Wye River 10/22/24 - Traps Only

Started by Wallco99, October 23, 2024, 05:21:15 PM

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Wallco99

Start: 7:54
Water temp: 60.9
Wind Speed: WSW @ 3 MPH
Key Depth: 13'-15'
Gear: 15 topless traps w/ CN, 15 Perfectionist rings w/CN
Finish: 12:09 to fill basket
          12:28 to finish culling for bigger crab (Only needed 1 run)

Left my house in PA at normal time. Wasn't sure how many other crabbers would be out, but I knew we would have choice of what area we wanted, unless of course, some last minute, late arrival jacka ss dropped on top of us just after sunrise. We decided to try something that we had NEVER done before in all of our years of crabbing. This trip, we brought only traps, no trotline. With the near 50/50 results from previous week on line vs. traps, and the large number of drop offs that we witnessed, we figured we'd give it a shot. So at legal time, we deployed our 30 traps/rings in three different areas, at three different depths (seven traps in 10'-12', ten in 14'-18', and the remaining thirteen in 12'-16'). Even though the numbers look similar, it was three completely different ledges in different directions. First pass through was 8 crabs, 7 of the 8 were caught in 13'-15' water. After two more passes, the depth results seemed to be the same, and not one crab was caught in less than 12' water. So we moved all of our traps to depth of 13'-16', in two separate locations. From this point on, the crabbing was very consistent. We had several runs of 8 crabs and 12 crabs, and other runs with only 4 or 5. But I have to say, in all my years of crabbing, these are the biggest, fullest crabs I have EVER gotten. Not sure if it's because we used traps instead of line, but once we filled our basket, we only had seven crabs in the "lighter crab basket", and the other basket was filled with absolute boulders. The most incredible thing was, on our very last run, when we were culling and wrapping up, we caught 18 crabs in the 30 traps, including doubles in two of them. This was our best run, by far, all day. And as a result, we only needed ONE run to cull out the lights. The other 11 of the 18 went back into the drink, and they were very, very nice crabs as well. I'll catch those ones next Tuesday. It was definitely a much more labor intensive day than running the line, but the set-up and the wrap-up are definitely quicker, and right now, the quality of crab yesterday makes me want to try that again next week. When we left, the trucks were all the way up the road. Looks like all the fair-weather crabbers showed up after sunrise. Two of them did try to drop on me, but that wasn't going to happen. Sorry jerkoff, but we've been here for hours.
Trump!!!

greenberg21


Logical1

Nice job Rick, I can see where traps might be better when crabs start dropping off the line early. If the crab was in the trap (and your rings don't cross over, yours are Perfectionist so I know they don't) when you start pulling, he will still be there when you get it out of the water (if you do it right).  I have noticed sometimes in the fall that the action picks up later in the morning as the sun warms the water a bit.  Seeing these reports makes me want to break out the kayak and give it another go. The crabs I caught last time did taste real good.
There's no place like roam!

DCCrabber

nice job and beautiful crabs.

I haven't crabbed the Wye in 25 years.

Are you having to run all the way out to the mouth of the river yet or are they still closer to the ramp?

NOREAST

Another banner trip Rick, great job. I hope you didn't sugarcoat your feelings with them late comers. Wish i had a video of that verbal interaction. Thanks for the report.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T



Wallco99

Quote from: DCCrabber on October 24, 2024, 03:19:43 PMnice job and beautiful crabs.

I haven't crabbed the Wye in 25 years.

Are you having to run all the way out to the mouth of the river yet or are they still closer to the ramp?
No. Not even remotely close to the mouth. Not yet.
Trump!!!

BigCountry14

Man thats a good looking cooler full

Howard

Wallco:
Dude you are killing it! Nice catch. Great pics. And, it looks like you got some monsters too. I more or less put up my gear, but if this good weather continues and you keep posting these fabulous reports, I might just get the itch to make one more run(?) 🤦�♂️

Be safe out there.

Howard

Wallco99

Quote from: Howard on October 25, 2024, 03:11:52 PMWallco:
Dude you are killing it! Nice catch. Great pics. And, it looks like you got some monsters too. I more or less put up my gear, but if this good weather continues and you keep posting these fabulous reports, I might just get the itch to make one more run(?) 🤦�♂️

Be safe out there.

Howard
I'll meet you there Tuesday. Let me know.
Trump!!!

Jake

Nice! For me, when they start dropping, I run my prop stick under the water and that's helped. I also run my auto dipper entirely under water and it's reduced my drop offs greatly. I constantly hear folks fawn over the great famous monster crab Wye River and finally gave it a go a few weeks ago- ran 3,000' a half mile from the public ramp and never had a worse day. I want to try it again but it's hard to shake that terrible day when I'm pretty constant on the Tred Avon not far away. 

A D V E R T I S E M E N T



NOREAST

If it's not broken , don't fix it. If you're OK with pretty consistent, stay on the Tred Avon. Photo's don't lie, Wallco99 slammed them on his trip with 30 traps. Sounds like you might have set up in the wrong area. 

U812OHNO

This time of year, I never have much luck running a line.  And traps...unless you have somebody leaning over and grabbing the float, man it's a lot of work out there by yourself.  Unless you're in a little 14' skiff 18" off the water.
My motto "All it takes is time and money".

Logical1

Quote from: U812OHNO on October 26, 2024, 09:05:13 PMThis time of year, I never have much luck running a line.  And traps...unless you have somebody leaning over and grabbing the float, man it's a lot of work out there by yourself.  Unless you're in a little 14' skiff 18" off the water.
Or a 12.5' kayak where you are sitting 9" above the water. I might have to go out again this week.
There's no place like roam!

Logical1

Quote from: NOREAST on October 26, 2024, 06:16:20 PMIf it's not broken , don't fix it. If you're OK with pretty consistent, stay on the Tred Avon. Photo's don't lie, Wallco99 slammed them on his trip with 30 traps. Sounds like you might have set up in the wrong area.
Keep in mind, when you have someone who works an area regularly and frequently (like Rick) they know where the drop offs and honey holes are located. They know the bait that works, and the gear to use with the given conditions. Very hard to beat years of built up knowledge of a specific area. 
There's no place like roam!

moecrabs

Rick, You are the Man !!!! Great crabs you have there. I'm crabbing with you next year !!! Lol !!! 

A D V E R T I S E M E N T



DCCrabber

Quote from: Wallco99 on October 24, 2024, 09:42:05 PMNo. Not even remotely close to the mouth. Not yet.
I didn't have the same quality as you Mr Wallco, but I did eventually get close to a bushel of fair to nice crabs.  Most were hard and full but it took most of the day.  I couldn't believe the number of crabbers out there in late October and how close to the ramp they were crabbing this late in the year.


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Wallco99

Quote from: DCCrabber on October 29, 2024, 08:55:05 AMI didn't have the same quality as you Mr Wallco, but I did eventually get close to a bushel of fair to nice crabs.  Most were hard and full but it took most of the day.  I couldn't believe the number of crabbers out there in late October and how close to the ramp they were crabbing this late in the year.



When were you there? I was there again today and there was hardly anyone else out there. We had another great outing. I'll post tomorrow.
Trump!!!

DCCrabber

Quote from: Wallco99 on October 29, 2024, 10:22:51 PMWhen were you there? I was there again today and there was hardly anyone else out there. We had another great outing. I'll post tomorrow.
Friday.  They were parked up the road and the lot was full

A D V E R T I S E M E N T