Bear mountain dock

[Levi]

Been a hard time trying to get to the dock this season, work and doctors appointments. September right around the corner any success reports? Going to try every Friday in September if we can. Always love to go early on Friday mornings and get out by noon. Any info highly appreciated, it's a hour long drive from port Jervis NY but always a great time !!!

[MarkB]

Crabbed down in Sony Point on the 30th. 14 cages with bleach bottles and 150' trotline. Caught the end of incoming and beginning of out going tide, little over 6 hours 27 crabs total. 

[Levi]

That's a great day these days. Crabbed on the bear mountain dock this morning from 6:15 am till 10 am, worst trip in years for this time of year, 10 traps, bluegills caught end of out going tide, still tide, beginning of in coming tide. 2 barely legal keepers !!! 2 other people crabbing, all together 11 keepers between 4 people by the time we left. One of the other guys wanted to catch at least 6 to go home with so we gave him our 2, that gave him 4, hope he caught 2 more before he left.

[MarkB]

Yea, I dont get it. Past two winters have been mild. Harsh winters with heavy ice crushes them buried in the mud flats. Very few if any commercial crabbers left in the river. Biggest change I've seen over the years, what I called ribbon weed no longer exits in the marshy areas as well as water chestnut. Think it was a major contributor to the survival rate of immature crabs, could hide from prey.  That combined with no where to hide and the striper population.... Have you've noticed any small mitten crabs there? Every time there this year would see little mitten crabs drop out if the cage. Doubt they are the cause. At least not yet. Ecosystem if the river is changing though, no doubt.