beesley point 5/12/12

[Skiff]

 Bad day just no crabs around today.  Talked to another crabber and a comm same results.  Worked really hard for 30 crabs moved 5 times  No crab over 5"  No bugs on the water and weather was great so it was a good day to be on the water

[Ronster]

Strange indeed.   What the heck is going on out there!?!

I stopped by the BL Englund pier and met up with illswimhome where he was crabbing and he wasn't doing much.

I I think met up with crewstation on the water and set him up spot where I was sure the crabs were.  The line included the area that Jason22, BDC and I worked last Saturday) and he got two keepers.   

I spent some time in the bay with my wife and joined about 50 boats in getting skunked fishing for fluke before high winds and vicious chop forced me off the water.    We didn't see a single fish caught in the time we were out.

[on the hook]

Hhmmmmmmmmm......I went to a spot up on the Loyalsock Creek yesterday that I had heard about and caught 30-40 trout in about 3 hrs. It is a zone that you can catch, but no keepie "right now"....I left em biting.....Went back early this morning for about an hour and a half and not a bite!!!

[tattoo]

You just never know

[CRABBYCOOT]

Kevin you worked for those crabs. I set a pot in Ludlam Bay for 5 hours yesterday and had only 1 keeper. We did get a flounder keeper and a limit of weakfish.

[jason22]

Sorry to hear about the low numbers Kevin.  Very shocking indeed.  Wonder if it has anything to do with the weather?  Maybe they are in the middle of a shed???   

[Skiff]

Strange indeed.   What the heck is going on out there!?!

I stopped by the BL Englund pier and met up with illswimhome where he was crabbing and he wasn't doing much.

I I think met up with crewstation on the water and set him up spot where I was sure the crabs were.  The line included the area that Jason22, BDC and I worked last Saturday) and he got two keepers.    

I spent some time in the bay with my wife and joined about 50 boats in getting skunked fishing for fluke before high winds and vicious chop forced me off the water.    We didn't see a single fish caught in the time we were out.

I crabbed my way back to linwood ramp  Nothing in the patcong,  Caught half of the crabs on the east side of the channel just leaving Patcong  between the bridge and the shallow water barrel.  Caught the other half right in front of BL Englund power plant intake  The wind did pick up   Stop at one of the sand pits on the way back  Looked like strippers were breaking the water chasing bait fish  Of course there were all to small. Well thats what I am tell myself since a did not have a pole

Kevin you worked for those crabs. I set a pot in Ludlam Bay for 5 hours yesterday and had only 1 keeper. We did get a flounder keeper and a limit of weakfish.    

Great job Rich

[Ronster]

I crabbed my way back to linwood ramp  Nothing in the patcong,  Caught half of the crabs on the east side of the channel just leaving Patcong  between the bridge and the shallow water barrel.  Caught the other half right in front of BL Englund power plant intake  The wind did pick up   Stop at one of the sand pits on the way back  Looked like strippers were breaking the water chasing bait fish  Of course there were all to small. Well thats what I am tell myself since a did not have a poleGreat job Rich

Check your Board Mail.

[Skiff]

Sorry to hear about the low numbers Kevin.  Very shocking indeed.  Wonder if it has anything to do with the weather?  Maybe they are in the middle of a shed???   

   I agree with the shed. But who knows   Most of the crabs I caught this year were rusty  They had to shed sooner or later
  The wind did pick up but I did find a place to be out of the wind   also found a place to have lunch on the beach  todays lunch will be crabs and spaghetti  So It was not that bad of a day on the water

[crewstation]

          I wish my "no crabs" looked like Kevin's "no crabs".  Met up with Ron (yes, that was me) on our way out and followed his advice.  Four runs of 30 traps with chicken necks.  Lots of small crabs.  Two keepers (might have been more legal size,  but my MD measurer is my personal "legal" size).  Pulled the traps and saw Ron on his way back in after trying to navigate 2-4 foot seas in the pontoon boat.  I think he thought I was kidding when I said we only had two crabs, but it looks like that wasn't out of the ordinary yesterday.  Moved to where the power plant was blocking the wind and got two more.  3.5 hours.  4 crabs.  Lots of wind.
          Anyway, thanks for the help, Ron.  Too bad the crabs were out getting their Mother's Day cards.  Maybe we get another shot next weekend earlier in the morning.  Only our second time out using traps and I'm pretty sure we're not very good at it.  Thought it would be easier than trotlines, but it's actually harder.  Biggest problem (other than a shaky driver - Dad's age is catching up with his navigation skills) is length of the line.  I rigged them with about 18 feet of line, which is obviously too much for 4-6 foot depths.  I had no easy way to adjust them.  I also have to work on a better way to store them.

[Ronster]

I still can't believe you only caught two crabs there....   

[rapp414]

Like the saying goes"Some days you're the dog,others you're the fire hydrant" Looks like it was a fire hydrant day,Kevin.I'm sure things will get better soon.At least it was a nice day on the water.

[lbicrablooker]

I went striper fishin yes n nothing friend today n he murdered them...go figure

[Skiff]

Like the saying goes"Some days you're the dog,others you're the fire hydrant" Looks like it was a fire hydrant day,Kevin.I'm sure things will get better soon.At least it was a nice day on the water.

I agree,  I also looked back two years ago We put a  bushel and a half  in the boat one Saturday in May the next weekend it was nothing (scotts landing)  If it was a shed than next weekend they will all be light crabs. Thats bad news for me  The honey do list is long  But than there always is fishing

I went striper fishin yes n nothing friend today n he murdered them...go figure

   But with fishing everything changes Tide, location, water temp, bait, tackle,  Some day they just are not hunrgy,  but with crabbing if they are there (which we know per Ron, jay and scotts catch the week before) we should have done something  But 3 crabs per run all of them small 4.5 to 5"  Only one large female with sponge something is up   I will take next weekend off than Hit it hard with Jerry (mutzy) the following weekend.

[crewstation]

I still can't believe you only caught two crabs there....   

You'd have thought I was using chocolate chip cookies instead of chicken necks.  Nothing but little kids.  Next time.

[crabbywaters]

Sounds like a big shed.. They are probably all hiding out in creeks and up in the grass.

[Rock Run Crabber]

 Nice picture of your wood boat skiff !

[Skiff]

Nice picture of your wood boat skiff !

  Thanks   But I do not have to tell you the joys Of CRABBING IN A WOODEN BOAT

[ILLSWIMHOME]

Just thought I'd chime in for a second. I headed out to OC to meet up with Ronster for a 10:30 appt.  Around 4am I woke up and said "What the heck" and threw 10 traps in the car with some drumsticks. Hit the pier by the power plant around 6:30 and started baiting.  1/2 way into baiting traps I checked the 1st 2 I had already put in the water.  1st one had a keeper, 2nd one had 2 just shy of being legal.  I thought it was going to be a heck of a day.  Finished baiting and watched as the tide slipped away taking most of my water along with it.  I could see my bait in each trap and could tell no crabs were biting by just looking.  Ronster being Ronster, came to me instead of the other way around which was awesome because the traps could stay wet.  We chatted for a while without seeing a legal crab....if I remember correctly the whole time he was there we only saw 1 or 2 shorts.  After 5 hrs, I had 5 crabs.

After he left, I stayed to see what would happen when the tide came in.  At 12:00 I had to pack up just as the water was getting to deep to see my chicken.  I pulled all 10 traps and landed another 7 keepers.  So, as of Saturday afternoon, I know there are at least 12 legal crabs still swimming around by the pier somewhere.  It was crazy how they switched off and back on so fast with the tides. 

Also, an older gentleman stopped down and landed a REALLY nice looking perch when the tide started back in. 


And in case you're wondering....I loved EVERY minute of being there.   Crabs or no crabs!

[ILLSWIMHOME]

Another side note, each crab I pulled up was DIIRRRTTTYYY  like they just woke up from the winter and crawled out of the mud.