Crabbing Update

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Central
Location: Patuxent River

I went out on pax river Sat. 10/9 near bennict bridge to my favorite crabbing spots. I set up in front of the power plant in 6ft of water and ran trot line. It was hot frantic and fun from the start had the kids with me. They had a blast and brings memories they will alwasy cherish! Sunrise was 7:10 and could not start by law until 7:40, so droped the lines and at 7:40. We caught 18 per run on 1000ft line and about 6 keepers, mostly males but lots of 4 to 5 inch range.

By 10 it had really dropped off to 2 keepers per run. I moved to the other side of river where a buddy was. He was slow at 8:30 then it picked up. From 11am to 12am we were getting 25 per run lots of females and about 5 to 6 ft of water. Had over a dozen keepers per run and filled out bushel in 3 runs. Went back today and in a hour we had out limit on the west side!

So the crabs are back thank goodness! They are medium weight since the last shed and fatting up for the winter .

Now if we could just get legislation to restrict the commercial crabbers from keeping females unless they are full size adult and done the breeding process it would be great and long term for all. The issue now a recreational crabber catches a female we must and should toss back, which I agree 100%. If my culler misses one and is in our keeper bushel its a $75 fine. Yet the commercial crabber crabbing right beside me catches the females I just tossed back and sells them at the dock or local store for $40 a bushel. This makes no sense to me and as the commercial and recreational crabbers both say the other is killing the rivers, but whom is actually taking the future from the rivers with no regard except the almighty dollar!

Have a great weekend and many more to come! I know I did.