I got schooled today...

[dogbig]

First time this season I had my butt handed to me on a silver platter. I've pretty much busheled out each time this season thanks to my new 600' snood line. But today was bad. Hit my usual spots, was averaging less than one legal crab per run of the line. Some runs we got blanked!!! I even moved the line three different times tried all depths. After 5 hours, 14 crabs. Caught about a bushel that were like just shy of legal. I guess all the legal crabs have been caught.

Looks like eastern bay is in my future. I need to layoff the midbay western shore rivers.

db

[crabby and son]

I haven't gone out ever since I heard about all the little bait stealers. All the little ones are great for the fall but where did all the big crabs go that we were getting before the 4th? They have to be somewhere because they were not all caught.noidea.Eastern Bay has been hot for fishing!.........Gary

[dogbig]

I haven't gone out ever since I heard about all the little bait stealers. All the little ones are great for the fall but where did all the big crabs go that we were getting before the 4th? They have to be somewhere because they were not all caught.noidea.Eastern Bay has been hot for fishing!.........Gary

Gary,

Between the heat we've had lately and the small crabs, you're right it just aint worth it right now. As a hail mary, I do have a few spots in Ebay that I keep in my back pocket. May give one of those spots a visit this weekend.

Btw - I was at a party this weekend where a friend brought over some eastern bay crabs he caught that morning and I had forgotton how good those crabs are!!!! Absolutley the best crabs I've had all summer!!! Only problem is that it costs me about $80 to crab the eastern shore (bay bridge tolls, diesel, gas, ramp fees, bait, lunch, beer, etc, etc).

db

[crabby and son]

Gary,

Between the heat we've had lately and the small crabs, you're right it just aint worth it right now. As a hail mary, I do have a few spots in Ebay that I keep in my back pocket. May give one of those spots a visit this weekend.

Btw - I was at a party this weekend where a friend brought over some eastern bay crabs he caught that morning and I had forgotton how good those crabs are!!!! Absolutley the best crabs I've had all summer!!! Only problem is that it costs me about $80 to crab the eastern shore (bay bridge tolls, diesel, gas, ramp fees, bait, lunch, beer, etc, etc).

db


I think I would wait a bit before I went out again unless you got some good intel on Eastern Bay. Every one I talk to says the little ones are everywhere..........Gary

[davecobb319]

Im in the Severn and Ive been hearing that red tide is causing crabs to stay in the mud. Low oxygen levels? I am a new crabber this year and I have a few friends that crab. All year Ive been able to pull atleast 2/3 bushel with 20 snatch traps, usually I get a full bushel. Sunday I barely got a 1/2 bushel. Any truth behind this red tide thing??

[dogbig]

Im in the Severn and Ive been hearing that red tide is causing crabs to stay in the mud. Low oxygen levels? I am a new crabber this year and I have a few friends that crab. All year Ive been able to pull atleast 2/3 bushel with 20 snatch traps, usually I get a full bushel. Sunday I barely got a 1/2 bushel. Any truth behind this red tide thing??


You might be on to something, the river water looked like cheap instant tea (reddish brown).

[Alley Cat]

I am glad I am not buying crabs! The commercial guys in the upper bay have been catching mostly small very light crabs calling 5 3/4" number ones. Talked with a friend that bought some at a local crab eatery and he stated they were the worst he ever had and expensive too!

[Capt. Dale]

There were a lot of 5 3/16" crabs last week, Next shed they will be nice #1's !

[davecobb319]

Most of the crab I am catching are #1 heavy but they salcked off in size and number this Sunday

[Crabbermanjl]

There were a lot of 5 3/16" crabs last week, Next shed they will be nice #1's !

Capt Dale- Yes you are right, I bet I caught two bushels of 5" crabs last week.

[Cornraker]

I was out on the Severn yesterday and the water was dingy brownish and i wondered the same thing about the oxygen levels? I did poor. Less than half a bushels of keepers in 5 hours running a 1000' line. nothing but baby crabs