Crabbing Report - Norfolk - 31 MARCH 2012

[rthomps5]

A little late posting this...but after 20 years away from the Chesapeake I finally went blue crabbing with my brand new trot line two weeks ago (and 6 traps and two pots).  More than anything was just trying to break my boat back in and figure out how to run a trot line (last time I was 6 years old with my grandfather off Kent Island in Maryland).  Built my own set of rollers out of PVC pipe and used turkey necks for bait.

Set out Saturday, 31 March in Norfolk on the Lafayette River between the Granby Rd bridge and the Hampton Blvd bridge.  Went out at 3pm for 2 hours as more of a test run on the traps and trot line.  Pulled in 5 crabs total, 3 females and 2 jimmies on the traps and trot line combined.  All keepers. Made three runs on the trot line and saw another 4 crabs get off as I did a poor job of laying it out and my wife was struggling to handle the boat.  Weather rolled in and pregnant wife and 7 year old neighbor didn't want to play no more...so came back in at 5pm.  Threw the females back.

Left my two pots out over night.

Went out around 11am the next day with a friend.  Pots only produced one Jimmie, a keeper.

Laid the trot line out for 2 hours and caught 5, 2 females and 3 jimmies.  Up to 11 crabs now.  Then picked up and headed over to Portsmouth just to check out the area.  Decided to lay the line again and pulled up one more crab in the 20 minutes it was out.  Saw another jump off as I was pulling it in by hand.

Overall kept 12 crabs in about 5 hours of actual crabbing.  Could of done a lot better if we hadn't moved to Portsmouth as the tide and crabs were just picking up as we left.  But a good start.  

Can anyone recommend a good place to run a trot line?  And as a kid i think i remember my grandfather telling me that the tides played a major roll in trot lining.  Does that sound right?  Looking forward to this weekend.  Suggestions??

[tattoo]

Nice report . and picture , thanks

[jack1747]

Please put the date, mm/dd/yy, in your subject line of reports.

It can be accomplished by viewing your message and selecting MODIFY.  This will allow you to edit any information in your posting INCLUDING THE SUBJECT LINE.

By doing this you will help forum members when they are searching for currect reports.

Thank you 

[ROCK ON]

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. IT'LL GET
EASIER... HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR
CATCH!

[rthomps5]

Please put the date, mm/dd/yy, in your subject line of reports.

It can be accomplished by viewing your message and selecting MODIFY.  This will allow you to edit any information in your posting INCLUDING THE SUBJECT LINE.

By doing this you will help forum members when they are searching for currect reports.

Thank you 

No problem.

Think I'm also supposed to write:

"There are no crabs in Virginia  ."  Right?