MD/VA Crab Report

[Ducky1929]

I'm just wondering if anyone has any idea how the crabbing in MD/VA has started out this year.  Also wondering if anyone knows of a good spot right now for trot lining.

[Crabpop]

Ducky1929, successful crabbing depends on where you'll be crabbing.  Northern/middle bay crabbing really hasn't kicked in yet.  Rain and cool temperatures (both air and water) haven't helped.  I've seen reports of some success in the southern-most bay and VA areas.  I believe we're in for some warmer temps next week, which should help to get the crabs moving in the middle/north bay areas, especially in the shallower creeks.  Man, I hope so!!

Crabpop  

[Ducky1929]

Thanks for the info, I'm gonna probably check out Benedict or the Patuxent next weekend.  I'll let you know how it goes.

-Ducky

[Howard]

Thanks for the update.  Man I was looking forward to getting my gear ready and heading out for the first time this year.  However the rain and the cool temps put a stop to that.   Man we need some warm air and soon or these crabs will stay down south this year.

Looking forward to dipping my first big blue this year.

Take care and be safe out there.

R/Howard

[Steve]

The weekend before last (May 17/18) I was able to buy two dozen #1's live from Captain Red's seafood in Kilmarnock, VA. Crabs were only $12/dozen. All were fat and heavy... and boy were they good! My first steamed crabs of the season! Crabs were caught locally (Chesapeake Bay/Rappahannock River).

I had a very hard time finding #1 Jimmies... everyone had plenty of #3's (females)... I had to call Capt. Red's and tell him to hold the jimmies for me.

Doesn't look good! All this rain and cold weather has prevented me from dropping my pots... hopefully in a week or two.

[Scott_NRA]

I put out a pot in the york Sunday for about 6 hours...one little shecrab.  She went back.

Monday for about 5 hours in a different spot...nothing.  I had chicken, a cut herring and craoker carcase in it.

I guess they wern't interested.

We tried hand lining and trapping too in a shallow spot out in the main river a few miles south of west point.  more nothing.

I need a hand linning lesson I guess.  I keep reading that that is the way to go, but i got nothing.  I think I'll start a post on it.

[Kodi]

Steve,

Do you have an address for Captain Red's?  How far is Kilmarnock from DC?  I did a map it thing through Yahoo and it looks to be to the west of Richmond.....a little far for a Baltimore boy.

Kodi

[Steve]

Cap'n Reds Seafood Market Inc
130 Christopher Drive, Kilmarnock, VA 22482
(804) 435-9070

Kilmarnock is about 90 miles due east of Richmond near the Chesapeake Bay. It's about 150 miles from Washington, DC (about a 3 hour drive)... that's a long drive for crabs!!

[Kodi]

Thanks man.  You're right though that's pretty far to get some crabs.  I gotta find a reasonable place closer to Baltimore.  If ya know of one let me know.  Most of the places I know are charging $150 and over for a bushel.......too rich for me.

Kodi

[Dsopata]

Try Casey's seafood market in Laurel along rt. 198 or go to the all-u-can eats at Bottom of the bay in Laurel along rt.1 or at Cantlers Riverside in annapolis(my favorite ).

[Kodi]

Mucho gracias dsopata..........

Kodi