Full moon- heavy crabs?

[twiskman]

Is there any validity to this myth? If so, could somone please explain the science behind this?

I have always heard that Chesapeake crabs sluff just before a full moon, but have heard that other blue crabs (gulf coast, NC, and those raised indoors at soft crab houses) do not necessarily follow the same rules... If thats true... then the whole thing makes no sense to me... please explain! Thanks!

[done workin]

Here is what I have noticed and believe, just my observations and opinions.

There are two MAJOR sheds each year. One in May during and right after the full moon and one in August at the same time. The one in May generates alot of the softies for the year and is probabbly the single biggest shed.

Throughout the other months of the summer, the crabs will shed at the full moon supposedly because the added tide strength helps them get out of their shells.

The fullest crabs will be those that areready to shed and therfore must be caught right before the full moon.

The lightest crabs will be caught right after the full moon. This is not to say that you can't catch full crabs then, because obviously not all crabs shed every month.

I have also noticed that if you are getting a disproportionate number of light crabs move to a different area. There are defintitely areas that attract more shedders.

Finally, once the the shed is over in August, you will see a great quality of crab as they fatten themselves up until the end of the year. Now through about Halloween is when you see alot of big heavy black crabs, when you almost have to beat them off of trotlines. They are trying to get their last meals in and probably WILL NOT shed again.

Again, just my observations.

Chris
19' Renken "Double Trouble"
13' Boston Whaler "Little Dipper"

[crabberlig]

Chris,

I agree with your analysis. My only comment is that just when I think I've figured it all out the opposite happens. If you have the time to go---get out there and have fun.

Lig

[fisheyed]

agreed but on average crabs shed when they want and it sometimes coincides with the moon. Don't worry about it now

[LILY]

Here we go again with this thread. Crabs don't shed during the Full moon. Its after the full moon. They shed when there is no moon in the sky. Crabs are the heavy during a full moon.

Phil(lily)

[plasticfish93]

Is that after a full moon or a full monty ????? I often get those terms confused.
Def. going out crabbing tomorrow....hope that they are there.

[BILL H]

Well we now know that they are heaviest just before they molt before the full moon, or just before they molt after the full moon, or just before they molt at the new moon. I'm glad we cleared that up. And yet DNR tells us "This molting process occurs often when the crabs are small and less frequently as the crabs become larger. Crabs less than two inches often shed twice in a month, and by the time male crabs are six inches they may not shed again for several months or even a year or more."

[polarized]

I thought the crabs were done sloughing, until I went to the Wye this morning and caught a bushel of mixed crabs !! I would say that 50% of the bushel was clickers, or whiteys as they go by !!