The Atlantic blue crab is a member of the Portunidae swimming crab family. Its Latin name, Callinectes sapidus, translates to "savory, beautiful swimmer". In order to grow, crabs must shed their hard shell and regrow a new, larger shell. It is only during this soft shell state that female crabs are able to mate, thus it is easy to target females crabs that are about to molt by baiting traps with male crabs during mating season. The females are attracted to the pheromones emitted by the male crabs and they enter the traps.