May 14th, 2012
According to a study released last month by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population is higher than it has been in the last 19 years. So what was this year’s magical number?
764 million blue crabs!
That is a 66% increase over 2011’s population numbers and the highest total since 1993. These numbers also include the highest number of “juvenile crabs” ever recorded in the Bay (another great sign!).
In 2008, Maryland, Virginia, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission collaborated to reduce “harvest pressure” on blue crabs by 34%. Some of the regulations put in place to help stabilize the crab population include:
- Daily catch limits
- Certain times when the Bay is closed to fishing
- And more!
Still, the number of crabs caught by fishermen last year and the total number of crabs still found in the water were both record highs!
“Just a few short years ago, the future did not look bright for our blue crab population,” said Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.
Now the Blue Crab population is the highest it has been in 19 years. Sounds like a celebration is in order!
So if you would love to devour some delicious Maryland Steamed Crabs, while downing an ice-cold beer, please contact Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant by calling 410.712.9404 or visit GunningsOnline.com today!
About Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant:
We invite you to enjoy a dining experience with our family. Like the Baltimore area, we’ve come a long way, hon. We haven’t forgotten our roots and traditions. Our family recipes are not just handed down through the generations – they are to be enjoyed as a Baltimore tradition for generations to come.
The history of the Gunning’s family restaurant endeavors are a reflection of Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It is truly an evolution.
For more Maryland Seafood news, check back every week for a new blog!
You can also follow Gunnings on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Sources:
Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab count the highest since 1993
Tags: Baltimore, Baltimore Seafood, blue crab population, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, Maryland Blue Crab, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Maryland Seafood news, Maryland Steamed Crabs, Seafood Restaurant, Virginia
Posted in Baltimore Blue Crabs, Baltimore Seafood, Baltimore's Best Crabs, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland Crab House, Maryland Crabbing Industry, Maryland Seafood | No Comments »
May 11th, 2012
Crabs and lobsters are important aquatic animals in the seafood industry. Though crabs are eaten all over the world, especially at Gunnings Seafood Restaurant, Lobsters are considered a bit more exotic and much more pricier.
Both creatures have several similarities, such as being omnivores who live in the ocean.
Even though both creatures share a multitude of similarities, such as being super tasty when they are boiled and doused with globs of butter, both share multiple differences that set them apart.
Crabs vs. Lobsters
Taste: Crabs are known for having a mild sweet taste that could also range to a briny sea taste. It all depends on the variety. The tastiest part of the crab is the merus, which is part of the legs.
In contrast, Lobster meat is a bit harder and not as sweet as crab meat. If you want more meat, shoot for the small legs and claws. It’s very tender and tasty.
Price: Depending on the type and the size of the crab, the price varies. Small crabs can cost $3 while jumbo crabs of a certain species can range between $20 to $30.
Whereas, lobsters are oft expensive. A pound of lobster can cost around $10 to $6, thus a 5 pound lobster can cost a whopping $50. It all depends on the lobster.
Personality: Crabs tend to exhibit a complex social personality. Crabs communicate with their pincers and are known for displaying aggression, especially males. Male crabs fight for women or hiding holes. Though crabs can be fighters amongst themselves, they know when to work together to provide for their families.
Lobsters, on the other hand, are loners. They tend to live, all alone, in Burroughs or under rocks. Unlike crabs, they get stronger with age due to the presence of enzyme telomerase which repairs DNA sequences.
If you have any questions or if you would love to devour some delicious Maryland crabs while downing an ice-cold beer, please contact Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant by calling 410.712.9404 or visit GunningsOnline.com today!
About Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant:
We invite you to enjoy a dining experience with our family. Like the Baltimore area, we’ve come a long way, hon. We haven’t forgotten our roots and traditions. Our family recipes are not just handed down through the generations – they are to be enjoyed as a Baltimore tradition for generations to come.
The history of the Gunning’s family restaurant endeavors are a reflection of Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It is truly an evolution.
For more Maryland Seafood news, check back every week for a new blog!
You can also follow Gunnings on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Sources:
Crab vs. Lobster
Tags: Baltimore area, best seafood Baltimore has to offer, Chesapeake Bay, Corporate Dinner, crabs versus lobsters, Gunning’s, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland, Maryland Blue Crabs Get Crackin’, Maryland Crab Soup, Maryland crabbing industry, Maryland Steamed Crabs, Seafood Restaurant, steamed blue crabs, steamed crabs
Posted in Baltimore Blue Crabs, Baltimore's Best Crabs, Maryland Seafood | No Comments »
May 8th, 2012
Spring has sprung, summer is right around the corner, and 31 million baby oysters have been dropped in Eastern Shore Creek. Oyster planting season is here.
Just last week, the Oyster Recovery Partnership put 31 million baby oysters, bred at the University of Maryland’s Horn Point hatchery, in Harris creek, near the mouth of the Choptank River. These baby oysters were primed for planting once they had settled as “spat” on old oyster shells aboard the Robert Lee, the Oyster Recovery Partnership’s vessel, on their way to be planted.
This was the first of many planned plantings this year. The Oyster Recovery Partnership plans to plant a total of 300-500 million bivalves in Harris Creek, the Severn River and possibly a couple other spots in the Chesapeake Bay. And in the past decade, the partnership has planted more than 3 billion oysters on more than 1,500 acres of reefs and recycled more than 15,000 bushels of oyster shell.
I don’t know about you, but this news just makes us hungry!
So if you would love to devour some delicious Maryland Oysters or Maryland Steamed Crabs, while downing an ice-cold beer, please contact Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant by calling 410.712.9404 or visit GunningsOnline.com today!
About Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant:
We invite you to enjoy a dining experience with our family. Like the Baltimore area, we’ve come a long way, hon. We haven’t forgotten our roots and traditions. Our family recipes are not just handed down through the generations – they are to be enjoyed as a Baltimore tradition for generations to come.
The history of the Gunning’s family restaurant endeavors are a reflection of Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It is truly an evolution.
For more Maryland Seafood news, check back every week for a new blog!
You can also follow Gunnings on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Sources:
Oyster planting season begins
Tags: baby oysters, Baltimore, Baltimore Seafood, bivalves, Chesapeake Bay, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Harris Creek, Maryland OystersMaryland Steamed Crabs, Oyster Planting Season, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Seafood Restaurant, Severn River
Posted in Baltimore Seafood, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland Fishing Industry, Maryland Oyster Industry, Maryland Seafood | No Comments »
April 25th, 2012
Due to the heavy spring rains, scorching hot summer, and major storms this area suffered in 2011, the Chesapeake Bay’s overall health took a step in the wrong direction last year. According to scientists, the Bay’s ecological grade fell from a C- in 2010 to a D+ in 2011 in the annual report card drawn up by the University of Maryland and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“It could have been worse … at least we’re not failing,” said William Dennison of UM’s Center for Environmental Science – who oversees the annual checkup – attempting to add some humor to an otherwise negative situation.
What Attributed to the Chesapeake Bay’s D+?
- Spring downpours washed more nutrients and mud into the water.
- The hot summer spurred algae blooms and increased the size of the bay’s oxygen-starved “dead zone.”
- Hurricane Irene followed by the tropical storm’s torrential rains turned the upper bay milky brown with sediment, reducing the water clarity to the worst it has ever been.
What this means for the Chesapeake Bay Crab Population
While the poor health of the Bay also included a large decline in the underwater grasses that provide shelter and food to fish and blue crabs, the Bay’s crab population remained on the rise.
You can stop holding your breath, now!
So if you would love to devour some delicious Maryland Steamed Crabs, while downing an ice-cold beer, please contact Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant by calling 410.712.9404 or visit GunningsOnline.com today!
About Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant:
We invite you to enjoy a dining experience with our family. Like the Baltimore area, we’ve come a long way, hon. We haven’t forgotten our roots and traditions. Our family recipes are not just handed down through the generations – they are to be enjoyed as a Baltimore tradition for generations to come.
The history of the Gunning’s family restaurant endeavors are a reflection of Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It is truly an evolution.
For more Maryland Seafood news, check back every week for a new blog!
You can also follow Gunnings on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Sources:
Unusual weather worsened Chesapeake Bay’s health
Tags: Baltimore, Blue Crabs, Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Crab Population, Chesapeake Bay Health, family restaurant, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland, Maryland Seafood news, Maryland Steamed Crabs, Seafood Restaurant
Posted in Baltimore Blue Crabs, Baltimore Seafood, Baltimore's Best Crabs, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland Crab House, Maryland Crabbing Industry, Maryland Fishing Industry, Maryland Oyster Industry, Maryland Seafood | No Comments »
April 18th, 2012
Do you have a friend or family member that is just impossible to shop for? Odds are that you do. In fact, everyone knows at least one person that seems to have EVERYTHING. So what do you do during the holidays or when this person has a birthday?
- You can spend hours upon hours shopping for the perfect gift, only to realize you have no idea what to get the man (or woman) who has everything.
- Or…you can get them a gift that anyone would enjoy: Steamed Crabs!
If you have wisely chosen option #2, then there is only one thing left to do…follow this link and purchase a Gunning’s Seafood Gift Certificate! Available in any denomination $20 and up, Gunning’s Seafood Gift Certificates are the perfect gift for the man or woman who has everything!
And while everyone else’s gifts are being met with indifference and disappointment, your gift will be met with praise and happiness.
So give the gift of happiness…give the gift of steamed crabs…give a Gunning’s Seafood Gift Certificate.
If you have any questions, please contact Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant by calling 410.712.9404 or visit GunningsOnline.com today!
About Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant:
We invite you to enjoy a dining experience with our family. Like the Baltimore area, we’ve come a long way, hon. We haven’t forgotten our roots and traditions. Our family recipes are not just handed down through the generations – they are to be enjoyed as a Baltimore tradition for generations to come.
The history of the Gunning’s family restaurant endeavors are a reflection of Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It is truly an evolution.
For more Maryland Seafood news, check back every week for a new blog!
You can also follow Gunnings on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Tags: Baltimore, birthday, family restaurant, Gift, Gift Certificates, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, holidays, Maryland, Maryland Steamed Crabs, Seafood Gift Certificate, Seafood Restaurant, steamed crabs
Posted in Baltimore Blue Crabs, Baltimore Seafood, Baltimore's Best Crabs, Gunning's Special Offers, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland Crab House | No Comments »
April 10th, 2012
The snakehead, also known as “fishzilla” and the “fish from hell,” was first spotted in Maryland in 2002, when an angler caught an 18-inch snakehead in Crofton Pond. Since that time, the snakehead population has taken off and these formidable fish have found their ways into dozens of bodies of water, including the Potomac River and tributaries.
Because of this, and because snakeheads devastate the eco-systems of lakes, ponds and streams, Maryland wildlife officials are offering $200 gift cards for Bass Pro Shops as well as other prizes for catching and killing these “fish from hell.”
To enter the contest, anglers must catch, kill and then post a picture of themselves with a dead snakehead fish caught in Maryland on the DNR’s Angler’s Log webpage. Winners will be drawn on November 30, 2012. Last year, 69 anglers entered the contest, killing 82 of the creatures.
“We do not want snakeheads in our waters,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Inland Fisheries Director Don Cosden. ”This initiative is a way to remind anglers that it is important to catch and remove this invasive species of fish.”
Snakehead Facts
• Snakeheads have been found in at least 7 states
• Snakeheads can grow to more than 2 feet long
• Snakeheads can survive up to four days on land
• Snakeheads can migrate up to a quarter mile between bodies of water by wriggling on their fins
While we at Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant hear that blackened snakehead is pretty delicious, we have decided to stick to our more traditional menu! So if you would love to devour some delicious Maryland Oysters and Steamed Blue Crabs, while downing an ice-cold beer, please contact Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant by calling 410.712.9404 or visit GunningsOnline.com today!
About Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant:
We invite you to enjoy a dining experience with our family. Like the Baltimore area, we’ve come a long way, hon. We haven’t forgotten our roots and traditions. Our family recipes are not just handed down through the generations – they are to be enjoyed as a Baltimore tradition for generations to come.
The history of the Gunning’s family restaurant endeavors are a reflection of Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It is truly an evolution.
For more Maryland Seafood news, check back every week for a new blog!
You can also follow Gunnings on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Sources:
Maryland puts gift card bounty on ‘fish from hell’
Tags: angler, Baltimore, fish from hell, Fishing, fishzilla, Maryland Oysters, Maryland Seafood, News, Seafood Restaurant, Snakehead, Snakehead Facts, steamed blue crabs
Posted in Baltimore Seafood, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland Fishing Industry, Maryland Seafood | No Comments »
April 3rd, 2012
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the US.Army Corps of Engineers, have developed a plan to help restore the native oysters in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay. This massive reef rebuilding and shellfish planting effort is targeted to take place in Harris Creek on Maryland’s Eastern Shore later this year.
Many of the oyster reefs in the creek have been lost to disease and silt buildup, over the years.
“It was historically a very important harvest area,” said Michael Naylor, DNR’s shellfish director, referring to Harris Creek.
The state of Maryland has budgeted $7.5 million in this year’s capital budget for rebuilding lost reefs, using old oyster shells as well as other materials. The Army Corp also plans to begin building up roughly 22 acres’ worth of reefs in the creek.
Once the reef has been built up and restored, seed oysters from the University of Maryland’s Horn Point hatchery will be planted in the creek.
If you have any questions or if you would love to devour some delicious Maryland Oysters while downing an ice-cold beer, please contact Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant by calling 410.712.9404 or visit GunningsOnline.com today!
About Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant:
We invite you to enjoy a dining experience with our family. Like the Baltimore area, we’ve come a long way, hon. We haven’t forgotten our roots and traditions. Our family recipes are not just handed down through the generations – they are to be enjoyed as a Baltimore tradition for generations to come.
The history of the Gunning’s family restaurant endeavors are a reflection of Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It is truly an evolution.
You can also follow Gunnings on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Sources:
Shore’s Harris Creek targeted for oyster restoration
Tags: Baltimore, Chesapeake Bay, Eastern Shore, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Harris Creek, Maryland, Maryland Department of Natural Resource, Oysters, rebuilding lost reefs, Reef Rebuilding, Seafood Restaurant, Shellfish Planting
Posted in Baltimore Seafood, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland Oyster Industry, Maryland Seafood | No Comments »
March 27th, 2012
Scientists are suggesting that catch limits imposed by Maryland and Virginia to protect female crabs (sooks) – which include banning winter crabbing in Virginia and shortening the season in Maryland – have created an imbalance in the Chesapeake Bay. These catch limits, which have been praised for boosting the crabbing industry, may actually be putting the Bay’s crab population in jeopardy.
Now, there are almost three times as many female crabs as there are male crabs. And because of this, female crabs are not able to fertilize all of their eggs. This is according to Anson C. “Tuck” Hines, a veteran crab scientist and director of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Female crabs only mate once in their lifetimes. And with a shortage of male suitors, these females are currently not producing as many fertilized eggs as they did in the past.
With a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hines and his colleagues are investigating this situation and whether or not adjusting the Maryland and Virginia catch limits could re-balance the male-to-female ratio in the Chesapeake Bay.
Hine’s research is among five fisheries studies receiving $425,000 in NOAA grants this year, said Peyton Robertson, head of the agency’s Chesapeake Bay office.
Original article – Sex imbalance holding back Bay crabs’ rebound? – can be found at the http://www.baltimoresun.com.
If you have any questions or if you would love to devour some delicious Maryland Steamed Crabs while downing an ice-cold beer, please contact Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant by calling 410.712.9404 or visit GunningsOnline.com today!
About Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant:
We invite you to enjoy a dining experience with our family. Like the Baltimore area, we’ve come a long way, hon. We haven’t forgotten our roots and traditions. Our family recipes are not just handed down through the generations – they are to be enjoyed as a Baltimore tradition for generations to come.
The history of the Gunning’s family restaurant endeavors are a reflection of Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It is truly an evolution.
You can also follow Gunnings on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Sources:
Sex imbalance holding back Bay crabs’ rebound?
Tags: catch limits, Chesapeake Bay, crab scientist, Crabbing, Jimmies, Lack of Male Crabs, Maryland, Maryland crabbing industry, Maryland Steamed Crabs, Seafood Restaurant, Sooks, Virginia
Posted in Baltimore Blue Crabs, Baltimore Seafood, Baltimore's Best Crabs, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland Crab House, Maryland Crabbing Industry, Maryland Seafood | No Comments »
March 21st, 2012
Since its creation over 70 years ago, Marylanders have been infatuated with the zesty flavor of OLD BAY, putting this delicious blend of 18 spices and herbs on everything from French fries, pizza, and chicken to shrimp and, of course, steamed crabs!
History of Old Bay
- German immigrant Gustav Brunn settled in Baltimore in 1939, rented a space on Baltimore’s Market Place, and began creating the secret recipe that would become OLD BAY Seasoning.
- When it was first created, OLD BAY went by a different name – “Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning.”
- The name OLD BAY was inspired by a steamship line (Old Bay Line) that traveled the Chesapeake Bay between Maryland and Virginia.
- The spice company was purchased by McCormick & Co in 1990.
- Due to the strong presence of the United States Navy in Maryland and Virginia, it is a common fixture in galleys onboard Navy ships.
Today, OLD BAY has skyrocketed in popularity and can be found in grocery stores across the nation. In fact, about 50 million ounces of OLD BAY were sold last year.
What did people do before Old Bay? I hope I never have to find out!
If you have any questions or if you would love to devour some delicious Maryland Steamed Crabs while downing an ice-cold beer, please contact Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant by calling 410.712.9404 or visit GunningsOnline.com today!
About Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant:
We invite you to enjoy a dining experience with our family. Like the Baltimore area, we’ve come a long way, hon. We haven’t forgotten our roots and traditions. Our family recipes are not just handed down through the generations – they are to be enjoyed as a Baltimore tradition for generations to come.
The history of the Gunning’s family restaurant endeavors are a reflection of Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It is truly an evolution.
You can also follow Gunnings on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Sources:
OLD BAY Seasoning
OLD BAY Story
Tags: Baltimore, Chesapeake Bay, grocery stores, Gunning’s, Maryland, McCormick & Co, Old Bay, Seafood Restaurant, Seasoning, steamed crabs, The History of OLD BAY, Virginia
Posted in Baltimore Blue Crabs, Baltimore Seafood, Baltimore's Best Crabs, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland Crab House, Maryland Seafood, OLD BAY | No Comments »
March 13th, 2012
Eating Maryland steamed crabs is about as far from fast food as you can get. When dining on these delectable crustaceans, you can expect to have your hands full (literally) for at least an hour or two.
Eating Maryland steamed crabs is also not for very formal people. In fact, you can just go ahead and throw away that guide to dining etiquette.
But if you have the patience and you don’t mind the mess, picking – and then devouring – freshly steamed blue crabs is a treat. Just ask any Baltimore native. The city is world famous for its numerous crab houses and its prized Maryland blue crabs, which are plucked right out of the Chesapeake Bay
And the only place to enjoy the BEST STEAMED CRABS in MARYLAND is right here at Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant!
So if you are visiting the Baltimore area and want the true Maryland experience, you should definitely stop on by. We’ll throw down a copy of the Baltimore Sun, dump out a pile of freshly steamed Maryland blue crabs, and let you get to picking!
If you have any questions or would love to devour some delicious Maryland Steamed Crabs while downing an ice-cold beer, please contact Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant by calling 410.712.9404 or visit GunningsOnline.com today!
About Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant:
We invite you to enjoy a dining experience with our family. Like the Baltimore area, we’ve come a long way, hon. We haven’t forgotten our roots and traditions. Our family recipes are not just handed down through the generations – they are to be enjoyed as a Baltimore tradition for generations to come.
The history of the Gunning’s family restaurant endeavors are a reflection of Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It is truly an evolution.
You can also follow Gunnings on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Tags: Baltimore, Baltimore Sun, Best Crabs in Maryland, Best steamed crabs in Maryland, Maryland, Maryland blue crabs, Seafood Restaurant, steamed blue crabs, steamed crabs
Posted in Baltimore Blue Crabs, Baltimore Seafood, Baltimore's Best Crabs, Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant, Maryland Crab House, Maryland Seafood | No Comments »
