BarnegatShellfish.org


Index

Home

About Barnegat
Bay


History

Wampum

Shellfish

Clams

Oysters

Crabs

Mussels

Scallops

Snails

Shrimp

Whelks


Environment

Glossary

Links to Barnegat Bay Webites

Links to Useful Websites

About Us


Environment

Glossary

Links to Barnegat Bay Webites

Links to Useful Websites

About Us

Rock crabs  have the nickname "Peekytoe"

Crabs

 


Crabs

 

Blue Crab

 

Blue Crab Molting

 

Fiddler Crabs

 

Rock Crabs

 

Peekytoe

 

Jonah

Crab

 

Rock vs Jonah

Crabs

 

Atlantic Rock Crab                Cancer irroratus

The rock crab has the nickname "Peekytoe"

There are a couple of theories on how it became known as "peekytoe crab."

Peekytoe is the slang name for these crabs in the lobster fishing villages of Maine.

Peekytoe comes from "picked toe" --

'"picked'' pronounced as if it had two syllables (pick-ed) because the crab leg has a very sharp point that turns inward. ''Picked" is Maine slang for pointed

Others called them "picket toe." The Maine accent more than likely contributed to the resulting name of "peekytoe."

 

 

Fun Fact - Rock crabs are not to be confused with Jonah crabs (Cancer borealis)

These are Maine rock crabs which were a throwaway by-product of lobster fishing before a brilliant marketing move changed their name to "peekytoes" around 1997.

They are classified as Cancer irroratus, also known as the Atlantic Rock Crab.

Other than being a specific type of Atlantic rock crab, the other thing that sets this crabmeat apart is the care with which they are handled, cooked, and picked. They cannot be shipped live. Picking over the meat to remove all bits of shell and strict adherence to freshness makes good pickers very much in demand by chefs.

 

 



Credits