The Worst Season Ever

[Swamp]

All of the negative early season reports got me thinking. I'm not in any way suggesting that this is going to be a bad year, but what IS the worst year any of you old hands can remember? And what do you think caused it?

[rdefrank]

Here's what's happening;


Source: http://www.fisheries.vims.edu/bcar/

Why? Accelerated harvesting of females;
Source: http://www.atlanticbreezes.com/femal...tradiction.htm

[Burchbeer]

The man has not gotten to the crabs and crabbers yet. He is working on more important things. Geesh! I just talked to him last night. He is workin on it.

Warm up is coming. Quabbs will be Plentiful!
Chill, Chill!

Easy for me to say. NOT!

[rj]

In previous years I have never harvested any significant amount of crabs before memorial day

[Burchbeer]

Me neither!

Patience, Patience!

[rgminer]

They are slower than normal thats for sure. Chincoteague Bay should be hopping now, but the water is 10 degrees colder than average for this time a year. I managed to catch 12 in 5 pots left out for 30 hours. (caught a keeper flounder in one too so alwas not lost, we had fried flouder and steamed crabs for sinner last night)

I think the slow start is directly related to the water temp and the wet spring we have been having. It should all be history by mid June..

And the enviromentalist whackos want you to believe there is global WARMING....riiight!

[scotty80]

Swamp,

2004 was a very bad year for the upper, upper Bay. We almost had a total no show for crabs. Most attribute it to the lack of salinity due to rainfall. Knock on wood, this year should be much better.

Rgminer,

[q] And the enviromentalist whackos want you to believe there is global WARMING....riiight![/q]

I thought the same until I read somewhere that Global warming actually does cause this. They explain it like this, The lack of Ozone increases the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth. This in turn melts more of the ice burgs and results in colder water temps. Not saying I agree, just food for thought.

[Jebus]

I will say this. I had the chance to go crabbing a while back with fishslap and rdfrank and the water temp was perfect, the bait, place, time, all perfect and it was great being on the water with friends even if the run is not on. I guess that sometimes Mom nature is fickle.

Sometimes its not the having but the getting I guess.

I would like to propose two battle royals.

First, rdfrank and fishslap against global warmerists, and second, the dog who ate the perch a while back on tidalfish against a seven inch mature male blue (no white bellys) Any thoughts tidalfishers?

[Capt.Nick]

There are many theories on predicting crabing seasons including ocean currents.The fact is we can have a great season after several bust seasons.

[Crabslayer]

Relax folks, it just means that we will be able to go longer into fall. I remember several seasons like this where it allowed me to go all the way til 11/21 in the Wye.[wink] Crabs and Ravens football... Yeehaw!