Some info if you crab from Solomons

[27 sailfish]

Couple weeks ago - I went scuba diving - looking for a lost anchor at Solomons.
I could see about 2-3 feet - not bad for bay diving.
I was searching in 25 to 30 feet - on north side of the bridge.
Saw a fair amount of large crabs - been wanting to go back with some traps on LONG pull lines.

Gathering crabs with dive gear is illegal but some of these monsters - I wanted no parts of.
Underwater - criiters look roughly 1/3 larger but trust me - some of these crabs were true jumbos.

Might be worth trying that area - deeper then most crab - but could be worth the hassle.

Years ago - we pulled traps in the Wye , near Bennat Point in 30 feet. The crabs we got were huge.
My dad swore small live White Perch were the ticket - clipped them in the trap with a stringer clip.
We added a 4 oz weight to help sink the traps.

No reason the area above the Rt. 4 bridge would not be the same.

Good luck if you try - love to hear if you get them.

[Fat Jimmy]

I've had a funny feeling for a while now that the big crabs have been escaping the heat in deep water. But, as far as pulling a trap 30 ft, nah, i'll take the lazy way and wait for the water to cool and those big boys to hit the shallows! :thumbup:

[27 sailfish]

It was interesting to see them that deep.
Near Annapolis - the deeper waters often are very low in oxygen and not much can live deeper then about 25 feet - sad to say.

Other thing about Solomons - I happened to bump into some live horseshoe crabs in 30 feet.
Water did not feel much cooler then surface - maybe 5 degrees but it was very dark on the bottom.

When I first read the DNR rules about capturing crabs while diving - I had to laugh. These little critters are total bad a$$es. Here I am 170 lbs and backing away from a 1/2 lb critter.

I think the rule was made for fall/ winter when oyster divers could really scoop up the semi hibernating crabs.
In warm water though- it would be more then a fair fight.

[Scott McGuire]

Tempting...

[Burchbeer]

That is cool. I hope to try deep pull sometime. WTH!

[crab_clam]

Sailfish,

How about we hire you to dive and when we pull up our traps there will be giant crabs wire tied to the bottom of the trap????? hahaha