As I continued exploring Dominica, I wanted to experience more aspects of local life and culture, so I headed out into the wetlands of Cabrits National Park with some local guys to hunt some giant crabs!
Cabrits National Park is located in northwestern Dominica. The area we were in was very muddy and slippery, but once we reached the water, we’d take our shoes off. Our two guides, Sledgehammer and Slim, led us through the swampy land. It reminded me of the Everglades.
We could see some crab holes along the path. Usually, they hunt giant crabs at night, but there are some spots where you can find them during the day. Finally, we reached the water and took our shoes off to wade in. I could feel lots of debris on the ground under my feet. Nate and I tried to stay close to the edge. It would have been easier if we’d had boots!
I had to be careful between the mud and the debris, so it was hard to keep up with the pros, who waded through the marsh like it was nothing. I watched them stick their hands into the roots of a tree to grab a bunch of crabs. They’d already found 15 of them, and they were a nice size! Their claws are so powerful, so you have to be careful when grabbing them.
Sledgehammer and Slim told us that we were brave—people don’t usually do this barefoot! Luckily, there are no alligators or caimans in this area, but there are snakes. As we continued through the marshlands, we found another 15 crabs or so. Once we had 30, we headed to the restaurant where they’d clean and cook the crabs.
At the restaurant, they cleaned the giant crabs, and I enjoyed a swim on the beach. Then, back at the restaurant, they started boiling the curry crab. It boils for about an hour. They added some diced onions, garlic, and more spices, and finally, coconut milk!
The curry crab was excellent and meaty. We ate it right on the beach as the sun started going down. I loved the flavorful curry and the large, meaty claws and the knuckles. The curry itself was good enough to drink. The tropical, coconut flavors with the briny meat was the perfect combination! And as far as crabs go, they were easy to eat!
Finally, we finished with some rum with cranberry juice!
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