Where to Buy Live Crab Near Me: A Guide for Fresh Seafood Lovers

For many seafood lovers, there’s nothing better than freshly cooked crab The sweet, succulent meat is delicious in pastas, salads, sandwiches, and more. But to get the best tasting crab, it needs to be live when you buy it Finding live crab near you can be tricky depending on where you live. This guide will help you locate the best places to buy fresh live crab no matter where you are.

Check Local Seafood Markets

The first place to look for live crab is your local fish market or seafood store. Many seafood markets have live tanks where they keep crab, lobster, and other shellfish. Shop around at seafood markets in your area and ask if they sell live crab. Some may even take special orders if they don’t regularly stock live crab.

Quality Seafood in Redondo Beach CA has a wide selection including live Dungeness crab, blue crab rock crab, and more. Santa Monica Seafood in Santa Monica, CA also carries many types of live crab. Explore seafood markets near major port cities for the widest selection.

Asian Supermarkets Are a Good Bet

If you have an Asian supermarket near you, check to see if they have live crab available. Many Asian markets have live seafood sections where you can find crab, lobster, eel tilapia, and more.

Places like 99 Ranch Market, H Mart, and Hong Kong Supermarket often stock live Dungeness crab, blue crab, king crab, and other varieties depending on the season and location. Be sure to call ahead to check live crab availability.

Look for Live Crab at Fish Markets

Another great place to find live crab is fish markets, especially those located in port towns. While mainly known for fresh fish, many also sell live crab and shellfish.

Fish markets like Pikes Place Fish Market in Seattle, WA, Stinky’s Fish Market in Galveston, TX, and Desimone’s Fish Market in San Francisco, CA often have live Dungeness, blue crab, and other regional crab varieties.

Check with Local Restaurants

Some restaurants may be willing to sell you live crab even if it’s not on their regular menu. Especially high-end seafood restaurants are likely to have live crab on hand for dishes like crab cakes or cioppino.

Call your favorite local seafood restaurants in advance and politely ask if they would sell you some live crab. Offer to pay menu prices if needed. This works best at restaurants where you’re a regular customer.

Order Live Crab Online

If you strike out finding sources locally, there are several options for ordering live crab online and having it shipped overnight to your door.

Retailers like Seattle Fish Company, The Crab Place, and Premium Oceanic ship fresh live crab nationwide. Products and pricing vary, but most offer Dungeness, king, snow, and blue crab. Order early to get the best selection.

Check Regulations Before Transporting Live Crab

Once you’ve sourced live crab, be sure to check state regulations before transporting it. Some states prohibit the import of certain crab species due to concerns over invasive species.

For example, it’s illegal to bring live Dungeness crab into Nevada, Utah, Idaho, South Dakota, Minnesota, and other inland states. Always check your state’s aquatic wildlife regulations before bringing live seafood across state lines.

Finding fresh live crab to cook at home can be difficult depending on where you live. But with some research and planning, you can likely find a local seafood market, fishmonger, or retailer that offers live crab. Just be sure to call ahead for availability and check regulations before transporting your crab. Follow these tips, and you’ll be enjoying delicious freshly cooked crab in no time.