First time crabbing

[Travis]

I am planning on trying to catch some crab this summer in the chesapeake.  probably somewhere aroung the bay bridge area.  i have done it before but never on my own.  any help at all would be appreciated. I'm looking for a campground with cabin's preferably.  we usually stayed at a koa, but cant remember exactly where.  i wanna say around annapolis.  also need to know what kind of equiptment i need if it's not too much trouble.  i have an 18' boat, hopefully that's big enough.  guess im just looking for any info on the better areas to try in general.  not stuck in any certain area.  maybe a little rockfish/bluefish fishing in between.

thanks in advance for any help
 Travis

[overdrive]

just a quick question,why go all the way to the bay bridge? Thats a little bit of a hike depending on what part of PA your comming from.

[Travis]

doesn't have to be that far.  just had family in the area so thats where we went.  and a few charters were near there we took. i would be willing to go where i can get some crab.      any part of the bay would be fine with me.  is the crabbing at the northern end good? i mentioned i was new to this.  i havent a clue where they roam.  also, what would be the better part of the year? 

[on the hook]

Believe he means the one from Annap to Kent Is. Not the other? just a guess

[flounderpounder]

mouth of the severn you can catch crabs and fish for blues and rock....try it in june/july

[Travis]

i'll have to pull up a map and look at where we were.  the severn?  how far up is that?
  thanks for the help so far

[Travis]

after looking at a map, the severn river is the area we usually went to for the rockfish/blues and crabbed a little north of that i believe. i remember launching at a small marina, but don't remember the name of it.  are there public launches easy to get to in that area?

p.s.  i was referring to the bay bridge out of annapolis.

[flounderpounder]

truxton park on spa creek...or sandy point st. park above bay bridge

[jefftoleft]

That KOA.campground was on the other side of the bay bridge and has been a private campground for a long time now top $$$$ if you can get a spot . There is Duck Neck campground & another one near Rock Hall that I don't know the name of your 18' boat is big enough to crab. As for what to use I would try topless traps to start they seem to be the easiest to use for a newbie. At the bottom of every page there is a picture of a little blue crab if you click on that it will open a lot of info to help get you started. Good luck 

[Travis]

thanks for the info.. you guys are a great help. now since i think about it, that the marina we went out of was in browns cove/little round bay.  that sound right?
i kinda liked the trotline when we ran it, but i know its probably a lot of work and looks easier when someone else is in control.  i think i could manage though.      

[bassman349]

If you were at a K.O.A. in the Annapolis area, then it just about had to be the one in Millersville if you were on the western side of the bay.
If you launched from a small marina and were in the vicinity of round bay, then you might have been at Smith's Marina in Crownsville, which is not far from the K.O.A.  Smith's is still in business, they charge 20 bucks for their ramp. 

[Travis]

That all sounds familiar. Been a few years since I've been down there.   Ill check it all out. Thanks again. So june or july is probably the best time?

 

[bassman349]

If you launch at Smith Marine, you will be on the Severn River, so, I would say late June or July or August for that area.  Do a google search on KOA campgrounds in Md. and you will see that the one in Millersville is the only one in the vicinity.

[Travis]

well we are planning on coming the 1st weekend in july.  I know, the weekend of the 4th is going to be crazy.  But anyways, lodging is taken care of, and i know the ramps will be busy, but planning on heading out early before all of the pleasure boaters get out.   what ramp would you guys recommend for the fastest launch and most convienent to the fishing/crabbing?  staying just a little west of baltimore, but have no problem driving  a little ways.  are the pleasure boaters late arrivals lilke they are here?  (10am) or are they out earlier?  don't mind waiting at the ramp, but it can get frustrating when there's always that 1 guy that has never backed a trailer in or loaded a boat.  maybe i should go early and just sit in the dark for a bit before setting the line.

[flounderpounder]

well we are planning on coming the 1st weekend in july.  I know, the weekend of the 4th is going to be crazy.  But anyways, lodging is taken care of, and i know the ramps will be busy, but planning on heading out early before all of the pleasure boaters get out.   what ramp would you guys recommend for the fastest launch and most convienent to the fishing/crabbing?  staying just a little west of baltimore, but have no problem driving  a little ways.  are the pleasure boaters late arrivals lilke they are here?  (10am) or are they out earlier?  don't mind waiting at the ramp, but it can get frustrating when there's always that 1 guy that has never backed a trailer in or loaded a boat.  maybe i should go early and just sit in the dark for a bit before setting the line.

the crabbing boats will be just as bad as the pleasure boaters that weekend...just to let ya know.. 

my reccomendation would be severn river....truxton ramp

[Travis]

Ok thanks. That's fine, I expected no less. Just my only long weekend. Was looking at sandy point, but figured it would be worse than some others. Don't know though. At least once I get on the water I should be able to find some room.
 

[flounderpounder]

Ok thanks. That's fine, I expected no less. Just my only long weekend. Was looking at sandy point, but figured it would be worse than some others. Don't know though. At least once I get on the water I should be able to find some room.
 

if you have a decent sized boat I would say sandy point....they have like 20 ramps or somethin like that....plenty of room even if its alot of ppl..

[Travis]

18 ft with 8 ft beam?

[flounderpounder]

18 ft with 8 ft beam?

yeah sandy point would be my choice with that boat

[Travis]

Thanks a lot. Your a great deal of help. I'm sure ill have more questions for ya.

[flounderpounder]

Thanks a lot. Your a great deal of help. I'm sure ill have more questions for ya.

I hope not ...cause imma about out of answers...    

[Travis]

Well regardless, thanks again!  Lol. Ill try not to ask so many questions, I've been reading a lot more than I ask, just trying to clarify some things. The sites awesome.