What's the difference???

[port fisher]

Just curious.....All opinions are welcome.......Whats the difference between the western shore rivers and eastern shore rivers??? Most good crabbing reports seem to be coming from the western shore rivers! Why is that? I would think that there would be more fresh water on the western shore due to the Susky which supplies a large part of fresh water to the bay. Could it be pressure relating to each side? I would think the salt line would be about the same flowing up the bay. Could it be some people stay hush longer than others?? I am reading many good posts from the western shore and not much of anything from the eastern shore? Do crabs like left turns better than right turns as they migrate up the bay??

[powder]

People don't want to drive to the E. Shore? I have been there 3 times this year and I think it has been allot of small crabs. I crab around Hooper's Island and there are allot but nothing over 6. Nice area though. Powder

[polarized]

If you notice, when you don't hear reports from a certain area, the crabs are being caught there !!!

[port fisher]

powder,

I hear ya. I am at the top of the bay so I have a drive most times before August.

Polarized,

I have seen post from the Wye, Choptank, Chester and nothing seems to be happening the way it is on the western shore. Powder stated three times and not real good? That's the posts that have me interested. I know first hand of some friends that have been on some of the eastern rivers with not so good results compared to the western shores.

[Clark W. Griswold]

Crabbing has always seemed to pick up earlier on the WS from what I've seen. (At least Mid Bay) Before diesel prices doubled, you could see the Tighlman Island boats headed west to fill the South, West and Rhode rivers with trotlines. You saw it less last year and almost not at all this year.

But I can also remember some great June crabbing in the Wye back in the '80s. Of course back then we were also complaining that crabbing was slow if we didn't have the first bushel by 8:45.

[powder]

I don't think that there is bad crabbing on the E. Shore. I just don't think that the sizes are there. I went to the South river and it was like catching king crabs if you compared what I was catching over there. I will say that I have had allot of nice full crabs and I have always come out with a bushel. It's easy for me there, I have a hunting club that is on the water so it's a nice weekend deal, but to drive past so many good spots with better crabs is hard to do if it wasn't for that. They have been getting bigger but so will the size limit in a few day's. Powder

[MT Pockets]

People on the ES know how to keep their mouths shut!

[crabbyd]

People on the ES know how to keep their mouths shut!

Those that are catching are keeping quiet

[polarized]

Those that are catching are keeping quiet

That's my point !!

[Fishkiller]

I'm a eastern shore crabber I'm catching plenty just like to keep it to myself.