SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY/TIDEWATER 2004

[procrabber]

got my first 8" of the year yesterday.caught 6 1/2 bushel total... lots of whities though

[CRABGUY]

PULLED MY POTS   GOTTA WORK EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK NO TIME TO TEND THEM

[catchinabuzz]

a little help i have been using hand lines my for years but now i have a boat i launch out of lynnhaven inlet and i am going to drop pots friday moring while i am fishing the cbbt, my question is where in that area is a good spot to try i dont expect you guys to give up your hot spot but a little help to a rookie. i am thinking about 10 feet of water { low tide } i wil be using croaker head, chicken,bunker i am going to mix it up to see what produces. just get me on the right track
if i get lucky i will share the wealth i only keep what me and the family can eat in a sittin
thanks again
buzz

[CRABGUY]

STAY IN THE INLET, A COMMERCIAL FRIEND OF MONE SAID THYRE KILLIN THEM IN THERE.
THE CURRENT UNDER THE LESNER IS TOO STRONG SO THE FARTHER BACK YOU CAN GET THE BETTER
GETS SHALLOW PRETTY FAST ON THE TIDE CHANGE
BE CAREFUL/ GOOD LUCK

CRABGUY

P.S. GOOD TO SEE A POST FROM MY LO-CAL

[Crabbeer]

I fished with a guy who lives on the water up the creek at the inlet.  He put a commercial pot out at 6am and by 10 had five males in it with no bait.  They weren't big, but that is pretty good in a short period of time.  I plan on crabbing the same area.  I would not put traps out in the main (CBBT) area- salinity too high.  Put them in the inlet itself, way back away from the Shore Drive Bridge.  Thats where the good ones will be...

[catchinabuzz]

thanks for the help guys i will post my results. one question how about depth? what is ideal?
thanks


buzz

[Crabbeer]

Very much depends on the conditions.  Early in the year (like now), stick with shallow 5' or so water.  It heats up quicker during the day.  

[catchinabuzz]

well i dropped my pots today {i only leave them out while i fish} dropped at 7am pulled at 10:30am i kep 12 jimmies 5-7 inches i caught at least 20-30 to small. not bad for 3 1/2 hours i was in 5 feet of water at high tide in broad bay back by the state park tons of pots out there. thanks for the help guys i am steaming my dozen now

buzz

did i mention the 22" flounder  

[CRABGUY]

DOZEN CRABS AND A 22" DOOR MAT FOR DINNER
WHOHOOOOOOOOO
MY KIND OF SURF & SURF
WHERE DID YOU PUT IN  SEASHORE OR LESNER

CRABGUY

[catchinabuzz]

i put in at seashore. i have a question are you not allowed to keep females or just choose not to? i realesed all of the females i caught because i was unsure.
thanks
buzz

[CRABGUY]

BUZZ,
SEASHORE IS ALWAYS BUSY.
TOO MANY SEADOODOO"S FOR ME

SOME OF THESE OTHER THREADS MAY ANSWER YOUR ??

http://www.blue-crab.org/identification.php

http://www.blue-crab.org/yabbse/index.php?board=5;action=display;threadid=1106

http://www.blue-crab.org/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1146

http://www.mrc.state.va.us/recfish&crabrules.htm

HOPE THIS HELPS  

[CRABGUY]

POTS WENT BACK IN LAST NIGHT. CHICKEN PARTS
CHECKED THEM TODAY.............. NADA
NOTHIN  

HANDLINED A DOZEN AND A HALF IN ABOUT AN HOUR
JUST BEFORE SUNSET.
A COUPLE OF DOUBLES (NOT DOUBLERS)
ALL 7"+

[jack1747]

wow nada....

we're kill them in the sound right now

[CRABGUY]

I DOUBT ITS A "SHARECRABBER"
NO FLOATS, STAKED TO THE BOTTOM

MAYBE I CAN FIND SOME BUNKER AND GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY

[jack1747]

6 foot +. not doing anything to speak of in 4 foot- pots

[catchinabuzz]

hey crab guy where do you do all of your hand lineing?? seashore isnt that busy right now when i went out friday i was one of three trailers. and thanks for the info on females i will stick to jimmies.

buzz

[CRABGUY]

GLAD TO HEAR IT ON THE FEMALES!!!

AS FOR MY SPOTS THAT IS A CLOSELY HELD SECRET

CHECK OUT THIS THREAD AND YOU'LL SEE WHY

http://www.blue-crab.org/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=15

[CRABGUY]

8- 6" TO 61/2 IN THE POTS

ANOTHER 2 DZ ON THE HAND LINES

CRABGUY

[CRABGUY]

JUST 5 TODAY , NO TIME FOR HANDLINING

[catchinabuzz]

going to drop my pots tommarow in broad bay again. another dozen would be nice. taking the boat out to first island for some more flounder.

i have another question have you ever had pots stolen i am concerned about leaving them over night otherwise i would drop them tonite to try and get more crabs.
thanks again
buzz

[CRABGUY]

I HAD A FEW SWIPED LAST YEAR.
YOU NEED TO WORRY MORE ADOUT THE SHARECRABBERS SWIPING THE CRABS, THEY DONT WANT THE POT ONLY WHATS IN THEM

[jack1747]

there are so many crabs that the last pots on the string didnt get baited (miss counted the bunker) and they still had 5 or 6 crabs in them

I am gona pull up half my pots to clean them, the grass is really growing fast this year.  think i will leave them out and save the gas and bait.

[CRABGUY]

MINE BEEN OUT SINCE MONDAY, BAITED WITH BUNKER
NO TIME TO CHECK THEM OR GET OUT AT ALL
SIDE WORK AND WORK WORK,
WILL TRY THIS AFTERNOON WEATHER PREMITTING

[jack1747]

the weather looks like it could get snotty later,  looks like a rainout for the weekend

[Fruitland Crabber]

 Heavy rain tonite, and early morning storms. Beautifull here sunday