Another Dividing Creek Day

Tuesday, July 27

Aboard my old creek ship, the Cyn Mel Sue, were 2 guests. We sailed the creeks from the Owls Nest to Maple Creek and Pond. We are in a heat wave, ( my favorite time for crabbing ) and hoisted our 2 beach umbrellas. Aboard were daughter Vickycrab, and neighbors Trooper John, and his 5 year old son JT on his first trip. We took a little side trip first up near Turkey Point at dead low tide and netted a couple keepers sitting at the water line and just above it in the mud as we trolled along in very shallow water. We missed some nice ones because you only have a nana second to net these mudders! We observed a lot of crabs just under keeper size in the mud.
Once we hit Maple Pond, the Cyn Mel Sue hoisted both her anchors in position in the spot where the crabs were moving with the incoming tide from the creeks and ditches to the mud flats of Maple Pond. We caught keepers right away. Young JT got into the action pretty fast as he pulled up crabs on handlines. The Cyn Mel Sue had 4 special homemade Capt Williecrab creek traps, and 4 handlines aboard with 2 nets. Vickycrab and JT turned out to be very good handliners. JT began to net crabs as handlines were being pulled, and had success on his first try! He caught 2 keepers at once with his new netting skills on another try. The crabs were everywhere this day on Maple Pond, a wonderful sight after 3 years of crab drought! The crabs were extra aggressive and except for JT we all got a big crab pinch war wound at least once. Of course creek law demands satisfaction, the crab must be punished for his disrespect, and his claw is removed on the spot! The Capt did take several trips overboard for a swim in the heat, that warm salt creek water sure feels good! We hit a few slow spots as the crabs reacted to tide changes and slow downs. The Cyn Mel Sue moved to another spot where the incoming tide would help sweep the crabs still coming in around the curve of one side of the pond. At the point of the curb we hit a hot spot and brought in our biggest crabs of the day. We started also getting interupted by turtles in our traps and they are a mess. We kept 60 nice crabs and headed homeward for a great feast of crabs, pizza and salad. The crabs of course were cleaned first, then steamed and boiled in the Capts Own special recipe. When the crabs came out of the pot, they were attacked with even more fervor than they attacked the bunker bait! They were gooood. And thats my report, for July 26, 005 a great day.
Capt Williecrab, creek explorer into the 21'rst Century!
Right now the Beaver Dam area and Maple Pond area are great crabbing areas. Also right in the Delaware Bay the crabs are on the move.