2 Questions

[CrabCraver]

1.It has been my observation that crabs don't eat on a slack tide. Is this fact or am I wrong?2. I know there is no crabbing at night, but do the crabs not eat at nite? I ask cause I know just as the sun starts to set, the crabbing seems to drop off.

[jack1747]

crabs eat when they are hungry and theres food to be grabbed

[kingcrabber]

...Hey CC...to answer your first question,my experience(25 years crabbin')is that you're right about the slack tide...crabs move with the movement of the water...if the water don't move,they don't bite..secondly as far as at night,i've crabed many times at night(we call these outings "midnight runs")...have had good nights,bad nights,and in-between nights.....but ask any true waterman,i.e. crabber...they all tell you the same thing...they'll take the first 3 hours at daybreak to catch the most crabs.....remember when i was but a young lad,talkin, to an old "salty dog"...that's what he said..."you give me the first three hours at daybreak..you have the rest of the day,and I'll have more crabs than you"...never forgot those words......

[Joe Crabs]

Generally morning has been the best time for me, but when the weather and water starts cooling down and they sense hibernation coming, it's feeding frenzy and catch the moving tide no matter what time of day it is.

[kingcrabber]

..Right on Joe about the end of sept,Oct..beginning of Nov is when the MUMBOS   show up due to the chill in the water...but that is like the proverbial double edge sword...crabs goin' crazy over your bait...but at the same time you realize the end of another season is close :'(k

[Joe Crabs]

Your right KC , but I will go on to the last one is gone.

[kingcrabber]

..............touche'................

[madcrab]

  When the water is moving, crabs will move with it, and so you have a better chance of them picking up the scent of your bait and have a better chance of them finding it.  Two hours before high tide until three hours after high tide is prime time.  I plan my trips around the highest tides (greatest water movement).  Hope this helps.  

[Joe Crabs]

Looks like another one got freed this weekend.

[Fruitland Crabber]

During the morning for me atleast, from about 5 am to 9am is when we do the best.

 Now when its cloudy all morning and then the sun comes out then the crabbing picks up which i dont know why  

[Qcrab]

On the tide question I think it matters where you are located.

I crab at the mouth of the Weeki Wachee in Hernando County Florida. This river empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The mouth is about 500 yards wide. When the tide is moving it is very fast. I find I catch the most when the tide is changing and slow.

I can also ride along the edges of the river at these times and scape as many as I want without traps. Day or night twelve months of the year. We have no size limits but I never keep them less than five inches ptp.

I am a Chesapeake transplant and truly in crab heaven. I can tell no difference in taste from those in Maryland.

[madcrab]

  When the sun hits the water, the crabs move to deeper areas.  

[jack1747]

"but ask any true waterman,i.e. crabber...they all tell you the same thing...they'll take the first 3 hours at daybreak to catch the most crabs"

because the crabs cant see ya good.  shadows blend into the dim sky

[kingcrabber]

good retort,Jack ....very good retort....but the Supreme Court says that I coud sue ya foe infringin' on me words....

[delawhere]

if its the tide that catches crabs,  why the heck am i getting up at the butt crack of dawn??    

I got it all wrong !

[Fruitland Crabber]

But incoming tide is the best tide correct ?

[CrabCraver]

Apparently thats the concensus. 2 hours before to 3 hours after.

[madcrab]

  I figure that, on the incoming tide, water is moving into a "smaller" body of water...whether it be a creek, river etc...Therefore; you have a better chance of enticing or bringing a crab to your bait in a smaller body of water compared to the outgoing tide, which is flowing into a larger body of water.  On the incoming tide, the scent of your bait is covering a smaller amount of water, increasing your chances of a crab coming across the scent and finding your bait.  On the outgoing tide, the scent is diffusing into a larger body of water, creating a lesser chance of a crab coming across the scent, and finding your bait.  Hope I didn't confuse anyone...just a thought...