I want to know

[renduke]

I have read many posts here that say moon cycles do or do not have anything to do with soft shells.

BUT one of my observations here on long island has been that when i get soft shells it is almost ALWAYS in sept and Almost never in June or JULY.....I am also a recreational crabber who only gets out about 10 or 12 times per season.

[R D]

So what do you want to know?

[Potty Mouth]

Same thing happens here.  End of the season, seems like you see more red hot peelers as the crabs get one last chance to slough feed and fatten up again before heading down... but,    yeah, what is the question... seems more of an accurate observation... the moon part of your comment... well, let's just say don't get these folks started on that topic again 

[R D]

Well........... again it happened this year,peelers ran on the quarter moon and shed hard between it and the full moon.I don't know but my books show it every year in Sept.

[renduke]

i guess my question is that softies seem to be more abdunent late in the year....and that moon cycles are less importent....I never get softies in june or july but get them about 1 or 2 per dozen in sept.

[R D]

Thats just because thats when your shedding season is,everything has a season and it's different in different places,to some of us the moon is VERY important but for some it's not.

[jack1747]

First full/new moon in May is our biggest peeler run.  Usually it's around the 3rd week.

[DipNSip]

Oh pinchy where are you???

[tattoo]

Oh pinchy where are you???

GONE.

[renduke]

Thats just because thats when your shedding season is,everything has a season and it's different in different places,to some of us the moon is VERY important but for some it's not.

Thanks for the help/answer....like i said i am a recreational crabber from long island i get out 8 to 12 times per season.....our season is early june till about mid sept.......your answer seems to make a lot of sense since this as been a consistent pattern over just about every year i crab..........I know the weather is a LOT warmer in Florida....what happens down there in terms of patterns if any ?

[Mikie]

Thanks for the help/answer....like i said i am a recreational crabber from long island i get out 8 to 12 times per season.....our season is early june till about mid sept.......your answer seems to make a lot of sense since this as been a consistent pattern over just about every year i crab..........I know the weather is a LOT warmer in Florida....what happens down there in terms of patterns if any ?

As a recreational crabber in NY, what type of gear do you use?  Ripe peelers don't eat, so you won't catch them on a trotline or other bait. If you have pots, they will go there for shelter to shed. Most recreational crabbers here catch them as the female of a "doubler", because the male is carrying the ripe female waiting for her to shed so they can mate. In the mean time, he is still hungry so he will get on a trotline or in a trap and take the female with him. This behavior usually happens most frequently during late July thru mid Sept - hence, most of the rec catch occurs during that time frame. After she sheds and they mate, the male will continue to carry her until her shell is hard enough for her to go on her own. So, some "doublers" have a female softshell or papershell instead of a ripe peeler.

[chesapeak]

Great informative post Mikie. Thanks

[R D]

Thanks for the help/answer....like i said i am a recreational crabber from long island i get out 8 to 12 times per season.....our season is early june till about mid sept.......your answer seems to make a lot of sense since this as been a consistent pattern over just about every year i crab..........I know the weather is a LOT warmer in Florida....what happens down there in terms of patterns if any ?

I can count on the quarter moon aropund the first of March to start our first peeler run and the quarter moon around the first of Sept to start our fall peeler run,blue crab season  starts on Jan 1st and ends on Dec 31st. 

[renduke]

As a recreational crabber in NY, what type of gear do you use?  Ripe peelers don't eat, so you won't catch them on a trotline or other bait. If you have pots, they will go there for shelter to shed. Most recreational crabbers here catch them as the female of a "doubler", because the male is carrying the ripe female waiting for her to shed so they can mate. In the mean time, he is still hungry so he will get on a trotline or in a trap and take the female with him. This behavior usually happens most frequently during late July thru mid Sept - hence, most of the rec catch occurs during that time frame. After she sheds and they mate, the male will continue to carry her until her shell is hard enough for her to go on her own. So, some "doublers" have a female softshell or papershell instead of a ripe peeler.

at this time of year i usally get em with a scoop....sometimes in a trap.

[jack1747]

I am still getting peelers but they have stopped busting.  Havn't had a peeler bust in over a week.  Guess it is time for things to start slowing down. 

[CrabmanC27C]

 i would think peelin in the moonlight a bafd idea,if i was a crab.jmo.lets see what the harvest moon brings.

[R D]

Thats when they like to do it best though,don't know why.
 

[ramblin man]

they do it at night for protection. by morning the are papery and a little safe.