Is Crabbing in Maryland Chesapeake Bay Down this Year for You? Vote in the Poll

[Bill Swartz Jr.]

This is the worst year we've ever had so far up here in the Hart-Miller area. 2 1/2 hours, 6 crabs. Water is
crappy and hot.

[Capt.Nick]

I crabbed with a friend one evening on the Choptank in mid May.We caught 5dz.keepers in 2 1/2 hrs.with 16 traps.I'd like to bring up the fact again about cold winters killing crabs.Bull.I crabbed in the Hudson river in NY. when I was a boy.It got below 0f every winter.The crabs lived.The main reason the prediction of a great year this one was supposed to be was because of the winter that wasn't.Overall,this might go down as the crabbing season that wasn't for alot of crabbers.

[CrabbyHarry]

Figures when they predicted a banner year it would be a bad omen. I crab in the South River and so far it is way down for me. It always gets slow around the fourth of July but I was out yesterday and still SLOW SLOW SLOW. I heard the crabbing is better on the Eastern Shore, and I noticed a lot of the commercial guys are not in their usual spots.

[Capt.Nick]

I just spoke with a friend of mine who lives & crabs on the Chester.He caught less than 2 dz. with traps.A com.crabber neighbor of his is lucky to catch a Bu. with 3200 ft. of trotline baited with clams.

[Black Irish]

Crabs continue to be very scarce in the Hart-Miller area - normally they are plentiful by now.

[Cuddlefish]

Down this year by one half compared to last yeas. Crabbing the same place at the same times.

- - - Updated - - -

Down this year by one half compared to last year. Crabbing the same place at the same times.

[Mark100673]

Possible that all of the rain from last Aug-Sept pushed the crabs further south to winter, inflating the dredge survey #'s?? The bay was a murky mess for weeks after Irene.

[Nummer1]

this year is different, crabs arent where they usually are even in off years, i've been finding them deeper, usually this time of year i'll stay shallow through the fall. west and rhodes kind of came and went, pax is on and off have to chase em around. my numbers are down , but the quality of keepers is nice. we'll see what happens next

[stingray]

this year is different, crabs arent where they usually are even in off years, i've been finding them deeper, usually this time of year i'll stay shallow through the fall. west and rhodes kind of came and went, pax is on and off have to chase em around. my numbers are down , but the quality of keepers is nice. we'll see what happens next

Exactly. Not only that, forget about running long lines. When you do find some, they're schooled so tight that only 600' of line produces. I've been running several short lines almost on top of each other this yr.

[slim23]

had one good weekend this year in june haven't crabbed since. they are not where they
were this time last year and don't think they are going to show up. that's way i have been focused
on stripers not enough around to even travel any distance. i have a friend that is on the wye and chester regularly
said save your money it's not worth the time and money. because it has been so hit and miss he is a comm guy at that