Rhode River 10/20

[flames]

decided to hit the water today rather than hit the woods......muzzeloader season already and I still havn't step foot in the woods yet! dang!
anyway sat and watched everyone illegally crab until 7:50 am and then I laid my lines.
1000' trotline and 11 traps. 4 hrs a very skimpy 1/2 bushel. best run on the lines was 3!
might be over in these waters I may go out one more time but will go down to the pax.
Was a beautiful day and enjoyed being out there anyway. It really blows me away how brave some of these other rec. crabbers are down there they start almost an hour before legal start time and that river is loaded with DNR...oh well thats their choice, theres no way I could bring home a $125 fine or whatever it is to the wife......

[Antman40]

First of all congrats (half bushel this time of the year ain't nothing to sneeze at) and thanks for the report

As far as the early crabbers....that sucks!....the fines in place just are not enough. When the fines start at $500 for the first offense and then progress to loss of privileges and $1000 on second offense people would take the starting times seriously
And for those that CHOOSE to be ignorant.......it's no excuse

As far as the PAX.....on an average day you will do better than you did... Nice crabs too

Tony

[27 sailfish]

I'm willing to bet that most of the weekend warriors don't have a clue about legal start time. Can't imagine people risking a fine.No excuse for breaking the law but the crabbing rules are tricky to understand sometimes.The switch in Oct. really is screwy - for the weekenders-much easier just to say 7 am in Oct. Most days that will be about daybreak. Skip

[Antman40]

I'm willing to bet that most of the weekend warriors don't have a clue about legal start time. Skip

The $500 fine on the first violation would help them to "learn" the law and believe me....word would spread QUICK

....and besides.... if they don't know the law they have no business on the water in the first place

Tony

[27 sailfish]

Tony-picture this. A new boater and his kids head out to go crabbing.Not sure of the rules-they wait until they see others crabbing-OOPS those "early" guys are comms. who get to start early .Most guys who go crabbing 3-4 times a year do not know ALL the rules.

Ever seen it posted anywhere other then the small booklet that you get ? There are so many rules-it gets confusing for new crabbers.A $500.00 fine would be great-for a second offense.First time should be given a ticket and EDUCATED on the rules.

Biggest thing is lack of enforcement-if everyone starting early was getting a ticket from DNR-I agree with you-word would get out fast.

When I needed to be SURE it was legal to use handlines at night-it was almost funny the differant answers DNR gave me .I keep the rule book with the page highlighted in case DNR checks me at night. Skip

[Antman40]

Tony-picture this. A new boater and his kids head out to go crabbing.Not sure of the rules-they wait until they see others crabbing-OOPS those "early" guys are comms. who get to start early .Most guys who go crabbing 3-4 times a year do not know ALL the rules.

Skip

First thing is EVERYONE should be required to BUY a crab license if they want to crab from a boat.

With this said Skip,.......what about the Deer or fowl hunter that goes out ONCE a year?
Should he/she not be held accountable for wrongdoings because he/she does it once a year?

Should a member of the "reserves" not be held to the same level of accountability that a "full-time" marine is held to

To ny

[Burchbeer]

Just live by the rules and you will be ok. I too start a little earlier than I should from time to time. I get eager and just want to get started is all. I usually play by the rules though.

Eat Me! Thats all I can say!

I dont catch anymore than I need either.

Happy Halloween!

[done workin]

Nice job, were they at least a decent size?

Try the South, should be good at least another 1-2 weeks, temp dependent.



The 15 minutes early for me today, while still wrong, is as early as I will ever push it. Nice job of waiting, you have more reserve than I did considring how bright it was at 7:30.

I generally wait until the legal buzzer, but once or twice a year, can't resist, especially now when I was one of 3 crabbers that I saw on the whole river today.

[Antman40]

Eat Me! Thats all I can say!

If I said that..........

Tony

[Burchbeer]

T,

I probably shouldnt have said that.

Sorry to you and all others if offended.

I can be so stupid sometimes.

ON another note, When is the SMC Oyster Festival this year?

Thanks.