Murrels Inlet

[verno]

Hey all, Crabbing has really been great to me in Md. this year(the narrows). Going down to SC in Sept. How has the crabbing been in Murrels Inlet and the creeks around that area this summer. Want to drop a couple pots and maybe run a trot line. Any info will help! Thanx!

[Kiss_My_Tiara]

I talked to a couple crabbing today that had about 20 nice sized crabs in their bucket and said it took them less than two hours to catch them.  They were wading in the creek up to their waist and using corks on the end of their small sized baskets to find them in the water.  This was the first time I'd seen anyone do this...rather interesting concept but it obviously worked. 

[LouK]

Crabbing with a trot line down here is tough because the currents are really fast.....in my 13 years down here, I have never seen a trot liner.....Former Marylander, crabbed a lot in the Wye River and we have the Jimmy's down here you don't see a lot of in Maryland anymore.  Laws are a lot different down here...there is no such thing as a commercial sportscrabbing license...they call a pot a trap and a trap a pot...DUH!  We used to crab off a pier in Georgetown, you need 10 oz of lead on a "collapsable trap" to keep it down since the water runs so fast.  Bought a boat to put out collapsable traps (15) of them and had to go commercial all the way....5" x 11" floats with you license number branded in....your own two color combo on the floats, 6" x 8" numbers on the size of your boat also with a circle with the color combo of your floats.....and $50 for the license.  Then, u are restricted (being commercial) from placing those traps in many of the creeks.   Last week I crabbed in the Inlet across from the Veterans Pier (near the marsh walk) and got 6 dozen in 2 1/2 hours, mostly females....went last week into Winyah Bay in the boat, and caught just about a bushel in 3 hours...but u need all of the above....mostly males, lots of doublers.....

[Summertop]

Crabbing with a trot line down here is tough because the currents are really fast.....in my 13 years down here, I have never seen a trot liner.....Former Marylander, crabbed a lot in the Wye River and we have the Jimmy's down here you don't see a lot of in Maryland anymore.  Laws are a lot different down here...there is no such thing as a commercial sportscrabbing license...they call a pot a trap and a trap a pot...DUH!  We used to crab off a pier in Georgetown, you need 10 oz of lead on a "collapsable trap" to keep it down since the water runs so fast.  Bought a boat to put out collapsable traps (15) of them and had to go commercial all the way....5" x 11" floats with you license number branded in....your own two color combo on the floats, 6" x 8" numbers on the size of your boat also with a circle with the color combo of your floats.....and $50 for the license.  Then, u are restricted (being commercial) from placing those traps in many of the creeks.   Last week I crabbed in the Inlet across from the Veterans Pier (near the marsh walk) and got 6 dozen in 2 1/2 hours, mostly females....went last week into Winyah Bay in the boat, and caught just about a bushel in 3 hours...but u need all of the above....mostly males, lots of doublers.....

I have crabbed that pier in Georgetown several times in the past, that current is crazy.  I would try to put the trap in front of a piling to cut down on the current.  It really moves through there...

[verno]

Thanx for the info-still not understanding it all-used to be so simple up in Md. Probably won't get the boat on the water until spring. Have to get it registered and see just how I am gonna crab. I hate to let my 1000 ft trot line just sit, as I always had such good luck with it. When you say pots, are you talking about the pots that only land owners could use in Md? If so, guess I'll have to get a few of them also. I have 30 traps I used along with my trot line also. Seems most down here don't even know what a trot line is, or if you can even use it. Everyone I talk to gets it confused with live lining for catfish. Most either fish or go shrimping.(something else I want to explore next year.)
As for fishing, can't wait to get her int the ocean and fish a few miles out. Was sitting on the beach last Sunday, just watching the boats offshore. Water was flat, nice sunny day, warm and it was the middle of November! Just can"t get used to that yet! Thanx for the info, will keep you posted on the catch, and just how I catch em!!
 

[dwstan]

LouK is mistaken about needing a commercial license and marked buoys to fish collapsible baskets. SC law distinguishes those from pots/traps. An individual can fish two traps/pots, or as many collapsible baskets as he wishes, without going commercial. If recreational pots/traps are unattended, you have to use a yellow float with your name and address or license number on it. Not saying you won't run into the occasional game warden who's misinformed, but that's the law. You don't even need a saltwater license if you are fishing, "3 or fewer drop nets, 3 or fewer fold up traps, or 3 or fewer handlines with no hooks and a single bait per line (chicken necking)." However, you do need a recreational saltwater license to fish even one pot/trap.

http://www.bluecrab.info/forum/index.php/topic,26900.0.html
http://www.bluecrab.info/forum/index.php/topic,30454.0.html
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/saltfishing.pdf