Need SW Florida (Fort Myers Beach) Crabbing Tips Please

[prosh442]

Hi I havent tried the roosvelt chanel yet,but Blind Pass is open now.It should be good crabbing depending on when you are here.Its a little cold now to crab in my opinion.you can rent a boat at Jensens but you may want to try off of a pier with had lines or pull up traps.

[anamealreadyinuse]

When are you coming?  It's been cold so the crabs have been dug down pretty hard in the mud.  I leave a trap out weekly on Fort Myers Beach and have been coming up with no keepers for a few weeks now.  I am hoping the warm-up this weekend will jump start them into action.  I would agree with Prosh, stick with piers and back bay type areas that are clear enough to scoop with a dipnet.  Not sure how much a boat will help unless you are dropping traps as most of the areas you are going to want to crab are in pretty skinny depths anyway.  You would be surprised what you can get from a good dip-net or pull up trap if the crab are on the move and the water is clear and shallow enough to dip.  I have had the best luck with using local inedible fish for bait as pigs feet are hard to come by around here unless you order them in 10 or 20 lb. boxes (Publix supermarket special order) if you do decide to use pull up nets.  The oily and stinkier the bait, the better, just like up north!

Good luck, you could not have chosen a more terrific place to vacation.  Please post back with your findings if you have time.  Not sure if you've tried it yet...but the Red Velvet Cake @ The Bubble Room is amazing! 

[possomcat]

Thank you both so much, we will be coming July 9th for a week which we've done for 30+ years.  I sure will let you all know, you've been so kind.  Thanks again, Janie/possomcat

[metallica81186]

I tried crabbing at captiva one time and caught 2 crabs both under 3 inches.  If you're gonna go down there, you're better off fishing.  That's the best thing going down there.  I've rented a boat at Jensen's before and even have a Jensen's shirt i wear here in Md.  Def worth it, but I'm not sure this time of year.  Gotta catch the Snooks.(real good eating)

[jackjack13]

where can i sell blue crabs in fort myers fl... thanks jack

[anamealreadyinuse]

How much quantity are we talking?  You looking to sell retail or wholesale?

[R D]

How much quantity are we talking?  You looking to sell retail or wholesale?

No where without a SPL,RS and blue crab endorsement.