GOOD DAY AT OCNJ

[Phillyguy]

Had good luck in OCNJ Saturday.  About 3 doz keepers in a few hours with hand lines from boat.  9:00 - 1:00, tide coming in.  South of 3x (34, 35, 36, I can't remember, their is only one!) street bridge.

Tried a trout line, but I have a jet boat and low RPMs just do not work!  I may try to rig an electric motor and try later in the year.

Green Heads WERE TERRIBLE!!!!!!  All Seasons Marina had some natural stuff that worked well (I do not trusts DET with kids)
GreenHeads LOVE my bimini top.  About 20 on the underside at all times.  That will be sprayed down with deep woods off the next time out!

Hope rain does not slow things down.

Going to see BRUUUCE at the LINC friday and sat.

If I recover, may hit OCNJ Sunday.

P.S. used my turkey frier (to steam the crabs) for the first time Sat.
THAT THING SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD RUN A HOT AIR BALLON, ON HIGH THE FLAME WAS ABOUT 10-15 INCHES!  Nothing like a BBQ side burner.

[eelfisher]

glad to see ya got into 'em. that is 34 th st you are talkin about. were you in the main thorofare or in one of the side creeks?

[Phillyguy]

Hi Eelfisher

Just south of the bridge their is a creek.  Anchored right in the mouth.  Did not block access to the creek, but did not make it easy to nav up the creek either.  I would have like to position a little better!

Anyway, at the mouth for a while, then pulled up anchor and moved up the creek a few yards, then later moved just south of the mouth.  Then a little later, back to the mouth.  Never moved more then 20 yards from mouth.

The attendant at the public ramp (Tenn Ave) told us about the spot.  I was going to head over to the parkway bridger.
HE MADE MY DAY!


Side question.  Lost about 1/2 doz crabs between boat and ride home.  Keep them wet and out of the sun on the boat and iced them up in the bushel basket for the ride home.

I would like to ...
   Kill and clean them in O.C. and pack on ice for ride home.
   Any public docks with running water/cleaning station?

   Put crabs in iced cooler right-away, leave lid open a bit for air.

Any thoughts???

[luke at uscoach]

Hi Phillyguy:
When my Buddy & I get out we use a bushel basket with lid.  Every so often, we lock the lid into the metal handles, submerge them in the water for a couple of minutes, kind of shake the basket around & that brings them back to moving around.  We lift the basket out of the water, let most of the water drain off, then put it back into the boat.  And yes we are scooping water out of the boat all day, so a little more doesn't hurt, in order to preserve the crabs.
We do this one more time, just before coming in for the day.

We seldom lose any crabs.  Once in a while a thin shelled guy gets bit by an oldtimer, but that is the exception. It has been successful for us for years.

I Hope this HELPS!!!! & enjoy the season.,

We hope to maybe be able to slip away from the business in Sept. & maybe Oct. if Mother Nature cooperates.

Happy & Safe Crabbin!!!

Luke at US COACH

[livenlrnat40]

I think what is making you lose crabs is the ice...too cold for them, nothing to bury under. I never lost one crab- ride home is anywhere from 2-3 1/2 hrs. I dip bushel a few times too, while crabbing..one last time for ride home. Transport home in bushels..not cooler. I just can't bring myself to clean them alive, either. Just read an article in paper on crabbing..said cleaning alive is only way to go...no thanks.

On those lines....for years, I've boiled crabs in large pot filled with water, beer, Old Bay, spices. Last time, I tried steaming, but got upset when I still heard the top layer "clicking" after steaming for 5 minutes. Slow death?? I used steam pot with insert, lid...made 3 layers. Did I do something wrong??Is this what usually happens with steaming? If so..back to the boil!!

[Phillyguy]

out saturday 9:30 till 1:00

Slow all day, ended up with about 2 doz.  a few goods size, but most just over 4.5.  Hand lines and one pot.  Pot out just while we were their, i do not leave pot overnight.  just south of 34th street bridge, first creek on right.  green heads out, bring the OFF.

[cblu]

Guys, be careful putting that bushel basket in the water. I heard more than one guy lose a whole bunch of crabs when the bottom falls out due to rusted staples. I usd to do this, but when I lost half the bottom one year, I got smart real fast. I usually just throw some wet burlap on them while crabbing now. On the way home I throw a bag of ice on top of the burlap or towels I'm using to cover the critters, inside my cooler. This way, the crabs aren't in direct contact with the ice but they stay cool. I also, have a raised bottom in the cooler and put ice under them as well. When the ice melts, they're aren't sitting in water.
     As far as steaming them, If they're iced down and lethargic, I liked to stack them with a tunnel going up the middle of the pot. This seems to distribute the steam and cooks them real quick.

[jack1747]

Make sure you keep the crabs out of any water in a container like a cooler.  They will use up the ox in the water real fast and smother.  Ice them down for a while before steaming will keepem from kicking around inside the pot plus keeps them from throwing their claws.  Better dead in a minute or two in a steamer than getting pecked apart by minnows when your a soft crab. I guess.. Really dont no 4 sure  tho