when to crab? (tides)

[dnnythms]

at what tide do crabs become more active and present?  are they more eager to bite in the morning, afternoon, or night?  and does weather conditions (sunny, cloudy, rain) affect crabbing?  thanks... some answers to these would help immensely.

[sidestepper]

There are two factors at play here.  The early morning factor and the tide factor.  Crabs like to bite early in the morning (dawn plus two hours).  It doesn't matter what the tide is doing at the time.  The other factor is tide.  Crabs like the CHANGE in the tide, ie, crab either the high or low tide change.  My favorite is to be crabbing two hours before the low tide.  If a low tide is at 10 AM, I'll be crabbing at 8 until noon.  It's amazing how well this works.  The same is true for high tide.  I am supprised how many people neglect the effect of the change in tide and go only for the early morning aspect.  I have gone out at 10 AM for a noon low tide (in a muddy river, which I'm sure helps keep the sun out of the crabs eyes) and done fine.

Try any change in tides.  However, as they say about fishing tidal waters, go when you can and make the best of it.  As crazy as schedules are these days, I can't run my crabbing times around the tides.  The clock seems to govern!

Good Luck
Sidestepper,
Severn, MD

[Steve]

My experience with tides is that the changing tide carries the scent of the bait to the crab.

For example, if you're crabbing at the mouth of a creek:
a) tide approaching low - bait scent is carried out to the bay/river during the outgoing tide. Large crabs are attracted from the bay/river.
b) tide approaching high - bait scent is carried into the creek as tide comes in. Less productive crabbing.