Tybee Island, Jekyll Island, St Mary's

[3E971]

Most of the summer for us was spent at the Jekyll Island Pier, ( 31° 7.046'N  81° 25.101'W) being typical "pier rats", we come well-prepped for spending the entire day outdoors. We did ok using rings/box traps, getting about 10 in an average day.

On 8 Oct 11 at Tybee Island's south pier ( 31° 59.475'N  80° 51.240'W) we hammered them. We put up the fishing poles, didnt have time to fish.
The crabs were on like crazy, 20 Qts in 2 and a half hours, sometimes 3-4 at a time.  

I figured I'm missing the ones who decide to eat and run, so we got a 2' x 2' two-door pot. I'll use it instead of the rings, let it soak for a while and maybe we'll have time to throw a line in...

We're heading to St Mary's GA this weekend. (30° 43.174'N  81° 33.044'W)

I'm curious to see what the weekend with the new pot holds for us.

Has anyone had any luck there? I hate showing up and realizing I'm unprepared, should I bring anything special? (besides a bigger cooler)

Wish us luck!

Thanks, 3E971

[tattoo]

Good luck , have a great time

[Cmoore613]

Thanx for the report and good luck 

[coastman]

St. Mary's does not have a pier like Jekyll and Tybee Island. Most folks crab from the public boat docks with a hand line. Did you try the pier at St. Simons Island? I would try St. Simons's pier before I took the 50 mile drive to St. Mary's public boat docks. Hope this helps.

[3E971]

Thanks for the intel coastman...

Are folks allowed to use crab pots off the pier at the park?

We had planned on staying at the Kings Bay Naval Base MWR site. Our next closest spot we've scoped out is the Satilla River north of Woodbine, need to look at the demarcation line and make sure I'd be legal to crab there. If anything, we'll re-plan on a whim, until we lock into reservations... 

St. Simons is next on the list, but in that area we normally camp at Jekyll.  We live near Valdosta and haul our pop-up camper to a spot suitable for our camper, so research has to pay off for us when looking into new spots.

Thanks again guys!

3E971

[coastman]

I have seen folks use handline traps at the public docks at St. Mary's. Give it a shot. Will you be staying on base? I will find out for you if anyone crabs off of the city dock in Woodbine. I have seen crabs that far up river during extremely drought times like 2009 & 2010. I will try and have you an answer by Friday on the Woodbine public docks under the Hwy 17 bridge.

[3E971]

Wow, that would be great, Thanks!

We plan on staying on base, not sure if were gonna make it, wife might have to work this weekend. If you can get intel on Woodbine that would be great, but if we cant go this weekend we'll probably come out on the 4th.

So do they go upstream during droughts for the proper salinity or are they moving for the food?

3E971 
 

[coastman]

When the estuary gets to salty the crabs move up stream looking for less salty water. On a river empting into the estuary the water on the bottom is salt water as it is heavier than fresh water so the crabs can migrate up stream. This only happens in drought conditions.