3.29 crabs at Richmond 99 didn't look too lively but a few of the large $7.99 lobster were crawling all over.

[rworange]

That reminds me, Lucky (at least El Cerrito) had cooked crawfish too for $3.99 lb.

[Sushi Monster]

Yeah, I saw the same ad on Saturday at the bottom of 1A in the Mercury News: $2.99. No idea if it's local. And no idea exactly when and where it was cooked. But at that price they're beating R99 handily and it's worth taking the risk. I don't mind the cleaning and cracking. I *would* mind if it had been sitting around for a day. We'll see....

Sushi Monster

[ML8000]

Yup, $2.99 at Lucky Seafood in Oakland Chinatown. Grabbed a couple of 2 lbers.

Last year a similar pricing drop occurred right after Thanksgiving. If I recall, it lasted until Xmas. I know I'll be going every week (or maybe twice) until then.

[shanghaikid]

$2.99 for live, swimming shrimp also. regular @5.99. real tasty.

[Stephanie Wong]

$2.69 at Lucky Seafood in Oakland Chinatown @ 10:30 this morning -- got 3 for a total of 6+ pounds -- very lively.

More were delivered just as I was leaving the shop

[moto]

we paid 2.99/lb. just down the street at Hung Wan late Sat. afternoon, smallish at just over 3# for two, but they were quite lively and very succulent at dinner.

[jupiter]

Manila Market at Silver and Mission had them for 3.99 a pound when i was there on Sunday (11/30/09). The tank was packed, and so was the store with Sunday shoppers.

[CoolWiz]

$2.99 /lb live at Marina Foster City. Lowest I found this season. WOW!

[nicedragonboy]

$2.99/lb at Richmond 99 Ranch last night. There was a line. The crabs were lively. I got 4, just under 2lbs each. Sweet and meaty. Best price I've seen so far too. They'll clean and cut them for free too.

[CoolWiz]

They have lively large crabs (>2 lb). Sweet! I got 3. 2nd time this week.

[wolfe]

This week Andronico's $3.99, cleaned, cracked. Largest I could find only 1.6 pounds.

[CoolWiz]

$3.99/lb for live crabs at 99 Ranch in Mountain View but most are under 2 lb.

[kc72]

$4.49/lb at Koreana today but crabs weren't very lively

-----
Koreana Plaza
2328 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA

[nicedragonboy]

Anyone know what the price has been at Tokyo Fish Market in Berkeley?

[cakebaker]

smaller cooked under 2lbs are $3.99 lb and larger over 2lbs are $5.99 lb

[goodeatsgal]

The day after Thanksgiving, Lucky's in Redwood City was selling cooked crab for $4.99 a pound. Add another dollar per pound to have it cleaned and cracked. The biggest one we could get was just over 1 and 1/2 pounds. It was delicious!

[rworange]

Hung Wan on 8th St in Oakland was selling live crabs for $3.99. The operating word is 'was'. They were sold out. However judging from the few dead crabs on ice ($1.99 lb) they were on the small side. Lots of lobsters at $5.99 lb.

The bait shop in the Berkeley Marina has their live crab sign out. They were closed today, but I keep meaning to stop by.

[Mul]

Just came back from Ranch 99 @ Dublin. They have special, wild caught dungeness crab at $2.99/lbs at Ranch 99 in Dublin, tonight only. Lots of crabs in the tank, close at 9pm.

[PorkButt]

The Richmond 99 had a pre-Thanksgiving gouge price of $4.99/lb today! Had to buy a couple for a party, but I'll check back on Friday to see if price goes back down. I've steamed and broken them down and are around the same size and meatiness of the earlier crabs I've bought from Lucky Seafood in Oakland (8th St)

[MRMoggie]

Whole Foods (Napa) has Bodega Bay-sourced crab for $5.99 cooked, same price as Safeway (*West Coast*) and a couple bucks less than Osprey Seafood in Napa.

Got a couple in the 1.6 pound range, larger than opening week when they were all 1.5 or smaller. Seafood guys at While Food said that out of hundreds (thousands?) of crabs they've sold in the last couple of weeks, have only had a handful at 2 pounds or more, one 3 pounder.

[Mick Ruthven]

Whole Foods (Napa) has Bodega Bay-sourced crab for $5.99 cooked<

Same as Whole Foods in Mill Valley which has a sign saying they crack and clean them for free.

[energy]

Sat I was at the Santa Rosa Farmers Market and Santa Rosa Seafood stand and live and cooked crab for $4.50 pound

[nicedragonboy]

$3.98/lb at Lucky Seafood in Oakland.

-----
Lucky Seafood Market #1
1201 E 12th St, Oakland, CA 94606

[Sushi Monster]

$3.99/lb at R99 Foster City as of Wednesday night. Bear in mind my rule of thumb: 5 lbs. of angry crab straight out of the tank yields 1.25 lbs of crab meat. At that price, time to scale up. They were small-to-medium, but in robust shape (no missing limbs, etc.)

Considering the reported zoo scene at Pillar Point on the season opener Sunday, I felt relieved we decided to hold off. Not only is it a bad deal per pound, but you're burning gas and all that driving time when you could be home cooking.

Straight butter and lemon, maybe garlic aoili, Acme or Semifreddis bread and a half-decent sauvignon blanc is the law in my house. Someday I swear I'll learn to do the salt-and-pepper prep, but not today.

Sushi Monster

[DezzerSF]

$3.99/lb at Daly City 99 Ranch. USA wild caught. Pretty lively, but under 2 lb. I think I saw some bigger ones in the tank, but the fishmongers weren't cooperating.

[kc72]

$4.99/lb at Richmond 99 Ranch today

[gordon wing]

Bought one at the Richmond 99 this morning - as kc72 mentioned, $4.99/lb - ours was a 2 pounder and very lively!

[Melanie Wong]

Was the crab ID'd as local? That's the same price at Ranch 99 as a week before the local season opened.

[gordon wing]

ID'd as Wild and USA ..... I didn't even think to ask.

[yanks26dmb]

I'm going to be driving up to SF from SD next week. I don't know much about Dungeness. What's a good price to pay for cooked and cracked crabs? Where will I find the best prices on these?? I read Half Moon Bay is a good stop off the 1....will this be my best bet?

[Alan408]

North of the town of Half Moon Bay is Pillar Point Harbor. The harbor contains both commercial and recreational fishing opportunities. There are often commercial fishermen selling their catch directly from their boat. The Pillar Point Harbor Master office has a sign outside giving the locations of the boats with seafood for sale. In addition to live off the boat, there is a seafood retailer at the harbor. Live crab is ~$5/lb off the boat. Expect to pay ~$1 more for cooked (retail).

Be careful about parking in the area, some are time limit, some restricted, the paved parking lot was full last Sunday.

For restaurant recommenditions; in Pillar Point, Barabar's Fish Trap for the view, Ketch Joanne's for the atmosphere.

-----
Pillar Point Harbor
Princeton Avenue (at Broadway Street), Pillar Point HBR Half Moon Bay, CA

[Pei]

$4.99 at Sun Fat in the Mission this past weekend.

[saffrongold]

Yesterday at Seafood Center Clement and 10th Ave. live crabs were 4.99/lb

-----
Seafood Center
831 Clement St, San Francisco, CA

[srr]

We paid $5.69/lb at Seafood Center this morning. The sign in the window said they were local crabs.

-----
Seafood Center
831 Clement St, San Francisco, CA

[Cynsa]

the price today is back to $4.99/lb. for live local crab at Seafood Center
- 831 Clement Street /10th Ave. - daily 9:30 am to 6 pm

[baron45]

Today at Seafood Center Clement and 10th Ave: Live crabs are 4.29/lb

[baron45]

Forgot to mention that Seafood Ctr was selling the small <2 pounders for $2.99. So I bought 2 jumbos for a total of 5.3 lbs at $4.29/lb.