kennedy park 7-14-2022

Started by LoveDemBlues, July 29, 2022, 02:30:47 PM

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LoveDemBlues

second hand report for cousin....he had chicken necks on strings and hoped to catch a few, but he ended up catching 2 dozen in less than 2 hours
biggest problem was not throwing the bait out so far that the catfish weren't attacking it
he said they are not as packed as chesapeake but they were still excellent

SHELLFISH

Thanks for the second hand report! All good info!
I was going to try down there just for my information but haven't gotten there yet.
I will say that he probably got mostly females and of those 50% were roe females.
He probably also had 50% throwback sponge females!

Here is a picture of a roe female. That orange mass is the roe.
These are still in the body cavity just before she sponges out.
Retired in paradise!

TheGoschman

We haven't seen a male crab in the ICW Edgewater area in quite some time!!!

SHELLFISH

 I got 21 crabs the other day in New Smyrna; only 4 were males!
Retired in paradise!

LoveDemBlues

too true about lack of males though....he threw back mostly females including a few sponges
up here in maryland they changed rules so recreational crabbers are not allowed to keep females

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backfin_blues

Thanks for the reporting! I don't keep any females. I'd love to see this fishery really bounce back, and the only way for that to happen is to get more eggs in the water!

witch1031

Quote from: SHELLFISH on July 31, 2022, 09:45:54 AM
I got 21 crabs the other day in New Smyrna; only 4 were males!

That's because the water in the New Smyrna area is salty.  The higher the saline content, the more females.   The males like brackish water and are easier to catch in places like Oak Hill and the St. John's river up near Astor.  Also Lake George.

SHELLFISH

Great to hear from you again! Haven't seen you for a while now! Are you still crabbing?
Retired in paradise!

witch1031

Not for a few years, lots of real life got in the way.  Planning to get back to it soon though.   I started watching a YouTube channel called "The Old Couple Outdoors" and they fish and crab all over Volusia County.  I'm getting in the mood for sure.   :)

Hawkeye

Quote from: backfin_blues on August 01, 2022, 12:56:35 PM
Thanks for the reporting! I don't keep any females. I'd love to see this fishery really bounce back, and the only way for that to happen is to get more eggs in the water!
yeah but they need to be fertilized by male crabs too.  I get that one male crab can mate with a lot of females, but it can only protect one at a time when they are molting.  So if you have 20 females about to molt, you need 20 males to protect them too.


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backfin_blues

Quote from: Hawkeye on August 04, 2022, 11:24:37 AM
yeah but they need to be fertilized by male crabs too.  I get that one male crab can mate with a lot of females, but it can only protect one at a time when they are molting.  So if you have 20 females about to molt, you need 20 males to protect them too.



I hear ya, and understand what you're trying to convey. But scientifically speaking, not all females will molt at the exact same time. I know the male can spend up to a few days with the female to guard her, however a single male can make some serious rounds in just a weeks time, publications show. Another reason why I don't keep any male under 5.25". This male is able to mate, too small for me to waste my time on, and can help replenish stocks.

Really wish FWC would make a law where you're allowed 6-12 under 4" for bait only and anything else must be discarded. Just my 0.02ยข

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