Answer
A soft-shell is a blue crab that has molted its hard exoskeleton and is briefly harvestable before the new shell hardens—watermen trap “peelers” or “busters” in shedding tanks. The entire crab is edible when cleaned, unlike picking steamed hard shells. Delmarva restaurants feature them heavily in late spring and summer.
Sources: Maryland DNR · Visit Ocean City
Editorial visitor guidance for Ocean City, Maryland. Confirm current Town of Ocean City, Maryland DNR, NPS Assateague, and NWS rules when regulations or safety apply.
