Need some pointers, for the Chester river.

[Crabby Tag]

Hello All,

I am new to this forum, and this whole web site is awesome.  I am also a new boat owner.  I have put in twice now at the Chester river and have not seen nary a crab nor fish.

 I am loosing my 9yr old son’s interest fast, [dang] you playstation.

I was hoping you all could give me some pointers on where to go in the Chester river.  I could go as far as the Wye river, but choptank is just a little too far.  

I have read a lot in this forum and gained much knowledge, but I do not see many people talking about the Chester river.  

Please help me get my son away from the T.V.  Thanks for your time, and I hope to see you on the water.
 

[Crabpop]

CrabbyTag, I'm not at all sure how the Chester's doin' this year.  Heard of only a few caught there a month or two ago.  Might have the same problem there that the Wye is havin'.  How about launching at Kent Narrows (ramp is located on the west side of Kent Narrows bridge, immediately north of the bridge).  Head south from the ramp, under both new and old bridges, toward the breakwater.  Try either side.  Also, try across the street (Rt. 50).  Crab Alley (take Exit 39B to south on Rt. 552, Little Creek Landing Rd.  Road deadends at the ramp.  Think you might have better luck at either of these two places.

Crabpop

[Crabby Tag]

Thanks Crabpop, I am scheduling my trip to Crab Alley (like the sound of that ) early, want to be on water before sun up.

I have one problem. Where can I get a ramp permit close to there? I do not have QA county permit, only Kent.  

Please help again, need a place close that will be open early. I need an out of state 3-day permit, I live in Delaware.  

Thanks again for all your help.

[Crabbyboy]

     right at the mouth of swan creek they're gettin'em....its right in rock hall... and bayside its pickin up!

[Crabby Tag]

I found where to get a ramp permit close to bridge, Anglers it is just off 50.  Thanks for your help.  Now I just need to get the jimmies in the boat.  

Knowledge is Power, Power Corrupts, so lets Study and be Evil.  

[jack1747]

Get some small hooks, lite rods, bloodworms and peelers/softcrabs.  Fish -2 to +2 high tide. At peak tide take a break for an hour and ride around or have lunch etc. for about an hour.  Only fish at some structure rocks piers etc.  You should catch plenty of fish and hook your son.  Just fish the best hours until he is hooked.....  

[CRABGUY]

USE THE PLAYSTATION FOR AN ANCHOR
IT WILL WORK BEST IN A 5 GALLON BUCKET FULL OF QUICKCRETE
STUDY THE FOURM AND BECOME AN EVIL CRABBER

[Crabby Tag]

I just wanted to say thanks everyone.  We caught 20 crabs, only 8 keepers but were enough to spark my son’s interest.

I have two questions though.  We caught almost all the crabs handlineing. I had 12 collapsible traps soaking, but only caught 1 crab all day in the traps.  I was anchored right next to traps handlineing well, but nothing in the pots.  They are Blue Claw collapsible pots the kind you can fold down to 1” when not in use.  The wire is incased in plastic.  Is there something wrong with my traps, or am I spooking them with the boat motor?

Secondly we saw some doublers swimming by, but were not sure if I should grab them with net or let them do their thing for future [curd] production.  What is the etiquette with doublers?

Well thanks again, may head down Monday as well.

See you on the water.

[CRABGUY]

HAND LINES ARE THE WAY TO GO
SAVE THE TRAPS FOR THE PIERS

I LEAVE THE DOUBLERS BE MORE CRABS FOR THE FUTURE
SAME WITH THE FEMALES UNLESS SHE IS JUST AN ENORMOUS  CRAB (NO SPOUNGE OF CORSE)

[Crabpop]

CrabbyTag, yup, you mighta been spookin' the crabs with the motor.  If I'm working shallow water, I take along an electric motor to work the traps.  Nice and quiet and easier to control along the trapline than my 18HP Nissan. What were you baiting the traps with?
Crabguy got it right; I pass on the doublers also.  Jack's input about taking along a rod or two to keep the son occupied when the crabbin' is slow worked for my son.  A container or two of grass shrimp and a light rod can save the day and make the day memorable for the youngster.  Good crabbin' to ya.

Crabpop    

[Crabby Tag]

Hey Crabpop,
   I was using the same bait. Drumsticks, at the same depth 9 ft., 20 feet away from traps.  Nothing in traps, could not pull hand lines up fast enough.  Going today, even though it looks like rain.  Just need about 20 to make my lunch.  

See you all on the water.

[CRABGUY]

DRUMSTICKS, DRUMSTICKS DRUMSTICKS
IVE TRIED EVERYTHING BUT THE BEAKS

HOW THE HECK DO YOU HAND LINE WITH A BUNKER
MENHADDEN??

[Crabbyboy]

     hey crabbytag...good to hear reports on the chester river...i've been crabbing further up...swan creek, tolchester, but would like to get down there.  i acctually crab off of my kayak now, but i did have the motor problem so i got a troling motor...silent!  

[Crabpop]

HOW THE HECK DO YOU HAND LINE WITH A BUNKER
MENHADDEN??

Crabbyguy, I understand it's necessary to whack 'em on the head several times so they don't go swimmin' all over the place and tangle the handlines .

[Crabby Tag]

Well I did not want to bring any one down, but I put together a 900ft trot line (with Steve's exalant web page as me guide).  I put her out at crab alley bay(thanks to Crabpop sugestion.) last Saturday with an all guy hunt, 3 close friends.

Being the N00B that I am, hit the line bad twice,  we thought it was not tight enough, so we pulled her tight and handlined for a while.  After handlineing the boat would not go forward, it would not go into gear.  

We got towed to our bouy, and pulled her up then got towed back to dock and went home(luckily one of me friends has no wife no kids no boat, so he bought a bushell on the way home.)  

Boat is fixed, trot line shorten to 500 feet (I could not see second bouy at 900 ft.), boat is hooked to SUV, and I am right back on the horse.

It shall be 5 of us, my family + wifes uncle.  Hope to catch our own bushell this time.  Wish me luck, and see you on the water.

30 number 1's per famaliy per week,
when I am elected Govener.  

[Crabbyboy]

  Good lick crabby Tag...yeah its always good to be able to see in which direction ya ned to go!