Blue crab, hardshell crab, softshell crab The Blue Crab Story Blue tinges on dark shells and blue patches on the legs give the crab its name. Blue crabs average 4 to 6 inches across, with shallow, compressed bodies that taper on each end.
Blue crab is sold in both hardshell and softshell forms.
Blue crabs are found in brackish estuaries and bays from Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico. The largest concentration is in Chesapeake and Delaware bays off Maryland and Virginia. They are harvested with traps, nets and dredges. Some blue crab is also imported from Southeast Asia. Product Profile Meat of the blue crab has a rich, sweet, succulent and buttery flavor.