What's with all the junk?

[dogbig]

Are there more light crabs around now than there were back in the 70's, 80's, and 90's? I've been crabbing for a few decades and don't recall so many light crabs "back in the day". I used to really enjoy eating crabs, but the past few years it seems the quality is just not there. Maybe it just me, I dunno. I crab both the western shore and the eastern, and its the same. I know about sluff cycles and full moons but it seems less than average quality is the norm. Anybody else notice this?

I try to cull out the junk after a run, but even "hard" crabs are turning up light.

Maybe I need to start buying crabs again. But $75 for a doz large is nuts.


DB

[crabby and son]

Haven't noticed a big difference the way you are talking but have seen a TON of little crabs out there. We crabbed Crisfield this past week and they were small but full. Haven't crabbed up here in a few weeks due to reports. Easy to pick the meat in a light crab but damn sure wouldn't want to buy them like that. I bought a dozen extra large from a friend's crab store and he had Louisiana crabs and MD crabs. I picked from the LA crabs cause they were MUCH heavier. He confirmed that also..........Gary

[Johnfishes]

If you are crabbing in the Upper Bay region you may want to head further south. In the higher salinities of the Mid Bay the crabs don't shed as often, but as you know don't grow as large. You also don't see the higher percentage of them sloughing on the full moon as you do in the upper bay. I haven't noticed a difference over the years as you describe but do notice a difference Upper to Mid Bay as I mentioned. I crab from the Eastern Bay area to the Lower Potomac and will stay south during the full moon cycles if possible. Just a thought.