A few newbie questions

[Morsax]

Hi!

I am new to the crabbing game and have a few questions:

I am getting my traps all set up -- they have 12' lines on them--how much line do you put out relative to the water depth? I would imagine that putting out 12' in 4' of water doesn't make sense, but is an extra foot or so about right?

Time of day: I see from reports that getting your gear in at the legal time is ideal--is that because the crabs shut down or is it to get your spot? Or both? Is evening also a good time? Or is it about moving water?

I plan on heading out of Sandy Point (since I already have the annual pass) and I am wondering if anyone would be willing to share some suggestions about where to head for my first (well, first in a long time) foray into crabbing. We are looking at heading out mid-week to avoid the Saturday debacle.

Thanks
Hans

[Riptide1947]

The depth of water your traps will work in depends also on the wave action, and if you are planning on the Bay proper, then I would say that you would be good in about 7-8-ft of water, otherwise the float will be jiggling the trap doors, and spooking the crabs, as they try to enter.

Getting your gear in at a certain time, pertains to someone wanting to get into a certain spot, we have often done better in the evening than the morning, because the tides are different, but I can tell you this......the better ( heavier ) crabs will only move on a moving tide, as they are basically lazy, and won't spend the energy to swim, cause they are fat and happy, so a moving tide allows they to swim easier.

I've only ever crabbed the Severn, or the Magothy, in that area, never the Bay proper.

[dwkoller]

I think it always better to have longer lines then needed. For the summer my lines are about 15' and in the fall I'll add another 15'.

If you've using the small donut shaped rope floats, insert a lenght of 3/4" pvc pipe and wrap the excess in a figure 8 pattern around both ends of the pipe. Finish the line with a clove hitch to secure the line.

Another method is to use a a 12"-15" section of a pool noodle (the thicker ones work best). Slice the end 1/3 of the way towards the center. Attach your line to the middle and wrap the line around the middle until you get the length needed. Then take the line slide it into the slot. Use a thick rubber band or make a bungee loop using 1/8" cord. Slice the rubber band/bungee ring over the slotted end of the float. This keeps the line from winding off the section of pool noodle.

If you're crabbing flat/slow moving water and depending on the type of boat you're using -- 4' of line longer than the water depth should be fine. If you crabbing in a strong current, I'd add additional line. I've had floats pulled under by the current -- you might even want to use a larger float.

It helps to mark you line every 5', some use a sharpie other use several wraps to colored fishing line. This way use can easily tell who much line you have out. Nothing worst than having 25' line out in 10' of water.

Just fyi, I believe the regs require you to mark your floats; use a wide sharpie and put your name, initials or boat number on each one.

Good luck crabbing, hoping to hit the Wye in the next couple of days.

[smellslikefish]

Moving tide is most important but if you can coincide a moving tide with early morning or late evening, more the better. I used to get up at the break of dawn just to have slow crabbing because there was no current. Dont make sense unless your just trying to secure the area. I crabbed Thursday from 11:30pm-3:30pm......I woul have thought we wouldn't have done any good but we got 1 1/2 bushels in that time.......One other point, if your running a trotline, the sun casting a shaddow from your boat or your silolett will spook the crabs off the line.

[Morsax]

Thanks--sounds like I was about to set them a bit too short...

Hans