Where did the CRABS go?

[georgio]

Just joined West End Anglers...Now live in Pirates...but lived on West-End for many years. The crab population seems to have dwindled more each year which REALLY disappoints me. Tried lots of places, and a variety of bait... almost everything but filet mignon... only catch 2-3 med size crabs, if at all. I have guests arriving tomorrow who will want to go crabbing, in addition to fishing. Is there some place I can take them and have some luck crabbing? Ideally within "golf cart" distance of Pirates, if not, I'll load 'em up in the car. Hopefully this time tomorrow we'll be enjoying some brewskies and a crab boil! Thanks everyone. Looking forward to the forums...and info.

[plugger]

I may be wrong , but I think the water has still been too cool even though June is upon us .

[Ibtsoom]

We've been catching the heck out of them in the diversionay. The recent rains seem to have put a bit of a damper on them though.

[Curmudgeon]

I saw a couple of nice ones in the bay this morning.

[plugger]

Welp , I said I may be wrong . When I was a kid , my parents would go to the beach for the day and we would hammer stakes in the surf , a string securing a chicken neck to it . We'd wait and slowly pull up the neck and scoop a net under a crab if present . We would have a wash bucket of blue crabs . I don't see people doing that now . Why not ? I'd like to try that . Do you need a stupid license to do that ?

[kenny]

Just joined West End Anglers...Now live in Pirates...but lived on West-End for many years. The crab population seems to have dwindled more each year which REALLY disappoints me. Tried lots of places, and a variety of bait... almost everything but filet mignon... only catch 2-3 med size crabs, if at all. I have guests arriving tomorrow who will want to go crabbing, in addition to fishing. Is there some place I can take them and have some luck crabbing? Ideally within "golf cart" distance of Pirates, if not, I'll load 'em up in the car. Hopefully this time tomorrow we'll be enjoying some brewskies and a crab boil! Thanks everyone. Looking forward to the forums...and info.

I'd check with JT for that!

[trophytroutman]

Welcome aboard.

[Moonpie]

JT crabs aren't the type you catch in the water.

[aqua pimp]

Lmao!!!!

Aqua pimp

[JT]

Oh my gosh! All you nickel and dime comedians are so funny!!!

Where do you come up with all this clever stuff!?!?!

[kenny]

Oh my gosh! All you nickel and dime comedians are so funny!!!

Where do you come up with all this clever stuff!?!?!

Yeah a two-bit comedian is all I'm worth. You're always a good sport about my musings!

[coachlaw]

Caught 2 dozen in one trap this past weekend near SLP.

[Ibtsoom]

I had 20 in four traps this evening. We had a really good dinner.

[plugger]

What do you use for bait in the traps ? Isn't shad the oiliest ? What about my question of crabbing the surf ? How about putting a crab trap in the surf while fishing ?

[plugger]

How do you keep them alive for 24 hours ? Ice chest with a little salt water , a little ice ?