Buying crab shouldn’t feel intimidating, yet for a lot of people, it does. And you know what? That’s fair. Next to the sterilized experience of online grocery carts, it can be a lot. Live things! Claws! Prices that change! A fishmonger who looks like they’ve seen king tides rise and empires fall through sea salt crusted eyes! Like we said, it’s a lot. 

So we made this guide to take the trepidation out of the crustacean. BC Dungeness crab is for everyone, whether you’re ponying up the nerve to strut down to a dockside sales boat or eyeballing frozen crab clusters from your grocery store fish counter. No shame in this game. No dockside gatekeeping. No stress. 

We headed down to Steveston Fisherman’s Wharf to chat with Mayuko, a fishmonger (crab-monger?) who works with fisherman Justin Taylor on the FV Just Travellin’ 2. Open year-round for dockside seafood sales straight from the hands of BC fishers, the selection on the dock changes with the seasons, but Dungeness crab is harvested year-round, meaning there’s usually something scuttling around.

Buying direct at the dock means you can ask all the “Is this a stupid question?” questions (spoiler: no such thing). 

Fishers and fishmongers love helping people learn. You know how kids get super excited to talk about That Thing they love, and won’t hush up about it? Well, fishmongers and fishermen are those kids all grown up, only the excitement didn’t wear out. These folks are hyper-passionate about what they do and willing to share their knowledge about everything from the intricate depths of local seafood systems to ‘what’s your favourite recipe?’ 

Mayuko gave us the Crab 101 you secretly wish every fish counter came with. Pricing? Explained. How to transport them home without unleashing a tiny maritime uprising? Covered. She makes the whole thing feel simple and doable, not daunting.

💸 How does pricing work?
Crab prices fluctuate with the market. It’s totally normal. Your fishmonger will weigh your crab, give you the per-pound cost, and walk you through options (including the iconic one-claw discount on those feisty crabs that got a little too rowdy and are missing digits).

🚚 How do I get it home?
Keep your crab cold, dry, and breathing — never submerged in water. In a vented bag or box, they’ll stay alive for a few hours.

📏 Does size matter?
Bigger crab = more meat for your money. Smaller crab = often sweeter. You truly can’t lose.

✨ How do I know it’s fresh?
The livelier the better. Dockside crab usually goes from the ocean → boat → you in the shortest window possible, meaning they are as fresh and feisty as you are going to get!

What about buying BC Crab at the Store?

Not everyone can make it to the dock, and that’s totally okay. You can find BC crab at fishmongers, specialty shops, and many grocery counters. Live crab is sometimes available, but frozen Dungeness clusters or pre-picked crab meat are often the most accessible option.

And let’s drop one big myth right off the pier: Frozen isn’t “worse.” 

If it’s frozen at sea, it’s locked in at peak freshness. It’s also still supporting local BC crab fishers and their families. And just like at the dock, the folks behind the counter should be happy to answer your questions.

BC crab is for everyone: beginners, nervous first-timers, budget-shoppers, seafood lovers, chefs, and curious eaters. At the end of the day, it’s just real food from real people who work the waters. A straight line from sea to you, and when you think of it that way it makes it all pretty simple.

Now, about cooking it…

Check out part 2 of our How to Do Crab series, Cook It! to get Chef Johnny’s take on how to boil up the perfect BC Dungeness Crab.

This project is supported by the BC Government’s Buy BC Partnership Program; delivered by MNP LLP with funding from the Government of British Columbia.