2023 Crab Season Report - Western Shore Mid-Bay River - Year in Review

[Stabilizer]

This season was a blast.  I had no significant problems other than an engine problem that sent me home one morning from the boat ramp and another day that the boat about swamped in some unusual windborne waves.    I saw some interesting things (porpoise, rat and snakes on the water, super moon, shooting star, etc.) and connected with interesting people and learned a few things along the way.

I strategically started the season in June so as not to have disappointing early trips.  And June was a hot month right from the jump and it had the highest male crab catches.  I stayed on a "local" river and therefor didn't have extended runs towing or travel by boat to the crab grounds.  Fuel costs eased slightly from last year and bait costs stayed the same.  It could be that crabs could have been found in commercial numbers in May this year, so I will likely try next year at that time.

The market for mature female crabs (sooks) performed well for me.  I tapped into some new customers and the continued rebranding of female crabs as sooks may have eased the taboo in peoples minds and raised sales.

Pesky joined me a few times to start the year, but then I started bringing an extra line and the boat quickly became too small for the additional gear and her.  That and potential weather conditions and unforeseen situations made it not safe to continue to bring her along.  I hope to have that remedied with a bigger boat TBD next year (although this could get delayed.)

When I left the water at the end of October the water was near 62.  This seemed warm for that date.  Clearly crabs were still to be caught and likely well into November.  Many things go into consideration for determining my last weekend and enough of those came together by the end of Saturday, October 28, 2023.  Among things considered are catch, sales, weather, equipment issues, still feeling like going, a well-stocked freezer, etc.  We picked 20 some pounds of crab meat in October and are now well stocked with crab cakes, crab quiche, and crab dip.

On 45 trips (a record number, at least in my recorded history) this year on a Western Shore Mid-Bay River from June 2 to October 28 the yield was approximately 209.5 bushels (up 84 bu. from last years truncated season) for an average 4.65 bushel per trip (up from 3.78 bu. per trip last year (note again that last year didn't have fall numbers.)  I am attributing the increase to more baited line length and more hours running it.  I feel like given the single-handed operations and the days I put into it – this is about maxing out my capabilities now.

Perhaps the new crabbing rig planned for next year and some ideas for improved culling will improve catching efficiency.  We will see.  To those still crabbing good luck with the remainder of your season.

Cheers, - Guy

[Perfectionist]

Thanks for the year end report again and all the reports throughout the year.

[wherearethecrabs]

Your posts are great, I learn a lot from them. Thanks for doing it.

[greenberg21]

Thanks for the YE report and congrats on the record # of trips and catch.

Have a safe and happy holidays (hopefully Santa delivers a bigger boat!). 

Best wishes for a safe and successful 2024.....

[Clamshells]

Great year end recap.   Look forward to all the weekly reports !! Thank You!!

[Wahoo]

Guy,
Thank you for the detailed report. As others have said, they are helpful, and speak to a wealth of knowledge. The season is over for us, but we have a start date already set in the calendar for May of 2024...
Best to all, and to all that do this for a living,  we appreciate all that you do.....Crab on...
Gerry

[Harford Crabber]

For all of us that have gone to run our line and realized it wasn't a hang but the anchor instead,  and for admitting other simple mistakes we all make, but won't admit...  I thank you for your honesty!! 

Enjoyed your posts throughout the year,  Thanks.

[Stabilizer]

Thanks for the year end report again and all the reports throughout the year.

Thanks. It is therapeutic to decompress each day with those reports.

Your posts are great, I learn a lot from them. Thanks for doing it.

Thanks. I learn plenty as well, just getting out there and giving it a go.

Thanks for the YE report and congrats on the record # of trips and catch.

Have a safe and happy holidays (hopefully Santa delivers a bigger boat!). 

Best wishes for a safe and successful 2024.....

Thanks.  In August with the poor crab catches it seemed pretty bleak.  But September came roaring back and by early October it felt like I culled more of the day than ran lines.

Great year end recap.   Look forward to all the weekly reports !! Thank You!!

Thanks. I don't have a good sense of how the year went until adding up the monthly DNR reports.  So when the season ends, I am excited to run the numbers. 

Guy,
Thank you for the detailed report. As others have said, they are helpful, and speak to a wealth of knowledge. The season is over for us, but we have a start date already set in the calendar for May of 2024...
Best to all, and to all that do this for a living,  we appreciate all that you do.....Crab on...
Gerry

Thanks. I don't feel the day is complete without rattling off a report. I am still learning plenty out there.  This isn't a living for me (and thank goodness) but it does provide walking around money.

For all of us that have gone to run our line and realized it wasn't a hang but the anchor instead,  and for admitting other simple mistakes we all make, but won't admit...  I thank you for your honesty!! 

Enjoyed your posts throughout the year,  Thanks.

Thank you. Most will find this shocking but I actually leave some stuff out for brevity! 

[ss498]

Yes, I also look forward to reading Your posts. Thanks for the info! Been crabbing 55yrs and love hearing other people's stories!!! Have a great winter and as always!  Crabon Brother Crabon !

[Derwood]

Thanks for all of the posts and the recap!

I am surprised that you had your highest volume of male catches in June -- is that just because the river gets flooded with migrating females in the fall?

[Stabilizer]

Yes, I also look forward to reading Your posts. Thanks for the info! Been crabbing 55yrs and love hearing other people's stories!!! Have a great winter and as always!  Crabon Brother Crabon !

Thanks, I pickup good info and enjoy some of the reads on here as well.

Thanks for all of the posts and the recap!

I am surprised that you had your highest volume of male catches in June -- is that just because the river gets flooded with migrating females in the fall?

Thanks.  I went back to look again and June had a the highest male per trip catch.  October was a very close second and should probably be considered best if I throw out one bad day that was setup for failure.  Conditions ands locations are changing quite a bit in months I consider the bookends of the season.  I am really hampered by culling time, being a single person operation and my multiple slotting sizes.  I feel October has the most potential and June was just particularly strong this year. 

[Crabslayer]

There isn't any crabs in the bay.  They're all vacationing in Italy. 

[Wallco99]

There isn't any crabs in the bay.  They're all vacationing in Italy.  

Back here in The States, the proper contraction in this sentence would have been "aren't". Not sure how they do it over there.

[tom on the rocks]

would this also be correct? There are no crabs in the bay.

[Wallco99]

would this also be correct? There are no crabs in the bay.

.

[tom on the rocks]

Rick i am  so glad for the approval, i think

[Wallco99]

Rick i am  so glad for the approval, i think

LOL

[Crabslayer]

Back here in The States, the proper contraction in this sentence would have been "aren't". Not sure how they do it over there.

Potato potato.  Tomato tomato.  

I be from Bawlmore Hon. 

[Wallco99]

You got me there.   

[Logical1]

Potato potato.  Tomato tomato.  

I be from Bawlmore Hon.  

That explains it. lol