Massachusetts Crab Season Opens May 1st.

[jack1747]

Chip and Cole, Welcome to the BCA. 

Hey Masspi, Red tides?  I don't see them here until late August...  Curious.    Maybe we don't call'em the same... 

[masspi]

Hard as it seems, it is the same thing, affecting bivalves.  This stuff is new to us as it came through the Cape Cod Canal a few years ago from the Gulf of Maine.  The State has closed shell fishing on either end of the Canal (Sandwhich...East side and Bourne....West Side).  It is early considering the water is cold still and the weather is kind of dreary most of the weeks.

The commercial shell fishermen took a big hit a couple of years ago.  Again, it is all new to us.

[jack1747]

Good insite.. Down here we just thought it was cause of the hot water later in the year.. thanks..

[coleroad]

Hi Jack and Masspi,

You guys are lucky.  In the Eastham-Orleans area of Cape Cod, we have the red tide every year.  We have our own resident cysts in Nauset Marsh and every year when the salinity and temperature reach a certain point (usually around the beginning of May) we have a bloom of red tide and shellfishing is closed down until the beginning of July when the water warms up.  There is another major bloom that originates off the Maine coast which sometimes goes as far as Rhode Island depending on northeast winds blowing it in as happened in 2005.  Fortunately, it doesn't affect fish, crabs or lobsters.

[sighanson]

I thought it was uncommon to be able to harvest oysters recreationally.  Don't commercials guys have their own beds that need to be maintaned?

[robc22]

In shore shellfisheries are managed by the towns in the commonwealth of MA. Many shellfish regs are set by the state but enforced by the towns. Additionally towns will have there own regs. on seasons,days of harvest, limits,etc. to family shellfish in MA. there are two kinds of rec. permits resident and state nonresident. you must have a permit from whichever town you are fishing/residing in. There are exceptions; sandwich residents can get a permit in Bourne at the resident price because Bourne was once w. sandwich. when Bourne Incorporated they had to grand father shellfish rights to sandwich residents. also, native Americans can shellfish were they want with out a permit.

town of Bourne rec. permit price

resident $35

state non resident $175, yikes

Bourne's oyster season

sundays, Nov. and Dec.

1 peck a week

oysters state minimum size 3 inches

If you wanted to family shellfish in Bourne/wareham/wherever you would need a family permit from each town. could get $$$$

oyster seasons are winter fisheries.

some towns are more liberal in there regs.
town of falmouth oyster season;
Mon. thru sunday, Nov. thru march.

There was never a red tide in buzzards bay. When the state closes areas they add a margin of safety in case the tide moves. They detected traces of red tide at the railroad bridge in the canal so they closed b.bay north of a line drawn from wings neck to stony point dike. For management reasons the state considers the canal part of the gulf of Maine. Buzzards bay is consided one of the most northerly portions of mid-atlantic waters.

[unclebuttsy]

"also, native Americans can shellfish were they want with out a permit."

I'd like to see a 'Native American' walk a basket of oysters past a Wellfleet shellfish constable without a valid license!

[robc22]

The subject of native Americans fishing without a shellfish permit is a new concept on the cape to many people.

A group of falmouth/mashpee wampanoags fished my town without a permit. They were arrested by Bourne DNR and town police. They fought it in state court and won under aboriginal rights to fishing/shellfishing. Our town council( I live in the town of Bourne) appealed this all the way to the state supreme court and lost.

The wampanoags can shellfish commercially/family where they want without a permit. The only exception would be an area closed for public health reasons. If they wanted to they could even fish a town family area commercially with immunity.

If you talk to the wellfleet shellfish warden he/she should be aware of this. If not, they may have a very bad day ahead. The tribe is well organized, has plenty of money and their attys. don't like anyone messing with their aboriginal rights.

You can contact Mike Hickey or John Mendes at the DMF New Bedford/south shore field office(508-990-2860) for the particulars on this subject.

[unclebuttsy]

Wow. Rob, this is a fascinating constitutional issue.

I just cannot imagine that anyone, irrespective of ancestry, can legally ignore the local Shellfish constable. Fishing areas are opened and closed in accordance with the welfare of the local shellfish crop/fishermen in mind. Sidestepping the constabulary and licensing system does not make sense.

As far as I know, Wampanoags have no tribal claims on the Outer Cape, and no right to unlicensed fishing.

Bourne chose to lose that fight.

[robc22]

I,m not trying to defend the wampanoag or their aboriginal rights . I.m just saying thats the way it is.

Wellfleet is a long way from mashpee but the tribe has claim to the entire shoreline of the commonwealth and all the shellfish/fishing rights their in. Geographical location does not matter.

Again, don't take my word for it, please contact the division of marine fisheries/ south shore field office or talk to your local town DNR for further info.

[unclebuttsy]

Again, just a fascinating constitutional issue. Reminds me of the Makah tribe's attempt to reassert their right to hunt whales in the northwest.

I think the Wampanoags would have faced a stiffer fight in Wellfleet or Duxbury.

[masspi]

Wait till the Fed's give the approval for their big casino in Middleboro.....they will have so much money they won't be looking for stinking shellfish

[unclebuttsy]

Too right, masspi.

They won't waste their time trying to get arrested for digging clams in Bourne!

BTW - shellfish don't stink, you just don't like them.

[masspi]

All it takes is one bad clam

[unclebuttsy]

FEDERAL RECREATIONAL SALTWATER FISHING REGISTRY
As mandated by Congress, as of Jan. 1, 2009, all recreational saltwater anglers fishing in federal waters must register with the National Marine Fisheries Service, providing their name, phone number and address.

Those fishing in state waters for striped bass and other species that reside in freshwater for part of their life cycle must also register.

Those fishing from boats-for-hire, such as party, charter or guided trips do not have to register because the federal government already surveys the captains of those vessels.There will be no registration fee for the first two years, but a fee estimated between $15 and $25 is expected to be levied beginning in 2011.

Through Aug. 8, public comments can be submitted on the proposed rule to John Boreman, Director, Office of Science and Technology, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Md. 20910 Atten: Gordon Colvin. Comments can be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov

[masspi]

I have been writing to everyone for the past couple of months since this was first reported in the 4th quarter issue of MA Marine Fisheries bulletin.  This is just another tax being forced onto us by a government out of control.  I urge everyone in the states that do not require salt water licenses to fight this to the end. I believe it entails states from NJ to ME. 

To say that this will help them assess fish stocks and have a better hold on the fishery in general is nothing but a load of [curd].  It is another tax, plain and simple.  I see the guys from Marine Fisheries come to the docks and talk to fishermen during Tuna season.  You tell them what you caught, no big deal.  What I see is a huge expanded program mandating reports from each one of us and government intruding on another recreational sport.  Do you really think for a minute that the fees imposed in a few years will go to improving the fishery.............dream on !!!!  It will go toward all those earmarks Congress loves so much.  Maybe they will use it to build another Robert Byrd federal building in W. VA.  I guarantee it won't go toward helping the fishing sportsman one bit.

Every day we give up more of our liberty to an out of control government.  When will this outrage stop.

[unclebuttsy]

Hey Masspi,

See any crab yet? I feel like it's time to give it a try.

[masspi]

Nothing yet, I am waiting till next weekend to get going.  I know it will be slow till we get toward the end of the month.  Test pots are still for the most part blanks

[unclebuttsy]

Okay, that means test pots out in the bay or just out your front door on the river?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on salinity/temperature, by the way. You once mentioned how you track them.

I'd like to know when I should hit Head of Westport, or the bridge near your house because gasoline price is too big a factor this year, despite the opinion of others about Cambridge residents...

I suspect those shallow estuarial waters are a better bet next month.

The hothouse pots I want to try are unavailable b/c the pot builder is backordered and in no hurry to catch up.

I might have to make my own. I have one chesapeake trap from Ketcham's, and I think something smaller is right for me.

[masspi]

The test pots are in my regular channel, in front of the house.  I find that the closer to the Bay you get the less crabs in the trap.  The salinity of the water is a major factor in the amount of crab you will get.  When it rains, the salinity drops and the crab go to deeper areas.  In prolonged dry spells, with little or no rain, the salinity levels climb and it forces the males to move farther up the River.  The females seem to be scarce the past couple of years (I always toss them back) and I don't know for sure if it has a bearing on the salinity of not.  I do know that salinity is better tolerated by the females because they do go to the Bay to lay their eggs.  I was thinking the other day that it has been two full seasons since I have seen an Egger.  I also feel that even though the river is tidal, the high acid content of the rain has something to do with it.  We can thank our friends in Ohio and their quarter mile smoke stacks at their power plants for the acid rain.  Maybe it just makes them more aggressive.  I always see the photos posted on the Forum with people holding a crab.  They seem very docile.  You reach into one of my traps for a crab and you will leave a little of your own flesh behind.  Last year I thought they were the most aggressive I have ever seen and that is at least 40 years.  Maybe they are upset with George Bush.......yeah, thats the ticket, it's Bush's fault.

Temperature plays it's usual role..........got to be 60+ for you to catch crabs here in the Weweantic.  I have always tried, but unless it is in that range, no crab. That is certainly not true for lobster though.

I don't blame you on trying to save money on gas and since I don't own the River(s), you are welcome in my neighborhood any time because I know you will take your trash home with you.  I like those "Hot House Pots", just for the places you intend to put them, off of a bridge or shallow water.  Speaking of shallow water, if you know of anyone who plans on boating in the Weweantic, be warned.  There are places that are only inches deep and boulders that are just below the surface except in the lowest of tides. It looks big and wide, but there is not much water except at high tide.  Many a boater has learned the truth at great expense to their property and pride.  Last Saturday sitting on the deck enjoying a cold one, I watched two guys in a brand new Milargo semi-scarab CC with two big Yamaha 350's plow down the river.  They were way out of the channel.  I said to my Wife, just second before "Watch these fools run aground Hon".............Seconds later, high and dry.  It must have injured their pride, when a guy in an old wooden skiff with a 25 hp motor pulled them off.  It was kind of nice to see that old skiff that had not seen paint in 20 years next to that quarter million dollar boat.  Nice contrast between the sensible and the senseless.

My advice, get them small pots, work the bridges and shore and take home a nice bucket of crab to enjoy.

[unclebuttsy]

All the crab pots sold by Eastern Marine are built by the same guy, and out of stock w/ no good news any time soon. That hothouse pot looked nice.

Building my own is looking better and better.

I'll use Bob Ketcham's door dimensions as a guide and figure out the rest. 2 doors, a legal vent, a bait box and a lid... maybe even an upper parlor. It can't be hard.

I used to build steel staircases so I guess I should bend up my own little wire boxes.

Water temps in your neighborhood are there, from what I can tell. 60+ degrees.

And those crabs on the Westport seeemed  very pi**ed off last year. Cripes.

[masspi]

Who knows Jeff...this could be a new direction.........you could become the "Hen House Crab Trap King of New England......Fancy Cars, Big Boats, Aircraft, there is no limit 

[robc22]

when a guy in an old wooden skiff with a 25 hp motor pulled them off.  It was kind of nice to see that old skiff that had not seen paint in 20 years next to that quarter million dollar boat.  Nice contrast between the sensible and the senseless.

Masspi

I'm not sure but that might of been me in the skiff. The law only allows me to commercially shellfish in bourne. However, I wander over to wareham/marion in search of menhaden. I use said pogies as hookbaits as well as lobster bait. I use a cast net or a gill net( CMR 4.02) to get my bait.I helped a couple of guys who were hung up in a rocket ship into deeper water. My outboard is a 40 hp not a 25 hp. My boat is a williams skiff that hasn't seen a paint brush in a couple of years.

[robc22]

The guys I helped where very happy I showed up. The wewantic is a very shallow and very intresting river.

[poy.b]

Hi, I am a new member, can yo please email me a map with the location where I can crab on shore, thanks
Poy,  poybin@gmail.com