From Bay to Table: Our visit to JM Clayton, the Heart of Chesapeake Crab

At Chesapeake & Maine, Dogfish Head’s seafood and cocktail haven in Rehoboth Beach, we’re all about celebrating the flavors of the East Coast – from the rocky shores of Maine to the brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay. One of the ways we bring that authenticity to your plate is through our partnership with JM Clayton Seafood Company, a fifth-generation, family-owned business in Cambridge, Maryland – and the world's oldest crab company.

Recently, our team took a trip to JM Clayton to see firsthand where our crab comes from and meet the folks behind the flavor. Jack Brooks, great-grandson of founder John M. Clayton, gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of their historic facility on the Choptank River, just 11 miles from the Chesapeake Bay. His son, Clay, represents the fifth generation helping to carry on the legacy.

JM Clayton is the only crab purveyor we work with at Chesapeake & Maine, and for good reason. Their crabs are pulled straight from the Chesapeake Bay, known for its unique brackish waters that give Maryland blue crabs their signature sweet, rich flavor. Unlike imported crab meat, which makes up about 95% of what’s consumed in the U.S., JM’s crab has a distinctive beige hue and a depth of flavor that’s impossible to replicate.

The process is as local and hands-on as it gets. Watermen, many of whom have worked with JM Clayton for generations, bring in live crabs daily. These are steamed in massive baskets – no seasoning, just pure crab – then chilled overnight and hand-picked by a team of incredibly skilled workers. It’s a labor-intensive process, but one that ensures the highest quality meat ends up in your crab cakes, lobster & crab clubs, and more.

JM Clayton is also a leader in sustainability. They participate in Maryland’s Blue Crab Advisory Council and follow strict harvesting guidelines informed by winter dredge surveys. Their commitment to ethical fishing practices, like using turtle-safe trout lines in tributaries, has earned them high marks from the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.

And nothing goes to waste. Crab shells and leftover parts are recycled into fertilizer for local farms … just one more way JM Clayton honors the Bay and its bounty!

We’re proud to serve JM Clayton crab at Chesapeake & Maine, and even prouder to support a company that shares our values of quality, sustainability, and community. So next time you’re in Rehoboth Beach, stop by and taste the difference that true Chesapeake crab makes.