Newbie in Lake Latanier, SW Louisiana

[Al_E_Gator]

HI gang..... I'm a newbie here as well into the crabbin business... I just purchased 10 new crab pots ( Louisiana limit for recreational crabbing) and have set them out  in the washouts between Lake Latanier and Grand lake..... on 4 runs starting last month i have caught 48 crabs.. 28 crabs ...  and this weekend , 16 and 17 crabs     I aint exactly floodin the market down here but they sure are good eatin for me and the missez..

[bayou boy]

to much tide in the washouts.get back up along the islands away from the washout the tide should'nt be as strong oyster/shell bottom would be a plus. goodluck!!!

[Al_E_Gator]

thanks for the advice ... i understand what you're saying but there isnt much tidal action here...  the bottom end of Grand is blocked off by the Catfish Lock control structure..  actually i SHOULD be setting them down there but the goin  is kinda tough on my little 14 ft aluminum with the winds we've been having.

[BILOXI BAY]

I tried to look at your area on mapquest and can't locate the washouts you are referring to. I did locate Grand Lake and at the southern end a Catfish Lake but it mapped Latanier Bayou on the upper N E corner off of Mallard Lake. What size crabs are you pulling because if they are nice ones you may be almost into them. I would look for live oysters and access to 6 to 10 foot deep channels in close proximity. Good Luck to ya' and let us know how the catch progresses.

[Al_E_Gator]

Welcome to the world of Louisiana mapping      Depending on which map you look at it may or may not be called lake latanier. It is actually on the N W  side of Grand.  if you care to look on google earth the coordinates are 29.932883 ;  -92.837228.  and what i am calling washouts may look more like islands on mapquest.  As for the size of crabs.. most are in the 5 -6 inch area  with a couple of larger ones . Hope this attatchment works

[Crabcruncher]

Nice crab.
There may be some comments from the Maryland and Pennsylvania crabbers about the photo of a Louisianna crab.
Pay them no mind. They have cabin fever and no crabbing reports yet.

Cc

[Domino]

Wow, finally a picture of a LA crab...let us know ASAP if you get a 10"er 

[crabbing4fun]

Nice crab.

[Al_E_Gator]

I've read the comments about the size of La. crabs and that's why i made sure that i had photographic proof before i said i had anything close to an 8 incher...   and i'll keep my eye out for that 10 and hope i have my camera ready otherwise... i'm keepin my trap shut     

[jefftoleft]

Hey Gator did you just move there or was there a camera & ruler down there the whole time 

[Chef Lar]

Way to go Gator. Now that we know that crabs can be measured and photographed at the same time in La., I feel  a great burden has been lifted off our perverbial shoulders. Keep those reports coming. Trout season right now for me, mushroom hunting in a week or two, then it time for crabs.

[Al_E_Gator]

Heck... havent ya'll heard??  there's only ONE puter; ONE ruler; and ONE digital camera  in the whole state !!!!!  it's just my turn !

[lreops]

Heck... havent ya'll heard??  there's only ONE puter; ONE ruler; and ONE digital camera  in the whole state !!!!!  it's just my turn !

That's good. 

Finally, a Louisianan that gets it. Knew that there had to be some good ones down there instead of all the rif raf we've seen in the past.

Keep up the good work and reports.

[jeff l]

  I get it

[Crabcruncher]

I've read the comments about the size of La. crabs and that's why i made sure that i had photographic proof before i said i had anything close to an 8 incher...   and i'll keep my eye out for that 10 and hope i have my camera ready otherwise... i'm keepin my trap shut     

You did good Gator, They took the bait like a bluegill after a worm.
Bluegills always bite. Like to get in a poker game with them sometime.

Cc

[ran_c]

usually lake latanier and grand lake only do well on drought years because they have to open the locks to bring the water level up for the intercoastal waterway. when they open them the crabs that are at the locks come in and grow. i think that the crabs you are catching are left overs from the tide surge from ike and rita. fyi, when fall comes around make your way to grassy point and it wil be well worth your trip if there isn't alot of rainfall.

[DipNSip]

Nice picture and congrats on the crabs! Keep crabbing and enjoying.

[Al_E_Gator]

Ran -  I agree with you on all counts... this past fall we were catching limits of redfish at the same spot where i've put my pots out now ...but even with the rain we been having the crabs there are improving .... I picked up 5 dozen friday morning.  I'll probably make my way all the way down to the locks before the summer is over... but for now  i'm enjoying the protection of the small lake...