The Atlantic Deep Sea Red Crab has a brilliant shell with a strikingly beautiful deep orange to bright crimson color in its live raw state. A distinctive characteristic unique to this species, along with a succulent snow white flesh often compared to Alaskan Opilio Crab. Harvested off the continental shelf, from North Carolina to the Canadian line.The crabs are caught in large beehive shaped traps that are left in the water for short 24 hour "soaks".The crabs are brought dockside live where they are immediately packed & shipped direct to Supreme Lobster's Chicago Headquarters. The amazing fishery is managed by the New England Fisheries Management Council following strict harvesting guidelines which allows it the recent MSC Certification. Their distribution reaches from the Gulf of Mexico in the south up to Emerald Bay, Nova Scotia in the north. Depending on life stage, they may occur from the shallow warm waters of the continental shelf as larvae and deep cold water on the outer continental shelf as post larval crabs. In the Northeast, adult red crabs occur along the continental shelf edge and upper slope from the Scotian Shelf and the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras. Average size is 1-3 lbs. or 5 to 7 inches (12.5cm-17.5cm) across the back of the shell. The core of the meat is pure white with distinct red highlights on the outside similar to a lobster. Because these crabs are caught at a depth of 2,000+ feet, the water temperature stays at a constant 38°, which provides the animals with a firm, plump & incredibly sweet flesh. Deep Sea Red Crab will be available for the first time in the Chicago Market this Thursday exclusively from Supreme Lobster & Seafood Co! Crab will be available Fresh Raw & Fresh Hand Picked Leg Meat. Due to the delicate nature of the animals we can not guarantee crabs arrive live. This first round will sell out so be sure to contact us early today.