crabbing reports

[Crabbeer]

Finally got out for the first time this year.  Went to Crab Alley for a few hours yesterday.  Used 27 traps and got 1 to 2 per run.  All were over 5.5".  Got enough for a meal.  

[pennsylcrabber]

I hope you are talking crab alley in maryland near the bay bridge?........if so thats encouraging cause where I want to go isn't far from there at all........Toby

[Howard]

Crabbeer:

Sounds good. When you say for a meal, is that 1 or 2 dozen?  Did you see anyone with trotlines out there?

I usually crab at Crab Alley 2-3 times a year, depending on how things go over at the Wye. Were you just out to the the right by Thompson's creek or out toward Eastern Bay?

Take care,

Howard

[delawhere]

All right, I gotta ask.  Where is crab alley?  And is it as good as it sounds?  

[Phillyguy]

Never been, but it looks at maps and charts it looks close to the WYE.  

If you live in Delaware, I take 896 to 301 to 50 .

In general you are heading west to Annapolis, but still on the eastern side of the bay/bay bridge.

South of 50 (I'm doing this from what little memory I have) their is a 'CRAB ALLY' I'm assuming this is it.

South East of Annapolis, North West of the Wye

Kent Narrows is a name tossed around, I don't know if that is the entire island (that 50 is on before the bridger) or a small portion of the island.

I've never been west of the Wye, I would love to try cab alley.

Can anyone give 'REAL' directions to a ramp in cab alley area!

Hope this helps

[pennsylcrabber]

Here is a link to Maryland boat ramps and a little info on each one just click on the county you want. It also gives driving directions from local roads. http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/fish/state2.htmlhttp://

[Crabbeer]

I crabbed just out from Thompson's Creek in Crab Alley Bay.  I didn't see anyone working a trot line.  There was one other guy using traps getting one to two per run.  

Crab Alley is off of exit 39B on Rt 50.  Take Dominion Road which I believe takes you all the way to both a public launch on Thompson's Creek and a private at Crab Alley Marina ($10).

[Crabbeer]

Just got back from a week and a half on lower MD Eastern Shore- Deal Island area.  Crabbed and fished most days with marginal luck.  

Crabbing produced as many as a dozen per run using traps (30).  Most were just over the legal limit.  Crabs in this area don't get big like in the northern end of the bay.  

Talked to some locals and they had a very rough two weeks.  They said they have been going through a massive shedding run and I could get all the soft crabs I wanted but  very few hard crabs.  The distributor that I can always buy crabs from when I needed them couldn't sell me any this year.  Said they are very scarce and all of his were already sold by contract to resturants.  Going price in this area was $75 for a bushel of #1s (compared to $60 last year).  They said that they never saw prices that high.  Rather low from my Pennsylvanian perspective.  

Fishing produced mostly croakers up to 17.5".  Caught as many fish as I could handle.  Brought home a bunch of fillets which should last until next year when I go again.  

Oh yeah, if anyone is headed to this area the mosquitos are absolutely the worst.  Locals say they have never seen anything like it.  Be prepared!

 

[Crabpop]

Phillyguy, give me a few mins and I'll post some directions to Crab Alley ramp and also to the Kent Narrows ramp (was called Piney Narrows before they built the new ramps immediately adjacent to 50/301.
I will post this info under Crabbing Spots. vice under Crabbing Reports.

Crabpop

[hockeynut17]

Where is crab alley? :oThanx