Crabbing

[elind]

Does anyone know when the crabs are going to make there way up towards Fort Smallwood or Downs Park?

 

[Rapture]

My best guess would be probably in about a month or so.

 

[smokedog]

At least a month or so. Keep an eye on the water temps and when it warms up give it a shot.

 

[Dirichlet]

Yep. I'd say at least a month. I typically wait for the water temps to reach 65 (at Thomas Point) before I give it a try.

 

[44man]

if the dnr dredge reports on the crabs is anywhere near correct it may be quite a while. they reported all but 4 of the crabs dredges at the mouth of the potomac for their spring survey were dead due to the extremely cold winter so that usually means a real late start waiting until the crabs migrate from the deeper waters near the ocean. most everyone i know is waiting a while to even set test pots until the water warms. all we can do is wait and see what happens.

 

[glock9mm]

if the dnr dredge reports on the crabs is anywhere near correct it may be quite a while. they reported all but 4 of the crabs dredges at the mouth of the potomac for their spring survey were dead due to the extremely cold winter so that usually means a real late start waiting until the crabs migrate from the deeper waters near the ocean. most everyone i know is waiting a while to even set test pots until the water warms. all we can do is wait and see what happens.

I agree, it's all about water temp. and with the long, cold winter we had everything is going to be running a little later this year.

 

[itsslow98]

Id say June, last year i was starting to catch them in the middle river area at the very very end of may and it was pretty good in june before it got horrible from july-sept.

 

[Parttime]

if the dnr dredge reports on the crabs is anywhere near correct it may be quite a while. they reported all but 4 of the crabs dredges at the mouth of the potomac for their spring survey were dead due to the extremely cold winter so that usually means a real late start waiting until the crabs migrate from the deeper waters near the ocean. most everyone i know is waiting a while to even set test pots until the water warms. all we can do is wait and see what happens.

Crabs are being caught in the southern counties on the eastern shore, now.

Price I've seen is $225 bushel retail.

 

[44man]

Crabs are being caught in the southern counties on the eastern shore, now.

Price I've seen is $225 bushel retail.

the guys in charles and calvert have pots over and i dont believe a bushel has been caught yet. iwill ask around tomorrow but it doesnt matter what they offer if you dont catch em. but they catch em first down there before we do anyway.

i hope its a better year this year than last for the boys.

 

[Gryphon]

Upper Bay? Mid-June if we are lucky. Last 2 years not so good.

 

[elind]

Thanks all.

 

[mward]

A lot of people have said it, but water temps are a big thing to keep an eye on. It was a cold winter, so more than likely they'll be a little later than usual.

 

[EAB]

Not so good news on the crabbing.

http://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2014/05/01/chesapeake-bay-blue-crab-population-remains-low/

 

[protegeV]

Not so good news on the crabbing.

http://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2014/05/01/chesapeake-bay-blue-crab-population-remains-low/

 

[BlackBart]

Going to be a crap year.... low counts and with idiots in Virginia dredging sooks.... they'll never rebound.

 

[44man]

Going to be a crap year.... low counts and with idiots in Virginia dredging sooks.... they'll never rebound.

I have never been a fan of dredged crabs, sooks or males, to gritty for me but I believe the boys down there keeping sponged sooks in the fall is the real killer. I still don't want them boys families starving so until someone finds something to fill that gap I don't want to be the one to tell them to stop.

 

[BlackBart]

I have never been a fan of dredged crabs, sooks or males, to gritty for me but I believe the boys down there keeping sponged sooks in the fall is the real killer. I still don't want them boys families starving so until someone finds something to fill that gap I don't want to be the one to tell them to stop.

I would in a heartbeat, yes you're correct sponge crabs are just as bad as dredging. Kill the golden goose and nobody makes a living and nobody eats Bay crabs. I don't remember the last time I ate dodo......... you? This is COMMON SENSE, forget the emotional end of it.

 

[tatoocrab]

I'm believe VA commercial crabbers were made to stop dredging in 2011.
Have to call a waterman friend or online to check. It was a very bad idea and
ugly to see all the bushels of sook at the dock in Cape Charles in the winter time.
As a live long crabber and to see how bad the water is now no wonder crabbing
is so low.

 

[44man]

I would in a heartbeat, yes you're correct sponge crabs are just as bad as dredging. Kill the golden goose and nobody makes a living and nobody eats Bay crabs. I don't remember the last time I ate dodo......... you? This is COMMON SENSE, forget the emotional end of it.

no emotion in it for me. I have worked down there and them boys have it hard. everyone needs to feed their families and if there was something else for them to do I am sure they would do it. I think of it like the rockfish moratorium put on us back in the day.my family damn near starved when they put that on us. watching hungry kids is hard.

anyway I don't like dredged crabs or seeing sponged sooks kept and I hope someone figures out something else for them boys to do.

 

[44man]

I'm believe VA commercial crabbers were made to stop dredging in 2011.
Have to call a waterman friend or online to check. It was a very bad idea and
ugly to see all the bushels of sook at the dock in Cape Charles in the winter time.
As a live long crabber and to see how bad the water is now no wonder crabbing
is so low.

http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/Regulations/FR1140.shtm

they closed this winters season it appears. a few years ago they closed certain areas.