Cant wait to go out!

[gregrt5]

I know theres been a lot of talk about this mild winter and I looovee hearing about it, so since its been very mild, I'm takin the boat out in the creeks around fortescue, maybe begging of may, even early april maybe? thoughts please

[tattoo]

good luck , you never know unless you try . someone has got to be first.

[Rusty Gate]

Let water temps be your guide. At least 50, even a bit higher b/f I even begin prospecting   But it's never a bad time for boat ride on a nice day!    Good luck!

[Terrapin T]

When does the season start in Jersey?

[Rusty Gate]

When does the season start in Jersey?

Theres no closed season for rec crabbing, thats drop lines and regular traps. Commercial pots and trotline(only 150' max ) from 3/15 to 11/30.....IIRC.


RG

[Grizzly36]

Good luck. Gonna be some nice temps in our area as long as the rain doesnt get too bad.  Calling for 70's in dover tomorrow.  Shame I'm stuck in the office and trying to hold onto leave until it truely is worth taking off to hit the water.

[jason22]

Could be hit or miss.  Up until 2 years ago I would have said you can't catch crabs in NJ until the summer months.  Then we had a great catch in May.  All depends on the water temps.  If the air is warm and the sun is hot, you could try some back bays and creeks.  Crabs will be moving there earlier as the water heats up quicker than the main bays.  Good luck 

[Ronster]

Could be hit or miss.  Up until 2 years ago I would have said you can't catch crabs in NJ until the summer months.  Then we had a great catch in May.  All depends on the water temps.  If the air is warm and the sun is hot, you could try some back bays and creeks.  Crabs will be moving there earlier as the water heats up quicker than the main bays.  Good luck 

Right.   Two years ago, we got close to two bushels in NJ on May 1st.    Last year on the last day of April, we got four crabs.

[tedbo]

it's never a bad time for boat ride on a nice day!

Speaking of "boat" rides Rusty, have you decided to end your rental days and finally pick one up this year?

It's setting up to be a bunker harvest!        

[Rusty Gate]

Speaking of "boat" rides Rusty, have you decided to end your rental days and finally pick one up this year?

It's setting up to be a bunker harvest!        

I have decided to end my rental days, I even have my boaters safety certificate......but the wallet says otherwise at this point    Had a couple of truck repairs come up this past winter, transfer case rebuild and put a new clutch in as it was the original and we had it all apart. So i'll have to postpone my boat purchase for a bit, it seems that it's always somethin....but I definitely will get it done! I still havent made a decision yet....but I've been looking at the Scott Canoe Duck Boat 16, fiberglass concerns me though, maybe it shouldn't......check it out at the following link. I appreciated your feedback in the past!


http://scottcanoe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=51&Itemid=100


RG

[tedbo]

That's nice, though I'm more in favor of aluminum for ease of transport.  I guess you would have to set it up for additional seating.  

If you're looking for a cartopper, there are some nice free plans for a 12' plywood duck boat, and it's super light, 110 lbs.

[tedbo]

http://www.svensons.com/boat/?p=Utility/JonBoat

[Ronster]

Capacity 5 adults?   

[Rusty Gate]

That's nice, though I'm more in favor of aluminum for ease of transport.  I guess you would have to set it up for additional seating. 

If you're looking for a cartopper, there are some nice free plans for a 12' plywood duck boat, and it's super light.

Yep, I'm leaning to alum myself, not only for the weight savings, but I'm somewhat concerned about maintenance......without a doubt I know I'm going to bang up that fiberglass. I'd like to get a minumum of 3 people aboard, and possibly even a 4th....but fact of the matter is that it will be 2 mostly. But that Scott proved interesting due to it's 200lb hull weight and 1200lb capacity. But honestly there are alot of good options out there both new and used. I'll keep doing my homework though until the funds free up...fingerscrossed 

I appreciate your feedback!

RG

[tedbo]

I just reread your post, I didn't realize you were looking at the 16' model, that's a lot of glass, looks like they say about 360 lbs, that seems light to me.  I guess a same size avg. aluminum would be in the high 200 lb to low 300 range.

I'm not sure what they're talking when they say 1200 capacity,  is that persons, motor, & gear???

[tedbo]

Capacity 5 adults?   

Yea I saw that, funny right? 

Actually it's 3-5 persons, and hey, why not? 3 bench seats! 

I can see it now,    "Well officer, I have the magazine article right here, and it states..."

The only problem, where to put the crabs? 

[Rusty Gate]

I just reread your post, I didn't realize you were looking at the 16' model, that's a lot of glass, looks like they say about 360 lbs, that seems light to me.  I guess a same size avg. aluminum would be in the high 200 lb to low 300 range.

I'm not sure what they're talking when they say 1200 capacity,  is that persons, motor, & gear???

I take 1200lb weigh to mean it includes people, motor, gear, etc. I believe it to be the "displacement weight", ie the amount of weight it takes to sink it. I'll wait to hear from more experienced boaters in this regard....as I'm not certain.

RG 

[Ronster]

The only problem, where to put the crabs? 

Eh, you don't catch that many anyway....   

[tedbo]

You alway hit below the belt! 

[Ronster]

 

[salt hay]

In warm years I have caught up to a dozen keepers near fortescue , earliest was april 11th. Some years it's good, others nothing til mid may.