crabbing etiquette around private docks

[FishingRod]

I'm new to crabbing and will be taking my second crabbing trip (from the kayak) this weekend. I was wondering what are the rules when dropping traps around private docks. First is it allowed? If it's allowed, how close can you drop your traps to dock pilings.

I'm assuming if you see a boat tied up to the dock give them room to leave and return and if there is no boat at the dock assume one will show up later and allow for a path for the boat to tie up to the dock in the mostly likely area where it will tie up. Any other advice or tips for a newbie. Thanks.

[rdefrank]

Yep, it's totally legal. You can even scape the crabs off their poles.

We always bring a rusty filet knife as a display of friendship and good will for the ocassional sneak theivin' dock owner who thinks the water comes with the land title (and any laid traps are there for the takin'). Had one pier owner try to snatch one up for being within' pier hook range-- not a bright move.

Once had a pier owner threaten to call DNR to 'evict' us because our traps were ~50' outside her dock. Yelled to her husband to have her run for the phone, so she'd lose some weight for the effort.[tongue]

Honestly, this time of year the crabs are usually deeper, so it ain't worth raising your bloodpressure by encroaching on the rich, ornery waterfront scrooges.

[rj]

The Dock is private property, the water surrounding it isn't, you can't touch their dock ,but there is no minimun distance that you have to maintain between your gear and their dock,

[b dog]

just wondering,with all that water around are them docks that hot to be worth it? dock owners got to think you may be looking to hard at his boat or prop. and get wrong idea. just wondering?

[rrr]

Just lay your line right underneath their dock. Throw your anchor onshore and run your line under the dock lenght-ways[grin][grin][grin]


I've never done it but i'd be funny to see.

[FishingRod]

As I said in my original post I'm new to crabbing and I'm crabbing from a kayak.

My first trip out about 3-4 weeks ago I place a few traps around a dock and yes that was the most productive spot of the day. I don't have a motor on my kayak so I don't have the luxury to run and gun if a certain spot is not producing. I kayak fish around private piers all the time and usually the owners are friendly and ask me if I'm catching anything. I guess what made me uncomfortable when crabbing around the private piers was the traps/line/floats being in the way of their boat and/or getting caught in their prop, etc...

But from the replies I've received it seems deciding whether or not to drop traps around docks should not be a issue this time of year. It sounds like deeper is the way to go this time of year. Thanks for the feedback!

[sbieshelt]

Not sure where you crabbing from but this weather has pushed most of the crabs into deeper water. I was catching about 3 dozen a week from my traps and this week I have only 6 keepers and most of them are females. I am in the St. Mary's river with ~ 6 feet at the dock at low tide.

Steve