NC Trip\Adventure

[Joe Crabs]

All right the time has come, leaving tonight for NC, Lake Mattamuskeet, vacinity. I have planned this trip since Feb. and am looking forward for my first trip out this year. Until yesterday
Four Tornados and a cople of water spouts in general area, that can't be good with similar weather forcasted throughout the weekend. That can't be good.

I chose the Wildlife Refuge because they are noted for there large crabs, 9 - 10"'s, Big Boys. And I looked through the overview and yes there are many species of poisnous snakes, gators, bears, wolves, bobcats, etc on the grounds, it is a wildlife refuge. But didn't really concern me. Then Pete was telling me yesterday how he had to fend off a water moccasain with a fishing pole that started to assualt his boat.   And if we were going to to crab near where he lived we would be packing guns??? I didn't see any of this under Equipment , Bait and Tackle. No wonder he asked me if I had a long net. They say the crabs get huge because they have no natural predators in the lake, Hmmm""", maybe it's the predators around the lake. Crabguy if I get a big boy method may state handline and Glock-19. Joe Crabs Dundee! Ah' growing up in the jungles of Brooklyn I should be fine The weather is really my biggest concern. Need to go a long haul and take advantage of the good weather through tomorrow evening. Should be an interesting report coming Sunday with some interesting pictures.

[Pete Miller]

Forget about the snakes, gators, wolves, and bears.  It is the Hyde County mosquitos that are big as helicopters that will be our biggest obstacle.  May want to bring a southern state license plate, too.

Have a safe trip down Joe.

[Joe Crabs]

Any preference.

[madcrab]

  Well, if ya get close enough to one of them spouts, it might just drop a bushel of crabs in your boat for you!!    You might go for the ride of your life after that though!!  

[Joe Crabs]

Not really going that for out Madcrab, a lake and maybe a creek off the river mouth. We'd be in the taint and it wouldn't be pretty either way.

[madcrab]

  You never know.  My aunt and uncle live in north Tampa Bay Florida, about a half mile from the water (Oldsmar...), and a water spout came so close to their house, you could practically touch it.  Anyway, GOOD LUCK; I wish the crabs were that big up here...

[Joe Crabs]

I hope they are as big as I been reading and everyone is telling me.
But that is the plus side, I really wanted to just take a mini vacation, get some good crabbing early, and hang with Pete for a bit. Regardless it will be fun.

[Steve]

Enjoy your trip to Lake Mattamuskeet!

Here are some photos from my last visit.  

It's beautiful there. I recommend crabbing from the Waupoppin Canal lock.

[Steve]

Don't sell your catch!

[Steve]

Crabbing from the lock. These are two friends of mine.

[Steve]

Here's a shot of the actual locks and slot weirs.

[Steve]

Here's a shot looking towards the lake standing on the locks. Truly beautiful there.

[Steve]

And here's our catch!  

All were 7+ inches with about three or four over 8 inches!

That pot is full... and there's only about 1.5 dozen crabs in there!

[Joe Crabs]

Thanks Steve, I am definitely not walking in that grass. Can you crab other places than the canal locks, Pete seems to think so; but I thought I read somewhere locks only. And how long did it take for you to hit your quote.  

[Steve]

You drive right up to the locks. No walking through any grass.

The locks are about the only place that you can crab, unless you have a small boat. Take some pictures while you're down there!

[Joe Crabs]

Steve one more thing, how deep is it at the locks, I know it's only 3 to 6 ft around the whole lake and mostly shallow.

[Joe Crabs]

Don't worry Steve plenty of pictures, hopefully with a nice crab for Crabguy's board. Them crabs already have my mouth watering and I know there are some much larger out there. But you have to be lucky and be in the right spot like everything else. Thanks again

[Steve]

It took us about 3 hours to catch our limit. Things were slow at first, but a Refuse employee showed up with a baited eelpot (menhaden) and plopped it where we were crabbing. The tide was coming in, so the menhaden scent carried towards the lake. That's when we started nailing the crabs! As soon as the tide turned, it got slow again.

Water depth at the lock is shallow. 2 feet or so.

[swamphox]

Sounds very interesting, I will be down ther in July and would like to check out this spot. What kind of regulations are in place at the Lake?

[swamphox]

I think I found enough info on this site.  ;DA couple of things, can collapsable traps be used and how far is the canal botom to the bridge surface (need to know what length of net to bring). Also, are there many people crabbing at these locks? From the pics that I've seen, it looks as if there is just enough room for one party of crabbers at the one lock I saw pictures of.

[Steve]

From what I recall, the bag limit is one dozen crabs per person. No commercial gear allowed. No unattended gear allowed. You can use handlines and traps, but no pots. Distance from the deck to the water's surface is about 3-4 feet. Each lock can support one or two parties, depending on how many lines each has in the water. There are other locks and crabbing spots in the refuse, I had the most luck at the Lake Landing and Waupoppin canals. Good luck!!

[Pete Miller]

Had a great time with Joe and Tim crabbing at the Lake Mattamuskeet Refuge.

We crabbed at several locations and our best catches were from the Waupoppin Creek Canal and Lock.  Fairly good water flow out of the canal to sound the first day.  Hardly any movement either in or out the second day.   Plenty of places to crab/fish from canal banks and we ended up here (see image) where the Waupoppin canal meets the Lake.   Caught a pretty good deal of catfish and bream in the traps.

Canal depths were generally from 2 to 5 feet.  Water Depths at  the locks were generally 4 to 5.5 feet.

Regulations - 12 crabs per person.  A total of 5 handlines/traps per person.  Most of the crabs were not quite full from last shed.

If going to Lake Mattamuskeet bring plenty of bug repellent, sunblock, and liquid refreshment.  Not much shade in the good crabbing spots we found.   The lake is 18 miles long and 6 miles wide.  Main body of lake varies in depth from .5 feet to 5 feet.  Saw a pretty good bit of wildlife-plenty of turtles(fed well at our expense), birds, geese, herons, egrets, fish, otters, deer and only one small moccosin.

[Joe Crabs]

Hey Steve when did you go, what month. Like I said I think I went a little early for all the monsters.

[Steve]

We went in early July a few years ago.

Glad to hear that the Waupoppin canal lock was productive for you... it's my favorite spot! Seems like that spot is relatively unknown... everyone usually ends up at the Lake Landing canal lock which is closer.