Struck out!

[Larry_D]

Week before last I went crabbing for the first time in over 20 years.  I caught about seven crabs. 

This past weekend, yesterday to be exact, I went back to the same place, but this time I was scientific.  I researched the tides, and got there about an hour and a half after low tide, so I'd be crabbing as the tide came in.

I didn't catch nothing, in four hours of crabbing.

Now, there were some differences.

1) Last time I used chicken legs.  This time I used a big chicken breast (on the bone).

2) Last time we were all alone.  This time there were some guys in a boat in the mouth of the river with five crab traps down in the middle of the mouth of the river.  (Could this have had anything to do with it?  They didn't seem to be catching much either.)

3) Seemed like half the time I brought my trap up, it had not fallen properly because it came out bottom up -- meaning for some dumb reason it was sitting on the bottom upside down.

I know 3) is an obvious reason why I wasn't getting much, but I'm still looking for reasons the crabs didn't line up and pile into my traps.  Any ideas?  I was wearing an olive shirt -- could that have been it?

Thank goodness my son wasn't with me this time -- he would have been crushed!

[beach bum]

Hey Larry_D, Join the club. I just got back from my favorite crabbing spot. Last Monday I caught 8 dozen keepers in less than 3 hours with 5 traps, crabbing from a pier. Today - the tides were perfect, the weather was perfect, used the same bait - chicken backs, used the same traps and was wearing my same lucky tee shirt and my grand total was 16 crabs in 4 hours. Sure is humbling being outsmarted by the crabs isn't it?

[Larry_D]

Hey Larry_D, Join the club. I just got back from my favorite crabbing spot. Last Monday I caught 8 dozen keepers in less than 3 hours with 5 traps, crabbing from a pier.

NINETY-SIX crabs?!?!  Sweet mother of pearl!  What do you do with so many crabs?  I could never eat that many -- and I mean that literally, as the crabs in the Hudson River have PCBs in them and you're not supposed to eat more that six a week (none if you are a woman of childbearing age, or a child).

Sure is humbling being outsmarted by the crabs isn't it?

I want to find something that I can outsmart for a change (chases amoeba with a small net).

So it wasn't anything I did?  Is there a crab-god you are supposed to sacrifice to before heading out? 

[beach bum]

Six of us ate most of the crabs and still had enough left over to pick for crab cakes. And you may be right, I may have offended the crabs gods catching so many last week. But Florida allows you to keep 10 gallons a day here and I was stretching my limit.

[Seaweed]

Week before last I went crabbing for the first time in over 20 years.  I caught about seven crabs. 

This past weekend, yesterday to be exact, I went back to the same place, but this time I was scientific.  I researched the tides, and got there about an hour and a half after low tide, so I'd be crabbing as the tide came in.

I didn't catch nothing, in four hours of crabbing.

Now, there were some differences.

1) Last time I used chicken legs.  This time I used a big chicken breast (on the bone).

2) Last time we were all alone.  This time there were some guys in a boat in the mouth of the river with five crab traps down in the middle of the mouth of the river.  (Could this have had anything to do with it?  They didn't seem to be catching much either.)

3) Seemed like half the time I brought my trap up, it had not fallen properly because it came out bottom up -- meaning for some dumb reason it was sitting on the bottom upside down.

I know 3) is an obvious reason why I wasn't getting much, but I'm still looking for reasons the crabs didn't line up and pile into my traps.  Any ideas?  I was wearing an olive shirt -- could that have been it?

Thank goodness my son wasn't with me this time -- he would have been crushed!

This is an easy answer. The key word is "Scientific".  Thats you're problem.  Don't over analyze the situation.  There are hungry crabs out there, you just need to dangle food in front of them.  I've learned this long ago... go out with an old boat, half-broken motor, old net, your favorite hat, no lunch... and you'll do great.  You'll fill the boat.  BUT, get a new boat, spend a ton on gear, new hat, shirt with sleeves, sunglasses, girl in bikini.... your doomed.  You want catch squat.  The crabs are doen there just laughing at you.

Don't get me wrong, I have nice gear, great net, great motor, and all that is necessary.  My point is that it seems the harder you try sometimes, the worse you do.  Its man vs. beast, just play the game.

I attribute my success to my lucky hat, and my wooden boat.  Someone told me a long time ago that wooden boats catch more fish/crabs, and for some reason I believed them.  Is it true?  Probably has nothing to do with anything, but thats my superstition.

[Tuarus]

SEAWEED I THINK UR RIGHT ON WITH THAT.

[CrabDog]

Seaweed,

you're right on.  It is the new boat/ new fishing pole/ new gun / new traps, etc jinx.  Whether fishing, crabbing or hunting a new piece of equipment is bound to jinx you for at least 3 trips.  go back and use all you old junk and you'll whack em............

........CD

[coastman]

I am a recreactional crabber on Georigia's coast. Sometimes I put my crab traps out in Sapelo Sound or from my dock. Since I changed from chicken necks/parts to pogies my crab catch has increased 3 fold. The pogie is an  oil fish and the crabs can find that dead pogie in my crab traps.

[Larry_D]

Maybe I will give that a whirl, coastman.  I hope it's not being too scientific!   

[kajuncrabber]

Yes coastman, pogie is a popular bait down south for many many years. It is a oily fish that has a dark brown gut, when this gut is broken it releaves a distinct smell that draws the crabs to the bait. Fishermen either let crabs break this gut in the traps, or if wanting crabs to bite quicker they break this gut themselves.

Kajun 

[Tuarus]

IS IT POGIE FISH OR PORGIE? 

[F.I.sherman]

"1) Last time I used chicken legs.  This time I used a big chicken breast (on the bone)."
was the skin still on the breast?
crabs hate having to fight chicken skin.
next time snap the chicken breast in half.

[Larry_D]

was the skin still on the breast?

Yes.  Good suggestion.  Thanks.

[mrscharms]

I just wanted to welcome you to the board...and good luck crabbing..and yes, it is PORGIE that you are talking about with the fish???

Janice

[tattoo]

WELCOME, Just go out and have fun , the crabs will be there.

[long green crabber]

reminds me of when i went wabbit hunting. i won a old 12 gauge shotgun on pool table, and my buddy got this fancy ,pancy,hand carved stock,sights very expensive,w leather case. we were waking down the fire road,trying to scare up some wabbits,came upon a huge pile of logs , i said i`m done w this, i`m going to sit, maybe snooze ,you guys go on.  i sat down and, you guessed it, out popped a wabbit,bang. while later,a second,bang,and still another. we laughed all the home.their working their butts off, i`m sitting and shooting.    lgc

[coastman]

Down here we call them pogies. We catch them with a cast net. Usually on the beach front just beyond the breakers or in the sound. We use this fish as bait for King Mackerel and other large fish. The name may well be porgies. All I know it this fish we call pogies is an all around bait fish. I will be crabbing this weekend.

[kajuncrabber]

           Coastman, we call them Pogies down here in Louisiana too. A very good crab bait and it is a favorite for sports fishermen.


                                Pogies
http://www.rodnreel.com/gulffish/gulffish.asp?cmd=view&FishID=125

kajun   

[Tuarus]

KAJUN THANKS ALOT FOR THAT.  UP NORTH WE HAVE A FISH CALLED PORGIE AKA SCUP.  NOW I KNOW ITS NOT THE SAME.

[SHELLFISH]

kajuncrabber, That looks like a small version of our bunker.

[SHELLFISH]

Perogie: Thats what my niece and nephew used to call porgies when they were smaller! Brings back memories.

[Tuarus]

SUMMERTOP I SMELL POTATO AND CHEESE.  ARE U COOKIN PEROGIES?

[kajuncrabber]

bogman102, Yes bunkers and pogies are  very much alike. Two silver oily looking fish used for different purposes.
    Taurus, are your so-called perogie's are good to eat, and if so what kind of fish does it taste like. 

Kajun 

[Tuarus]

KAJUN, THE PEROGIES THAT I JUST MENTIONED, IS ACTUALLY A POLISH DISH.  IT LOOKS LIKE RAVIOLLI.  THE ACTUAL FISH PORGIE IS A GOOD FISH TO EAT.  I'M NOT SURE WHAT I COULD COMPARE IT TO THOUGH.  I GREW UP EATIN MORE PORGIES THAN ANYOTHER FISH.   IF I EVER FIGURE IT OUT I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

[Mad Crabber]

I'm thinking Perogies stuffed with Porgies might be a good combination...