Watermen in Middlesex County are hauling in soft-shell crabs as the seasonal run picks up on the Rappahannock and Piankatank rivers. Watermen are now shifting their catch operations from the Piankatank to the Rappahannock as shedding crabs—called peelers—start to show up there. The large “whales,” as they’re known, are headed for seafood markets up the East Coast and also served at local spots. Prices started high this season but dropped once the North Carolina run began.