It seems that every July the stripers stop hitting all the normal stuff and only want little crabs from the crab hatch. Does anyone have any info on this and is it goin on now?

Yes it most definitely is going on now. On the morning of July 4th I was out early on the west side of jamestown - near dutch island. Stripers were feeding at the surface - gorging themselves on the millions upon millions of baby crabs. The crabs were about the size of flattened pea - they were so thick they turned the water brown. Didn't know what they were until i put my hand in the water and pulled up a bunch and watched these little micro crabs swimming in my hands. Only had 3 stripers that morning - couldn't figure out how to get their attention away from the crabs..... Any ideas???

I saw the crabs too out near Jamestown last week. I was really going after fluke but was ondering what to use also to imitate them to go for bass. Has anyone had good success with anything?

There are crab fly patterns . You can use a long rod or tie the fly on as a teaser above another plug or jig depending on if you want top water or not.

I'll try to find a picture of one. The ones I've seen are about the size of a nickel.

2" berkley power crab

i was about to post that^

Break out the sissy stick JOE!!!

Bagle chunks :hihi:

This time of year in Woods Hole passage we get larval crabs by the jillions and two inch squid as well, the schoolies tear them up. The larval crabs are neat 1/8 of an inch across and perfect imitations of thier Moms and Dads.

never mind the little ones... I want their big blue cousins.....

Thanks Saltheart,

I have a flyrod, don't use it as often as I should. I haven't never tried a crab pattern. Just saw one online since you mentioned it- Simons hover crab, looks like it would float nice. May have to order a couple.

fly rod + flats boat + the hole = :hihi:

Somewhere in the back of my addled brain I remember someone saying a wooly bugger is the fly to use during the crab hatch. So maybe you fly folks can try that. Personally, I think some major white water would improve things.

I dunno, Joe - if things don't improve soon you may have to take up the long wand :happy: :happy: :happy:

Not that there's anything wrong with that.....:hihi:

I'm not sure if the wooly bugger is for the crab hatch or the earlier worm hatch. Anyway , tie one on and see what happens!! :)

oh yeah worm hatch.. :doh: nevermind..... like i said WHITE WATER!!!

oh yeah worm hatch.. :doh: nevermind..... like i said WHITE WATER!!!

AMEN!!!

Flat calm :doh:

when I see them I leave /makes the worm hatch look easy// I saw them two weeks ago ,after dark / got there ,saw them & left :nailem: