Severn report-6/8 evening

[27 sailfish]

Ran up into the Severn to crab overnight (legal with handlines).Started at 4 pm near Carrs creek but the breeze made it tough to use handlines due to the waves.Ran farther up river to #2 marker and set up again.9' of water was good-the storm rolled through but wasn't too bad-my radar showed it mainly to our south .We got 52 crabs in the basket-my stick is cut at 5 1/2''.Alot were legal but we let them grow up .Used 8 handlines and chicken necks-quit right at day break as the river was getting busy.Most of the crabs are 6''-a few were 7''.Only a few small ones and 3 females-also released.Nice evening-got back to Sandy Point at 6:15 am-just as most boats were leaving.Fun with handlines-I prefer the nights-no crowds-few boat wakes.Water was OK-viz. about 1-2'.The crabs held on to the surface-temp. was 73*.We were on a drop from 14' up to 9' with some shell on it. Skip

[reelcrazyfish]

Nice job Skip! I know you can hand line from a boat on Wednesday when it's closed to other gear, but where did you read that you could crab overnight if using handlines? All I could find was this:

Recreational crabbers may set recreational crabbing gear and crab from boats:
during Apr, Oct, Nov and Dec
between 1/2 hour after sunrise to 5:00 PM main Bay
between 1/2 hour after sunrise to sunset in tributaries
during May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sept
between 1/2 hour before sunrise to 5:00PM in the main Bay
between 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset in the tributaries of the

[Specrig]

Awesome report. I have never crabed at night on a boat with handlines. Sounds like alot of fun. I agree with the less boat traffic at night, thats why I do alot od evening fishing. Enjoy those crusty critters.
Jerry

[Bob H.]

Nice job Skip. I can't see'em in the day - I'd go hungry night crabbing.

[Capt.Nick]

[QUOTE=We got 52 crabs in the basket-my stick is cut at 5 1/2''.Alot were legal but we let them grow up ..Most of the crabs are 6''-a few were 7''.There's no reason for the DNR to raise the legal limit to 6".One bushel of 1s are worth 2 bu.of 2's.1 bu.of 2's will be 2 bu of 1s in a sluff or 2.Do the math.
Dumb Watermen.

[POLECAT]

Outstanding report.

Outstanding job with hand lines too!

[27 sailfish]

Reel Crazy Fish-trust me-I asked DNR officers face to face about night crabbing with hand lines.The 2007 Fishing Guide page 33 -1st rule down.

Lawful-except Wedsday to crab 24 hrs a day from docks,boats shoreline with any number of handlines and dip net.

I keep that on the boat-highlighted -just in case a DNR rookie checks us.

Years ago I ran trotlines at night-used glow sticks on the jugs.1,000' of line often gave up 3/4 to 1 bushel PER run.That was 20 some yrs. ago but I've never lost the love of crabbing at night. Skip

[Burchbeer]

Great Post! Love it. I will set handlines off the pier at dads next time I am down and drink and dip all night!

Or, not drink and throw handlines off the skiff in the creek. Well, I may have a few.

Handlines are the way Indians did it. They cant be beat for real fun and with kids.

Thanks for sharing!

[TerpHeels]

Pretty work Skip. Did u kill a mako? I hear they are thick...charlie on the other hand...isn't...

Headed to OI tomorrow (Sun), fishing Mon. If there's a slaughter I'll call u for a loin.

[seahack]

Thanks for the report. We used to crab at night in Kent Narrows along time ago. It sound like fun.