First crabs

[Steve]

I just got down to my place in White Stone for the weekend. Was scanning the water with a 1M candlepower spotlight this evening and I saw several blue crabs scurrying about on the bottom. 

They're baaaaaack! 

[captaincrab55]

I just got down to my place in White Stone for the weekend. Was scanning the water with a 1M candlepower spotlight this evening and I saw several blue crabs scurrying about on the bottom. 

They're baaaaaack! 

   U  been drinking again!....       Will the little lady confirm that??...

[kingcrabber]

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH THEYRE BACK  will somebody gits me a Grog  ........no ..make it a dozen Grogs  I'm READY 

[rivercrab]

Sweet...Man itll be soon enough....   

[DTownCrabber]

I just got down to my place in White Stone for the weekend. Was scanning the water with a 1M candlepower spotlight this evening and I saw several blue crabs scurrying about on the bottom. 

They're baaaaaack! 

Should we bring our gear 

[Steve]

Should we bring our gear 

I'd say [Sam Hill] yeah!! But the season don't start until April 1. 

[CRABGUY]

CATCH AND RELEASE CRABBIN

NOT LIKELY

[jack1747]

I'd say [Sam Hill] yeah!! But the season don't start until April 1. 

I think you can handline all year in VA.  Not sure about Trotlin'n...  But no traps or pots until 4/1

[Steve]

Russ and I were talking about that very fact earlier today... Russ said no "gear" from 12/1 - 4/1 but handlines are OK.

Hear that Dave? Bring some chicken necks to the party!! 

[CRABGUY]

HERE YA GO
4 VAC 20-270-40. SEASON LIMITS.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to place, set, or fish or leave any hard crab pot or peeler crab pot in any tidal waters of Virginia from December 1 through March 31.




DONT SAY NOTHIN ABOUT HANDLINES

[CRABGUY]

THE REST OF THE STORY


Licensing Information

Any person desiring to take or catch finfish or shellfish for recreational purposes in the tidal waters of Virginia must first obtain the appropriate gear license (See Exemptions and Annual License Fees below). Gear licenses can be purchased from any Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) licensing agent, except that crab pound/trap licenses can only be obtained from the district marine patrol officer. All licenses are valid for a calendar year and expire December 31 in the year issued. License tags for boats using crab pots and/or trotlines must be fastened at a conspicuous place on the starboard side of the boat or on the boat's mast; for crab pounds, the tags must be fastened to one of the offshore stakes [Code 28.2-225, 28.2-226.1, 28.2-234, 28.2-300, Regulation 4 VAC 20-60-20].

Any license to recreationally fish or crab shall be issued to an individual for his/her exclusive use and shall not be transferable. No person shall be issued more than one recreational gill net license, more than one recreational crab pot license, more than one recreational crab pound/trap license, nor more than one recreational eel pot license [Code 28.2-226.1, Regulation 4 VAC 20-670-20].


EXEMPTIONS - The following activities are exempt from the licensing requirements:

1. Taking by dip net, hand line, or two crab pots (or two collapsible crab traps), as much as one bushel of hard crabs and two dozen peeler crabs in any one day for personal use aboard any vessel.  If crabbing occurs from shore (crabs are not possessed on a vessel) the possession limit is one bushel and two dozen peeler crabs per person per day.

[tattoo]

SOUNDS , good , won't be long now.

[Stevo]

HERE YA GO
4 VAC 20-270-40. SEASON LIMITS.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to place, set, or fish or leave any hard crab pot or peeler crab pot in any tidal waters of Virginia from December 1 through March 31.




DONT SAY NOTHIN ABOUT HANDLINES

Says nothin' about a trotline either! Just say's no Pot(s)

[Stevo]

THE REST OF THE STORY


Licensing Information

EXEMPTIONS - The following activities are exempt from the licensing requirements:

1. Taking by dip net, hand line, or two crab pots (or two collapsible crab traps), as much as one bushel of hard crabs and two dozen peeler crabs in any one day for personal use aboard any vessel.  If crabbing occurs from shore (crabs are not possessed on a vessel) the possession limit is one bushel and two dozen peeler crabs per person per day.

Hmmm, I don't have an auto dipper, so I am taking by dip net off my trotline, right?

[Steve]

Where's Tom Powers when you need him! 

[Steve]

Hmmm, I don't have an auto dipper, so I am taking by dip net off my trotline, right?

Stevo... you're bringing the Miss D to the party, right? If there's nothing in the rule book about running a trotline then maybe we should do some crabbing in the creek! 

[Tom Powers]

I am around I just have been busy lately. 

Anyway the only to seasons that there are relate to crab pots and crab dredges.  Dip nets and trot lines do not have closed seasons in any regulations that I could find.  Except there is this part regarding removing the lead net from a crab pound (trap) by Dec. 31.

By dip net they mean walking around or floating around in a boat and dipping crabs out of the water.  It is a method that I use in the flats at low tide.

With respect to crabs moving already.  I am not surprised, with the warm weather that we have had and all.

Tom

[tattoo]

I'm ready to crab, wish I was doun there.

[CRABGUY]

HEY TOM ................ THANKS BROTHER

[Steve]

I'm going back down to White Stone this coming weekend for one last round of yard work before the party. I'll throw a few handlines off the pier and let the kids have at it. I'll let everyone know how we do.

On a lighter note, my 5" jimmy just molted (fish aquarium) ... he's now over 6 1/2" ... right on time too, almost a full moon! 

[CRABGUY]

SOFTSHELL SANDWICH??

[Steve]

SOFTSHELL SANDWICH??

That would be the world's most expensive softshell crab sandwich! You don't even want to know how much money I've had to spend to keep that friggen crab alive over the winter!!

[crabologist]

If that's the case .........you better use the GOOD mayonaise .

[Stevo]

I'm going back down to White Stone this coming weekend for one last round of yard work before the party. I'll throw a few handlines off the pier and let the kids have at it. I'll let everyone know how we do.

Let me know how the kids make out, we may have to give it and early season effort

[DTownCrabber]

I'll throw a few handlines off the pier and let the kids have at it. I'll let everyone know how we do.

Steve keep us posted how you make out....we are heading down early Friday....may have to bring some handlines if you have any success