Hey Bloo, I hear they're baaack.

[Billybob]

Well, I don't know but I gotta assume with a name like..well you understand. I'm starting to get reports that the old Callinectus sapidis are back - what do ya hear. By the way how many of you guys are into crabbing ? They may not fight, and they ain't too smart - but I just love anchoring up on a sunny day, listening to some tunes, relaxing, and having a few cold ones.And my secret sauce is so good my son will actually pick out all the meat if I agree to make it.
So, whatdya think, is it still too early (I have next week off).

[Scotch Bonnet]

My kids are way into crabbing on the boat. We just get green,lepord and the rare blue crab. I'd be interested in your methods in blue crabbing. Are they in rocky or sandy areas. Whats the best bait, etc, etc, etc. I'm a city kid that moved to the shore, so I missed out on all this stuff............

[bloocrab]

...If I'd a had my camera last night.....I'd a show'd ya one of the new arrivals....snagged on a Krocodile spoon~


.....who says ya can't have fun in the sun.....

..HERE THEY COME BABY!!~....


Check your local listings for bluecrab regulations...DEFINATELY NO FEMALES!!!

Billybob, I'm not sure where your from, but its just a hair early for the big ens'....the smaller, much faster bloos move in first...but I'd bring a fresh water rod and try it out next week if I were you.. especially with the weather we've been having . (The fresh water rod is for schoolies if the crabs aren't hitting )

[bloocrab]

Originally posted by Scotch Bonnet
I'd be interested in your methods in blue crabbing. Are they in rocky or sandy areas. Whats the best bait, etc, etc, etc. I'm a city kid that moved to the shore, so I missed out on all this stuff............

...Scotch

..One of my preferred baits are "raw" drum-sticks... they seem to be very attracted to the bone marrow as well as the flesh and stay together quite well (the bloos have incredibly sharp fingers). Another great bait is...the caucuss' of a filleted fish or pogys or Fish period. Save the small mesh bags that onions come in (you may want to doulbe up on the onion bags)...open one end, insert the fleshy spine and guts ..and re-tie. I like to use the "string~net" bags that lobster fishermen use to put their offerings in. I usually find them on the beach when I'm wading. Much more rugged. Then tie some heavy mono to the bag and toss....It's a good idea to tie a dropper loop about 3-4 feet from the bag and attach a piece of white string or something very visible. This way you know when the crab/bag are within 3-4 feet ...which is how far you should be scooping them from with your net. The most important thing is the location versus the bait. Sometimes the water that you catch these crabs in..isn't that clear (they tend to move into brackish water to spawn and do their thing ...and this water isn't all that bloo . Little rivers in back bays are often Hot Spots.

..and Scotch, as far as boat-crabbing...A ring net works great!!!...tie your offerings to the center of the ring....every ten to 15 minutes.....pull up quick and hard!!!...an open ring net is legal. A closed trap is NOT!!...rocky and sandy areas will both produce, but locatoin is very important for quantity (salinity)...

....here's a good link with plenty of information on "Blue-crabs"...http://www.blue-crab.org/


if you have any questions, feel free to ask~

[Billybob]

Scotch - what bloo said. I like the drumsticks best, dead fish, live killies on a ring work good too.Sometimes you need a little weight to hold bottom, but use as little as possible because it's harder to feel the crab with the weight.The pyramid traps, and basket traps are a good idea too, but handlining is definately more fun - and kids seem to love to crab, you get the occasional snapping turtle or fish run off with the line too. Crabs are supposedly very sensitive to salinity, I always crab the brackish waters, the little creeks that run off the Connecticut river are my usual boat places.This year, I want to try it at night with a powerful light, just scooping them, I used to do that as a kid, but I need someone with a shallower draft boat, to try that.If you're really interested, or just like a good read - get "beautiful swimmers" it's a great book .

[OliverNBPT]

Scotch, I was clamming this weekend and saw quite a few nice blue crabs. I grew up crabbing in Ninigret and it has declined tremendously so it was refreshing to see, especially so early in the season. Anyway, one place you want to check out is the Willows - - very shallow, depending upon size and draft of your boat you may not be able to get in there. I use to do it with a 13 foot whaler.

Never used bait, just drift or wade with a net.

Good luck!

[JohnR]

I grew up on the Chesapeke and when I was 14, used to run a trot line with a couple guys... Hmmmm, perpetually frozen eel chunks tied onto the line with a shred of a rag ...

When the blues were sluffing their shells, we'd go down to the end of the peir, shoot a BB below them and they would climb up the pylon within reach of a net - Dumb Crabs ...

Then we'd fry 'em, eyes & all, between some toasted bread, hmmm, soft shell blue crab sandwiches

[Scotch Bonnet]

Thanks guys! This will make my kids summer. They're a little young for the rod and reel so this will be perfect. ONBPT, with the motor up I have a 3" draft so I can pole up in there no problem. Again thanks for all the info, will post our results.

[Scotch Bonnet]

John, pretty funny but tonight my son and I went down to my dock. Were catching our usual assortment of wildlife when I spot 2 Blue crabs. So I scoop them up and realize its 1 crab that just molted its shell. I had visions of "fried soft shell blue crab on toasted bread" but this crab was hurtin'. It was alive but wouldn't move when out of the water. I wasn't sure if he was half dead or is this normal for soft shells. When I put him back in, he swam off slowly.

[JohnR]

Normal for soft shells, more like slow jellyfish - same how we would move with no spine S L O W...

If memory serves me right, they molt on the full moons...

[Fish_Eye]

You guys ever read "Beautiful Swimmers" by William W. Warner?

If you haven't, you need to.

It won a Pulitzer for Warner, and deservingly so.

It is a fantastic read; it covers the life cycle of the blue crab and studies the impact they have had on the Chesapeake and the impact the waterman have had on the crabs.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Willy at his home in Washington and he is one amazing gentleman...his other book "Distant Waters" chronicled the foreign fishing fleets that worked off our coasts during their last year of operations; another eye opening look back at fishing history.

Mike

[OliverNBPT]

ScotchB: I think I still have two or three nets hanging around that are in pretty good shape - you are welcome to them if you'd like.

If interested let me know and I can drop them off at Lavin's, Ocean House, etc...