Special Note:
These are certainly crazy times… with the corona virus, social distancing and the impact this is having on our family plans and activities. I thought about waiting to publish this, but decided to move forward in hopes of thinking of summer and the joy of doing things together that we used to take for granted. Wishing you and your family good health and a summer of doing the things we like to do… together.
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The beach is a fun place… but sometimes there can be a little “fly in the ointment”… especially with kids. Cape Cod waters can be cold especially in the early summer. Cold enough to make blue lipped kids shiver. Or, Cape Cod beaches can be a little too sunny in late July, early August… and you find out that suntan lotion washes off in ocean water and people start mistaking your young daughter for a lobster. Maybe you are thrilled to be there with the kids, but… well… honestly…” can’t they let me to sit on the beach quietly for just a few minutes”?
I have a little trick for you.
If you try this trick don’t be surprised if your young one becomes totally preoccupied for hours, makes numerous young friends in a span of 15 minutes as he or she becomes the beaches newest sensation… all through the virtues of chick’n leggin’. Yes, chick’n leggin’. What is chick’n leggin’ you may ask? A simple, low cost activity that will make your kids scream with joy and excitement for hours. Better than any video game; chick’n leggin’ is the act of catching crabs with a hand line… and it’s so easy, yet seductively addictive for little people.
Any salt water beach or salt marsh is teaming with small crabs. If you did not know; as you walk the shallows of the ocean floor at the beach there are crabs buried in the sand underfoot… millions of them. You may only see a random crab scurry across the bottom in front of you… but put a piece of food on the sandy shallow and crabs will arise from the sand; popping out of the sand to grasp an easy meal.
Why? We do not know, but they seem to love chicken. Yes, they will eat fish, hot dogs, and scavenge other foods… but put a piece of raw chicken out there and well; they come running.
Let’s set up your young adventurer to catch crabs…
Chick’n leggin’ 101 Step by Step
Gather materials
- A bone in chicken thigh (any raw chicken will do, but this is inexpensive and very easy to use). Crabs love it and will attach themselves like Velcro. It is easy to handle for the little one and provides the perfect shape to tie a string or throw.
- Any string, twine, or fishing line (about 20 feet). I like heavy string (not rope). It doesn’t tangle and it is very easy for a child to handle.
- A bucket. I use an old 5 gallon pail. But any pail will do (even a small one).
- A stick to wrap the string around when not in use and to tap off crabs that don’t want to let go of the chicken
The Method:
- Take one end of the string and tie the chicken thigh bone end to the string securely. The knob of the bone holds the thigh securely. Tie the other end to a stick and roll the string onto the stick until ready to use.
- Go to a beach, breakwater, or salt marsh. A place that is safe and within sight for you.
- unravel the string from the stick and hand toss the chicken leg into the shallow, sandy bottomed ocean. WAIT A FEW MINUTES… Suddenly you will see crabs grabbing onto the thigh. You will be amazed how many and how fast they can move. Let a good number grab it. Gently pull it in and lift the crabs out of the water.
- Shake the crabs into the bucket that is half filled with water on shore.
- When the bucket is full, empty and do it again
Bring extra handlines and thighs.. Chick’n leggin’ attracts kids (and adults) like crazy.
A few notes:
Handling crab – Crabs have claws. They can pinch and if the crab is large and given the chance it can break the skin. If your child plays Russian roulette with a crab claw they may lose. Simply tell them that they should not stick their fingers in the claws. Crabs are easy to pick up. Reach in and grab the crab on the outer edge of the shell behind the claws. A crab can not easily reach behind its claws.
Observe – Let the crab eat… it is amazing to watch them dissect the chicken thigh so quickly, morsel by morsel.
Should I eat them? There are 850 species of crab. Many are edible but only a few are “meaty”. “Blue crab” is especially good, commercially popular, but also very hard to find from shore. Unfortunately, many types of crabs are just not worth the effort. Especially when they are small. Additionally, taking shellfish and crabs requires a license; so throw them back.
Picture of the month
I call this picture “Getaway Crab”. I don’t know if it is escaping or if someone is shooing it away!
Getaway Crab – Art by RN Smith
This is an oil on canvas and the original is 16 x 12 inches.
Those interested in seeing all my paintings you can view them on my web site, each picture also ties to my custom gift shop at:
Prints and other fine gifts are available through customer order at:
https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/107-robert-smith
Coming soon… an online store of immediately available in stock framed prints. I currently have a gallery wrapped canvas print, limited edition #2 to 150 available. Size is 18 X 12 inches.
Have a comment or request? Contact my e-mail: Rnsmithfinearts@gmail.com
Next Months blog…. Cape Cod East Basin, Sandwich Marina, Coast Guard Center, Restaurants and More.
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