smckean (Tosca)
New member
I do it very simply. I put them in a 5 gallon plastic bucket (crabs upside down if possible), and then lay a heavy towel soaked in sea water over them.I keep crab in a live tank, and fish in a cooler. I’m not familiar with any other storage methods.
I hardly ever have problems with fights or broken legs. The crabs will stay alive for 3 to 6 hours depending on air temp. That's enough time for me to get them home and into the crab pot. (Definitely do not put them under sea water in a 5 gallon sized bucket -- still water, no aeration. They suffocate rapidly once the water is depleted of oxygen.)
P.S. If I need more time, I just clean them on the boat, and then put the uncooked halves in a small bucket under ice.