re: Are female crabs less desirable?

I've sold quite a few. If there was 8-9 dozen in a box, it was small crabs. A solid #2 will have around 7 dozen. #1s will be around 5-6 dozen in a box. As far as what are #1s and #2s, there will never be female #1s, unless you just find a guy who is saying that cause they are big, which there are some. But because they are females, from a wholesale standpoint, they are always graded out as #2s, and should be priced accordingly, regardless of size. No dock in LA pays anyone #1 price for any female.

As has been said, taste is just that. Some prefer the taste of the meat in a male. Personally, I will buy big #2 females all day everyday over any size male offered. I love the fat and eggs, and prefer that over the meat in a crab. And find a good coonass woman who will pick the heads at a boil and save a mess of fat, and you've got the best roux money can buy.