2022 DNR crab count

[psucobra96]

Might need a hatchery or specific area of the bay for that which outlaws crabbing in those areas. Second you gotta stop the pollution from PA washing downstream.

 

[akalma]

Biggest problem is commerical crabbing, they are allowed to take females. If you go now to H-mart or Lotte all you see in crabs bins are females, frequently undesized.

 

[teratos]

“Sooks“ are female crabs that have already reproduced, they only do that once in their lifetime. It is illegal to keep “sallys” which are females who have not reproduced or “sponge crabs“ that are carrying eggs.

This is a myth. Females reproduce more than once. Females should be tossed back

 

[smileycloser]

This is a myth. Females reproduce more than once. Females should be tossed back

wait shoudnt they be sterilized first?

 

[Patriot]

This is a myth. Females reproduce more than once. Females should be tossed back

This. They mate once and produce many broods from this single mating over their lifespan.

 

[6cylrider98]

No one wants to hear the No word so the bay will be fished out. Would be a good idea to have a no crabbing zone or 2 to but we all know people would just invade it just the same. I think the crabbers are stuck in a hard place between keeping their jobs, and kepping the crab population up. Yes a few yrs of no females would help, but the water needs to be fixed so they can spawn more and the spawn live. I think the last good yr for crabbing was 2012, then the flood over the dam washed all that crap in the bay ,hasnt got back since.

 

[teratos]

wait shoudnt they be sterilized first?

If not, their right to abortions is up in the air.

 

[pbharvey]

I heard someone paid $200 for 1/2 bushel steamed a couple weeks ago.

Every time I read the fishing report and it leads with catfish and snakeheads and wonder what the future holds. Instinctively I think catfish are affecting the crab population.

Besides having my business and family in maryland, I’ve always said I’d like to retire near the bay so I can fish, crab, and hunt waterfowl. With a one rockfish limit, a one goose limit, and crabs in jeopardy I might have to take up sailing.

 

[BigRick]

There are 2 issues with the crab population. First rockfish are now at record numbers in the bay they are eating crabs. When the rockfish population was low the crab population was high. Second they need to have a ban on female crabs. As for a complete ban on crabbing I’d be fine with a 2 or 3 year ban. It would hurt the local waterman but places selling crabs would not get hit hard as many of them import their crabs from the gulf anyway.

 

[Alea Jacta Est]

Y’all got too many dollars up that way…and not enough sense.

Perhaps your fuel cost issues and other inflationary pressures will help blunt your desert of crabs issues.

For a minute

 

[pbharvey]

The 1 bushel restriction passed, effective July 1

https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/Public_Notices/Public%20Notice%20for%20Review_Chesapeake%20Bay%20Recreational%20Hard%20Crab%20Catch%20%26%20Possession%20Lomits-July%20through%20Dec%202022.pdf

 

[dannyp]

“Sooks“ are female crabs that have already reproduced, they only do that once in their lifetime. It is illegal to keep “sallys” which are females who have not reproduced or “sponge crabs“ that are carrying eggs.

this .

 

[joppaj]

The 1 bushel restriction passed, effective July 1

https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/Public_Notices/Public%20Notice%20for%20Review_Chesapeake%20Bay%20Recreational%20Hard%20Crab%20Catch%20%26%20Possession%20Lomits-July%20through%20Dec%202022.pdf

No surprise at all.

 

[fabsroman]

What is the daily limit for commercial crabbers?

Keeping up with hunting and fishing regs is almost a full time job.

 

[dannyp]

I heard someone paid $200 for 1/2 bushel steamed a couple weeks ago.

Every time I read the fishing report and it leads with catfish and snakeheads and wonder what the future holds. Instinctively I think catfish are affecting the crab population.

Besides having my business and family in maryland, I’ve always said I’d like to retire near the bay so I can fish, crab, and hunt waterfowl. With a one rockfish limit, a one goose limit, and crabs in jeopardy I might have to take up sailing.

sailing? you will lose your man card , you need to burn dead dinosaurs !

 

[dannyp]

What is the daily limit for commercial crabbers?

Keeping up with hunting and fishing regs is almost a full time job.

there is none , catch and keep .

 

[Patriot]

this .

Again, this is not true. They mate once but produce multiple broods from the single mating.

 

[Bob A]

this .

Apparently not this, entirely.

Others have noted that females bear young more than once; they only require impregnation once.

You're correct (actually, the post you quote has the issues I mention) that egg-bearers should not be harvested; seemingly, all females ought not to be taken.

 

[Uncle Duke]

What is the daily limit for commercial crabbers?

Keeping up with hunting and fishing regs is almost a full time job.

4 to 15 bushel, depending on commercial license type.

 

[Melnic]

Biggest problem is commerical crabbing, they are allowed to take females. If you go now to H-mart or Lotte all you see in crabs bins are females, frequently undesized.

There are multiple types of licenses (50, 300, 600 900 pots) and there happens to be one 50 pot that is male only.
I know a couple people with licenses that are allowed to take females but they don't.
One guy that does says, those go to the pickers to pick out the meat for crab cakes. He also said that its harder and harder to find pickers so sometimes he does not even take them. He mentioned one guy He saw spiking the females then throwing them back to let the others eat them.

I've been on a 50 pot license waiting list for 3 years. Hoping I'll get in by the time I"m 65 and fully retired
Darn people sell the things which I think is just wrong so you have to buy one if you want it now.

I rarely do anything more than 2 pots slung to our bulkhead. 2 weeks ago we got 1/ dozen overnight using fish scraps. We save the fish scraps and freeze them. Then throw them in the pots if we think we'll eat crabs that weekend. Usually its only 2 of us that do eat them and never is it all that we eat at that sitting.

I toss back the females cause they are just not worth the effort.
Crabing on the coast has been better this year than last.
I know a couple that have trott lined this year and done well.