The echo of a white rubber sole melodically thumping down on the planks of treated pine is a familiar sound in the early morning hours at any coastal marina. For brothers Drake and Chase Killingsworth, this is a sound they have known since an early age. With the help of their father, Charles, Drake and Chase bought their first shrimp boat at the ages of 14 and 12 years old, respectively. Their Cajun roots began in Louisiana along the banks of the Mississippi and from there was born a love of shrimp, crab and all things maritime.
As they grew older, their love of shrimping and crabbing continued. In 2016, Drake and Chase began selling freshly caught shrimp and crabs from their home in Gautier. Using social media as their platform, the brothers sold their daily catches to friends and family via a grassroots campaign that took off quickly. Once crawfish was introduced onto their menu, business took off, and it was apparent that a brick and mortar shop was needed. So, in May 2019, three weeks before Drake graduated high school and while Chase was still in the ninth grade, Killer Crab and Seafood opened its doors for business.
The Killer Crab menu boasts a variety of delicious seafood dishes. By keeping their menu simple and offering true coastal staples, Killer Crab serves cooked-to-order meals that are anything but basic.
From the deli, popular choices are the seafood platter or fried whole flounder. A generous portion of fried fantailed shrimp, oysters, crab claws and catfish make up the seafood platter. The fried whole flounder is a personal favorite with white, flaky fish cooked underneath a delicate fried crust. Killer Crab uses a Mississippi-made, flour-based fish fry that is seasoned to perfection.
The crab claws, overstuffed poboys and shrimp and crab gumbo are a few other must-try options. Even the Killer Crab burger is amazing, featuring two beef patties, cheese and topped with bacon. Finish everything off with a side of house-made baked beans and of course, hushpuppies.
On the market side, you will find an incredible selection of raw seafood and steamed plates. Fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined, are showcased, alongside crabmeat, flounder, catfish and daily selections of fresh caught fish. The Killer Crab steamed plates are a local favorite with steamed to order snow crabs, royal reds or a combination of both. The snow crab plate comes with two snow crab clusters and a quarter pound of shrimp, while the steamed shrimp comes with 40-50 shell-on shrimp. Both are seasoned with an in-house mix of spices consisting of garlic powder, onion powder, crab boil and a hint of Chinese red pepper. When in season, their fresh boiled crawfish sells out immediately and is definitely worth the wait.
Drake and Chase are proud to have relocated Killer Crab and Seafood to its current home on Gautier-Vancleave Road, a bigger storefront purchased when they outgrew their original shop. Their new location provides additional space and a larger area for patrons who want to dine-in. Seasonings, rubs and a host of fish-fry kitchen staples can be found in their supermarket section. Most importantly, however, their new space offers room for expansion.
With big plans on the horizon, both brothers hope to increase their products to include steaks and meat, as well as additional produce. Hard work and persistence make up the backbone of this duo as they both aim to make their parents, and their community proud. What started as a father and two sons shrimping for fun, has turned into a white boot revival, ripe with growth, new ideas and some of the best seafood around.
Killer Crab and Seafood
5116 Gautier-Vancleave Rd. Gautier
228.623.8553
www.killercrabandseafood.com
Facebook @killerseafood
Tuesday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
