The Municipal Fish Market at The Wharf has been open since 1805, making it the oldest open-air fish market in the United States that has been open continuously. The Fish Market is still a famous spot in Washington, DC for hungry locals and smart tourists looking for fresh fish, crabs, and cooked seafood.
Parking: People who come by car can park in the underground garage for $2 for the first hour as long as they show proof that they bought something at the Municipal Fish Market. Learn more about parking and validation here. A small amount of short-term surface parking is also available in the Market Square Lot and the Fish Market Lot. The prices are as follows: under 30 minutes: $5; over 30 minutes: $10 30 min-1 hour: $12. 1-2 hours: $25.
Current Seafood Offerings and Prices: The Municipal Fish Market is home to multiple vendors. To learn more about the current seafood offerings and prices, please contact Jessie Taylor Seafood at 202-554-4173.
Other Shops and Restaurants: The Wharf neighborhood has over 80 shops and restaurants, four hotels, a 6,000-seat music venue, and the oldest fish market in the country. It is also home to thousands of residents and workers.
The Municipal Fish Market at The Wharf, which people often just call “The Fish Market,” opened in 1805 and is the oldest continuously operating open-air fish market in the United States. It opened 17 years before New York City’s Fulton Fish Market. Over the years, the Fish Market has been home to many different types of shops and restaurants, such as produce vendors, oyster boats, bait and tackle shops, and lumber distributors.
This DC landmark is a real hidden gem. It is right next to the Potomac River and the National Mall (1100 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC). Choose from unique and vibrant seafood vendors. You can buy seafood either raw or cooked. There are huge sacks of blue crab, oysters, clams, shrimp, and fish that has just been caught. You can stock up for important events, get something for lunch or dinner, or take a picnic to one of The Wharf’s plazas, parks, or the Tidal Basin. Whatever you do, don’t miss this hometown favorite, chock full of fresh seafood and local flavor.
Restoration and Preservation: We see the Municipal Fish Market as a gateway to The Wharf. It is a landmark for the District of Columbia and the whole region, and we plan to keep it around and give it new life for years to come.
The new Municipal Fish Market has a new market operations building, a new distillery, a new market hall, and retail additions like a market shed and two small market pavilions. The historic oyster shed will be restored. We also added new below-grade parking and a signaled intersection on Maine Avenue to make it easier for cars to get to the site and reduce traffic.
The public can now enjoy this one-of-a-kind market experience on the water even more with the completion of a new Market Plaza, Market Pier, and Market Square.
Trying to find fresh, live crab to cook at home can be a challenge if you don’t know where to look. As a seafood lover, I’ve spent years researching the best places to source high-quality, live crab in my city and surrounding areas. In this article, I’ll share my tips for tracking down live crab near you, whether you live on the coast or inland.
Check Local Fish Markets and Seafood Shops
My first stop when I want fresh crab is always a dedicated fish market or seafood shop. Many coastal and lakeside cities have great seafood markets where you can find live crab and shellfish I look for shops with large tanks where the crabs and lobsters are actively crawling around. This ensures they are healthy and haven’t been sitting around The staff at a good fish market are also extremely knowledgeable about their offerings and can give cooking advice.
Some signs of a high-quality fish market
- An assortment of live seafood like crabs, lobster, clams, mussels
- Knowledgeable staff who can answer questions
- Crabs actively moving around in tanks
- Clean, cold tanks without dead critters
Ask the staff when their next crab shipment is arriving so you know the best day to come in. I’ve found the selection can vary day to day.
Check Asian Supermarkets
If you don’t live near the coast, another great option is an Asian supermarket. Many large Asian grocery stores have live seafood sections where you can buy crab and shellfish. The quality can vary more than a dedicated fish market, but with some searching you can find live Dungeness, blue crabs and more.
I always inspect the tanks closely to make sure the crabs look active and healthy. Sometimes the staff don’t change the water frequently enough. But when you find a good one, an Asian market can be a great inland option.
Order Live Crab Online
Thanks to overnight shipping, it’s now possible to buy live crabs online, even if you aren’t located on the coast. Ordering crabs online allows you to get incredibly fresh seafood shipped directly to your door.
I’ve had great success ordering from sites like LobsterAnywhere.com and Citarella.com. They offer overnight delivery of live crabs, lobster, oysters and more. The key is ordering early in the week to avoid delivery delays on weekends.
Make sure to have a large cooler ready to receive the shipment. The crabs will be packed with ice packs, but you need to transfer them to a cooler to maintain temperature.
Set Crab Traps Yourself
If you have access to a dock, pier or beach, you can catch fresh crab yourself by setting traps. This is a fun family activity and ensures you are getting the absolute freshest crab possible.
You’ll need to purchase or rent crab traps, bait them with fish carcasses or chicken legs, and leave them in the water for 24 hours. Make sure to check local regulations on trap limits and licenses.
With a little work, you can haul in a tasty harvest of blue crabs, Dungeness and more. Boil up your catch right on the dock for the freshest seafood dinner imaginable.
Time Your Visit to Crab Fishing Regions
If you enjoy traveling, plan a trip to a famous crab fishing region during peak season. Visiting places like the Chesapeake Bay, Gulf Coast or Pacific Northwest when the crabbing is best allows you to buy right off the boat.
Many coastal towns have crab shacks where you can eat freshly caught crab while enjoying beautiful waterfront views. Or you can buy live crab and have it boiled at your accommodation.
With some good timing, hitting up renowned crab destinations is a delicious way to get your fix.
Attend a Crab Festival
One of my favorite tips for finding fresh live crab is to attend a local crab festival or seafood festival. Many coastal towns celebrate their beloved Dungeness, blue crab or other regional catches with annual festivals.
These lively events are a blast, with live music, craft booths, cooking contests and tons of vendors serving up crab dishes. More importantly, you can often purchase fresh live crab right on the festival grounds.
Bring a cooler and stock up on all the fresh crab you’ll need for a backyard boil or crab feast with friends. Just follow the laughter, music and smell of Old Bay seasoning to find a crab celebration near you.
What To Look for When Buying Live Crab
Once you’ve located a source of live crab, there are a few things to inspect before making your purchase:
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Active movement – Live crabs should be actively moving their legs and claws. Avoid lethargic or dead crabs.
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Heavy weight – Pick up the crab and make sure it has heft. Lightweight crabs may have lost water weight.
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Solid shell – Tap the shell and make sure it sounds firm, not hollow.
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Intact body – Look for any missing or cracked limbs, which indicate injury.
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Clear eyes – A live crab will have clear, bright eyes, not cloudy or milky.
Buying healthy, lively crab is key to a great meal. Take a few minutes to inspect your purchases before heading home.
Keeping Live Crab Fresh
Once you’ve procured some live crabs, you’ll want to cook them as soon as possible for the best flavor. But if needed, here are some storage tips:
- Keep crabs in a large cooler with ice packs
- Don’t store them in sealed plastic bags
- Use within 2 days for best quality
- Give crabs fresh ice packs every 12 hours
Water Taxi & Jitney
Welcome to our new water taxi, which is one of the best ways to see the city and the easiest way to get to places on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. If you just want to cross the Washington Channel, you can take the Wharf Jitney to East Potomac Park, where you can play golf or take a stroll.
Buying LIVE & Steamed Maryland Crabs Online (What You Need to Know) – The Wolfe Pit
FAQ
Do you buy crabs live?
What is the best way to buy crab?
Can you mail a live crab?
How do you pick a good live crab?
Do you sell live crab?
Truly fresh crab meat has a really sweet flavour and our Cornish Brown Crab and King Crab are world beaters! We do not offer Live Crab as they do not travel well and it is vital they are cooked immediately after they are dispatched to ensure the freshness and best quality meat. How much are crabs in the UK?
Are live crabs available for next day shipping?
Please note that Live Crabs are not always available for next day shipping due to the availability. Please call us first and we can let you know when they can be shipped. * (We are not responsible for any dead loss on live crabs. If you are concerned about dead loss we recommend ordering steamed crabs)
Where can I buy crab legs?
Quality crabs and great deals! The Crab Place is hands down the best place for crabs – to be delivered to your home. I’ve been ordering from them for several years and have always received fat, heavy crabs, snow crab legs, and shrimp.
What types of crabs are available?
We offer a nice selection of several species of crab consisting of Blue Crab, King Crab, Rock Crab, Snow Crab, and the West Coast favorite, Dungeness Crab. Crabs are shipped via next day delivery. Other related items available to purchase online include our popular fresh homemade crab cakes .