upper Chesapeake crabbing question

[dgopetactical]

We are still planing our trip on the first week of August to the upper chesapeake/bush river area. I was wondering if the crab have moved up to that area by August fist. I know they move up that far (brakish water) my problem is I cant find out when. All I can find on the internet is "late season". I plan on buying some crabbing gear and dont want to waste my money. Any info will be greatly appresheated. I dont expect to catch bushels but I think the whole family will have fun crabbing.
Thanks,
Denny

 

[HuckleberrySlim]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

Have you tried the bluecrab.info forum?--> http://www.bluecrab.info/forum/index.php/board,78.0.html

They seem like a friendly bunch there.

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

Have you tried the bluecrab.info forum?--> http://www.bluecrab.info/forum/index.php/board,78.0.html

They seem like a friendly bunch there.

Thanks I got the info I was looking for at that site. Seems things start rocking in that area late july into august. I will be there 8/1. I juess I will start buying crab traps.
Thanks for your help.
Denny

 

[SuperNova]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

A lot depends on water temp and salt line, but yes usually the season is late July until late August. The crabs aren't the best quality and it seems like you get a lot of females which are illegal to keep. The best advice I can give you is to get as far south as you can before you drop your pots. Good Luck.
--
Stan

 

[ezmobee]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

Someone has crab trabs on the York craigslist right now! Scroll down to Friday. http://york.craigslist.org/boa/

 

[INJUN]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

If I'm now beginning to get them here in CT, I'd think you'd be getting them too.

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

Someone has crab trabs on the York craigslist right now! Scroll down to Friday. http://york.craigslist.org/boa/

Thanks ezmobee,
im going to go pick them up on Monday. 9 pots with ropes and bouys for $50 is a steal, I got lucky they were sold but they were never picked up. So he contacted me.
Denny

 

[ezmobee]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

Awesome, glad I just so happened to have seen your post and his!

 

[dingbat]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

A The crabs aren't the best quality and it seems like you get a lot of females which are illegal to keep.

Since when is it illegal to keep females crabs?

 

[SuperNova]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

Since when is it illegal to keep females crabs?

Since for always as far as I am aware. Recreational crabbers cannot keep female crabs.
http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/08/08.02.03.10.htm
check out the last line of the regs.

 

[INJUN]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

Only commerical females are kept.

When I go to the local crab house to buy steamed crabs, they always have females to sell. The males are priced by size and amount, but the females are only priced by amount (you get various sizes). I get them when I visit DELL/MAR/VA area. In the winter they are shipped from LA Gulf.

I thought you could not keep the eggers and everything else is game (sized of course).

 

[SuperNova]

Re: upper Chesapeake crabbing question

Yes, commercial crabbers can keep females as long as they are not sponge crabs, or eggers as you know them.