Hunting for stone crabs along the coast of Ca Mau

The Southwest Sea of ​​the Fatherland has more than 300km of coastline with many islands and embankments suitable for stone crabs to live and inhabit. In Ca Mau, stone crabs appear in large numbers in estuary areas, especially in rock crevices and concrete embankments.

This is a specialty known to many people for its delicious, firm meat. Stone crab hunting has also helped dozens of poor coastal households in Ca Mau earn extra income.

Ms. Huynh Thu Ha (residing in Khanh Binh Tay commune, Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province) shared: "Stone crabs only weigh an average of 150-200 grams. Female crabs have firmer meat than male crabs, the crab meat is very sweet, has a special aroma, so most tourists coming to Ca Mau want to enjoy stone crabs or buy them as gifts for friends and relatives."

Having worked as a stone crab hunter for more than 5 years, Mr. Phan Van Soi, residing in Khanh Binh Tay commune, Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province, shared that when the monsoon season comes (from November of the previous year to March of the following year), stone crab hunting is much more bustling.

"Stone crabs are dark purple and dark gray. The crab claws are usually dark purple or grayish white, and the claws have many soft hairs. With 100 crab traps, I catch about 5-7kg of stone crabs every day, selling them for 80,000-100,000 VND/kg (depending on the size)," Mr. Soi shared.

Currently, in Kinh Hon hamlet, Khanh Binh Tay commune, there are nearly ten households hunting stone crabs along the embankment or cliff.

"This job helps me earn extra income to support my family. It is also this job that allows my 7 children to have a proper education. Every day, I go to set the traps at around 3pm the day before and then go to visit the traps at 7am the next morning," Mr. Soi added.

The main tools for hunting stone crabs are traps, and the bait for crabs is miscellaneous fish.

People who are involved in the job of hunting stone crabs have been earning an income of 300,000-500,000 VND/day. Stone crabs are favored by many diners and are processed into many delicious and unique dishes such as: salt-roasted stone crabs, grilled stone crabs, especially beer-steamed stone crabs, lemongrass-steamed stone crabs, which are very delicious.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/san-cua-da-ven-bien-ca-mau-1922402151340292.htm