all female

[hawk1]

I'm new to crabbing , went to Lynnhaven this AM got about 15 nice size crabs and they where all females with eggs, threw them back . Is this normal for this time of year. Last week got about 12 nice ones with 6 keeper jimies, and females without eggs again threw back the females with eggs.


thanks in advance.

[27 sailfish]

Not sure why but some areas have more females then males. I tend to find females on the sand bar / shoals and males on the drop offs / edges. Seems females feed more on slack current then males do as well.

If you get a lot of females - might be worth going a touch deeper or wait until current moves better.

Females with eggs ( sponge ) are more common late fall but can occur this time of year.
The females go to mouth of bay to release the eggs - incredible journey.
The eggs hatch in the ocean - then currents bring the tiny crabs back into the bay.

[hawk1]

Thanks I will try a different location and different tide

[crab_clam]

hawk1 - I think you are crabbing in the prime area that females go to release their eggs. They seek the mouth of the bay to give their young the best chance of survivial from what I have read. Up here in the mid bay trib's we go to fresher and shallower water when the sooks show up.

good luck.

[rgminer]

The mouth of the Chesapeake is the nursery for baby crabs. Last year at this time we went to Kiptopeake and tried to fish at the cement ships. Couldn't keep bait in the water because the number of sponge crabs was HUGE...good for the crab population, but bad for crabbers until they mature.