Lake Mattamuskeet in July

[FishtheIBX]

Hello Everyone,
New here and have a question about the Mattamuskeet area. I am heading down that way around July 4th and wondering if the crabbing is good on the lake during that time. Also, any tips would be appreciated! I hear they are huge down there.
Thanks!

FishtheIBX

[flounderpounder]

should be good numbers in july but I heard they are light crabs....big tin cans .....always wanted to try there myself by could'nt pull myself from the obx to drive over there.

[Joe Crabs]

Hello Everyone,
New here and have a question about the Mattamuskeet area. I am heading down that way around July 4th and wondering if the crabbing is good on the lake during that time. Also, any tips would be appreciated! I hear they are huge down there.
Thanks!

FishtheIBX

They are no bigger then anywhere else. Bring plenty of repellent, flies are like helicopters down there. Crab by the canal locks, and keep an eye out for water moccasins. There are poisious snakes in the area among other things. A lot of shallow areas, I believe the water depth averages 2 - 3' for the whole lake. There is a site online where you can get a map of the lake and a brochure of everything about the lake.

[horsefly]

Map for the Lake >>  http://www.fws.gov/mattamuskeet/directions.html  There is quite a few pretty crabs down there, but .....make sure you go early in morning seems the best time. Say from 6ish to about 11am then the heat kicks in and crabs lay up for a bit. On that same note you can pretty much find crabs in any of the canals that lead to sound that arent blocked by flood gates. There is also Bell Island fishing pier which pretty close to the lake as well >>  http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/recEdMore.cfm?ID=42532

[horsefly]

They are no bigger then anywhere else. Bring plenty of repellent, flies are like helicopters down there. Crab by the canal locks, and keep an eye out for water moccasins. There are poisious snakes in the area among other things. A lot of shallow areas, I believe the water depth averages 2 - 3' for the whole lake. There is a site online where you can get a map of the lake and a brochure of everything about the lake.

While they may or not be bigger than anywhere else, for land locked crabs they have set records, while those numbers have changed do to changes in flood gates and other weather factors, there still huge crabs around in big numbers. But as Joe stated, please be careful about snakes they have been pretty bad this year due to drier conditions....OH and <giggle> those are just not ordinary flies ... mosquitos as big as helicopters.  lol :p

[FishtheIBX]

Thanks for sharing and for the links! I frequent Belhaven and am aware of the huge and plentiful mosquitos    !!

[horsefly]

Thanks for sharing and for the links! I frequent Belhaven and am aware of the huge and plentiful mosquitos    !!

NP glad to help.....a year later