October is National Seafood Month and there’s no better time to enjoy Maryland seafood than now! The wild-caught oyster season has just begun, crabs are getting fatter, and wild-caught Chesapeake blue catfish is easier to catch than ever. Whether you’re craving crab dip, blue catfish tacos, or a beautiful baked oyster, there are plenty of ways to enjoy seafood in Maryland. We have a list of restaurants you can visit, as well as, retailers you can trust that serve genuine Maryland seafood.
National Seafood Month is a great opportunity to learn about sustainable seafood, such as wild-caught Chesapeake blue catfish. The blue catfish are decimating the Bay, eating crabs, oysters, striped bass, everything in its path. It’s up to consumers like you, to order blue catfish on the menu, or purchase in your local retail store to cook at home. Seafood Month is a great time to try new seafood items in your region you have maybe not tried, such as wild-caught Chesapeake blue catfish or Chesapeake Channa (snakehead). Adding seafood to your diet is a great way to get lean protein, nutrients and Omega-3 fatty acids.
FishWatch, a database that provides information on the status of U.S. seafood, including wild-caught and farmed raised, ranks Maryland blue crab and wild-caught Chesapeake blue catfish as the “Best Choice.”
It’s important to remember to check the source of all your seafood – if it’s not from Maryland, it won’t be the best you ever had! Seafood sourced locally supports our watermen and our local economy. Best of all, it’s the freshest possible! You can guarantee it’s Maryland seafood by looking for the Maryland’s Best Seafood logo or the True Blue logo which guarantees that the restaurant/retailer is purchasing at least 75% of their crabs and crab meat from Maryland processors or watermen. 
Even better news? All month long you can earn prizes just for eating your favorite seafood dish! Join our FREE Seafood, Eat Food Pass now until the end of the month and collect points every time you check in at participating restaurants and purchase Maryland crab, Maryland oysters, wild-caught Chesapeake blue catfish or Chesapeake channa (snakehead). To download the pass and start collecting points to win awesome prizes, click here.
For a list of restaurants and retailers offering Wild-Caught Chesapeake Blue Catfish as well as recipes to make at home, click here.
To see a list of True Blue crab participants, click here.
To enjoy Maryland oysters year-round, learn about our oyster guide here.
As you dine out or cook at home during the month of October, please use hashtag #SeafoodMonth #SeafoodMonthMDBest so we can see the delicious seafood you and your loved ones enjoy.
