Red Bank 8/31 Report

[rcmarko]

We went to Red Bank yesterday out of Chris' Marina. The rowboats are cheap $25 but they are very used and they only have a few. It was a GREAT day - coming home with a bushel of crabs (96 to be exact) and we probably threw back at least a bushel. So, we got enough to share with family & friends and received many thanks. The size was mostly in the 4.5" to 5" range but maybe 1/3 of the bushel were bigger. The largest was 6.75".

We scapped up most of the crabs at the train bridge. They are mating and there are a lot of BIG mummies. We even got a few softies that I breaded and fried. They were DELICIOUS. When we were using traps and hand lines, we were using Killies and Chicken Gizzards as bait (OLD SCHOOL). Both worked equally well. We had the full incoming tide.

My son caught a pretty big ugly Sea Robin in a boxnet. This thing was muddy and UG-ly. I know what a Sea Robin looks like from the ocean but this was bigger and uglier. Is there another fish that looks like a Sea Robin? I have pictures of the crabs and fish that I will try to get on the site.

I would say Red Bank is HOT!

[tattoo]

nice going, thanks for the report , enjoy your catch. can't wait to see the pictures.

[aciffer]

Tell me about scapping - I passed under the RR bridge, but the water was so murky I couldn't see any crabs hanging on.  Do you do this by sight, or do you do this blind?

I also rowed along the grass to see if I could see anyting, but again the water was too murky to see any crabs. 

[#1 JIMMY]

You probably caught an oystercracker fish. I used to catch them in the traps and they are ugly.

[tattoo]

If it is an Oyster cracker. be careful with them bad boys they can take your finger off. i have seen it happen to a guy trying to take one off of his hook , he caught it while fishing and didn't know what it was.

[Pinchy]

If it is an Oyster cracker. be careful with them bad boys they can take your finger off. i have seen it happen to a guy trying to take one off of his hook , he caught it while fishing and didn't know what it was.

You are actually claiming to have seen a person lose a finger to a six-inch fish?

[tattoo]

yes. the tip of his finger as he was trying to take the hook out. I have also seen aguy lose the end of his finger doing the same thing with a blue fish.

[rcmarko]

aciffer,

It is by sight. In the morning at low tide the water was clear. We got out of the boat and walked around the pillars. You need to be very careful. There are large rocks in the deeper water that will trip you and scratch you up. I have the cuts to prove it, but it is worth it. It is difficult to navigate the boat in and out, but you can try it that way too. Also, go to the car bridge and go along the ends on the metal part of the bridge.

I tried the grass too but it was muddy and we only saw small crabs.

Good Luck.
 

[tattoo]

They get bigger than 6 inches.

You are actually claiming to have seen a person lose a finger to a six-inch fish?

[rcmarko]

You probably caught an oystercracker fish. I used to catch them in the traps and they are ugly.

Thanks #1 Jimmy - You are right, that's what it was. I would say it was about 11 inches long with a big mouth.

[tattoo]

thats it. keep yor fingers away from its mouth , they don't call them oyster CRACKERS for nothing. 

[rcmarko]

Here are the pictures of the catch -

[LeathalWeapon]

where is the Red Bank? i hear of it but dont know where its at.  Any address of a place to rent motor boats?

[rcmarko]

where is the Red Bank? i hear of it but dont know where its at.  Any address of a place to rent motor boats?

There is two places to rent rowboats in Red Bank, NJ -

Sea Land Marina - $35
261 W Front St
Red Bank, NJ 07701

Chris River Plaza Marina & Deli - $25 but they only have a few and they are OLD.
483 W Front St
Red Bank, NJ 07701


GOOD LUCK

[madcrabber1113]

We went to Red Bank yesterday out of Chris' Marina. The rowboats are cheap $25 but they are very used and they only have a few. It was a GREAT day - coming home with a bushel of crabs (96 to be exact) and we probably threw back at least a bushel. So, we got enough to share with family & friends and received many thanks. The size was mostly in the 4.5" to 5" range but maybe 1/3 of the bushel were bigger. The largest was 6.75".

We scapped up most of the crabs at the train bridge. They are mating and there are a lot of BIG mummies. We even got a few softies that I breaded and fried. They were DELICIOUS. When we were using traps and hand lines, we were using Killies and Chicken Gizzards as bait (OLD SCHOOL). Both worked equally well. We had the full incoming tide.

My son caught a pretty big ugly Sea Robin in a boxnet. This thing was muddy and UG-ly. I know what a Sea Robin looks like from the ocean but this was bigger and uglier. Is there another fish that looks like a Sea Robin? I have pictures of the crabs and fish that I will try to get on the site.

I would say Red Bank is HOT!

how much meat is in a 4.5 inch crab?I dont keep anything less than 6" it is a pain to clean anything smaller.

[marknut]

wow, nice catch man, i went to sea land not to long ago by the train bridge and did the same thing you did. big crabs in there ..       in the 4.5 crabs there is decent amount of meat in them if they are full just like any other crab. but i love the bigger 1s easier to clean =]

[aciffer]

If you want motor boats, you will have to go down to Oceanic Marina, by the Oceanic Bridge.  It's around 4 miles, as the crow flies (or crab swims) from Oceanic to the Red Bank area, but the RR bridge.

[tattoo]

nice looken crabs thanks for the pictures. 

[totitsky]

I have been reading  this forum since yesterday and I just registered today. Thanks for all the generous sharing of infos. My brother in-law and I will go there tomorrow (Wed.) to try the crabbing and probably rent a boat in Chris Marina or Sea Land. We have previouly been crabbing from the piers usually in New York and not too much luck. Will keep you posted of the outcome.

[tattoo]

Good luck Have a GREAT day. WELCOME aboard. 

[woodentoe]

Well, in Jersey the legal is 4.5 cause they just don't run as big up here...lol.

If I want a 7" crab, it has to come from market.

Along the lines of fish related finger amputations.

My grandfather used to fish daily out of yaphank in LI.  He'd keep a black jack in the rowboat to beat the bluefish into submission.  Well, one morning, he was removing a hook and had his thumb in the gill of a blue.  Somehow the fish's jaw unlocked (prolly had been broken by a previous angler) and the fish slid down onto grandpa's hand.  When it was able to clamp down, it did.  Try tho he did, he had to beat the fish to death to get it off.  In the process, he pretty much degloved his thumb of skin.

He wrapped it in a t-shirt, and went back to the house, with no plans of going to the hospital.... My dad got the call from his wife at about 6 AM, and he had to drive out there from brooklyn to take him  in for stitches and a shot.

I guess they made guys tougher back then.  I'd be crying like a baby.

[jrccrab]

When i was seventeen going out on my first trip. I did not know Bluefish had teeth! Outch

[tattoo]

they can do some serious damage to your fingers. Keep clear from their mouth. 

[newercrabber]

Thanks so much rcmarko for the information.   I am thinking of taking my two little kids and wife out to the Red Bank for a day crabbing.  Are the boats big enough to hold 4 persons plus a cooler and 4 collapse traps?

NC

There is two places to rent rowboats in Red Bank, NJ -

Sea Land Marina - $35
261 W Front St
Red Bank, NJ 07701

Chris River Plaza Marina & Deli - $25 but they only have a few and they are OLD.
483 W Front St
Red Bank, NJ 07701


GOOD LUCK

[tattoo]

Welcome aboard, good luck if you go crabbing with your family. have a great time.