Crabbing on the GSB

[Crabman]

As most of you know, I'm really into catching crabs. For the past 5-10 years, like the clam, crabbing has been mediocre at best. This year started out that way and then we started to notice a lot of crabs and a change in the number of large "she" crabs (immature female crabs). Johnny Crab and I were watching them as they went into their spring to early summer last shed. At this time, they turn into a mature female crabs or sooks. We had peeler pens and would shed them out and collect them day and night before they would harden. Probably due to the warm water they might have gotten an extra shed in before they transformed into a sook. Once a sook, they never shed again thus stay that size until they die. (life span of a sook 1 1/2 - 2 years). But what really impressed us, is the amount of crabs in the GSB. This year is without a doubt the best in population numbers we have seen in fifteen years. So guys, get out and catch some. They are big and they are delicious.

 

[pequa1]

Agreed. I have never seen as many crabs trying to eat my Gulp! as I have this year. Without exaggerating in the course of a single hour I probably "bang" half a dozen off my bucktail by swinging them into the bow of my yak. All sizes, with some the largest blue claws I have ever seen. The gulls invariably swoop down and get the small ones. I absolutely love crab meat (don't really care for chewy lobster) but have always found it so much work cleaning them that I let them all go.

 

[Crabman]

Totally agree Pequa1. Johnny Crab and I were at a lobster feast yesterday and we both wished it was blue crab. He's my summer barometer for crabs. He is catching at least twice and almost three times as many as last year. Plus, the crabs are beautiful.

 

[pequa1]

just wish they were easier to clean, but then they would be overfished out of existence like everything else.

 

[george]

I can recall night under the Bridge navigating between the stanchions and boats with my 25 Grady. It was somewhat chaotic, but it was a lot of fun!