2024 Wrap-up- St Lucie Co and Martin Co Florida (December 27th)

[Jimmies and Sooks]

As 2024 draws to a close, it's time to look back on a thrilling year of crabbing adventures across the beautiful state of Florida.
 
About Me:  Crabbing has been my passion for the past 35 to 40 years. Growing up in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, I was steeped in the crabbing culture from birth. Now based in Palm Beach Gardens, I often travel to Martin County and St. Lucie County to cast my traps in the St. Lucie River (both the north and south forks). Five years ago, I made the best investment ever: a kayak. It opened up deeper waters and areas previously inaccessible by boat and it took my crabbing experiences to a whole new level. South Florida crabs are smarter and Shore crabbing never worked for me in Florida, but from the kayak... Absolute game-changer!
 
2024 Results: It's been a rollercoaster year with less favorable results. My catch has been cut in half for most of the 2024 season. Crabbing goes in cycles, and it seems this year was just an off one for South Florida's Atlantic coast. On average this year, I caught about 10-25 crabs per trip after soaking five traps for two days—far below the consistent 20-50 crabs from the past five years. But I'll tell you what, each crab was a treasure, and I savored every delicious one- steamed, shell on, thoroughly dusted in JO #2 seasoning!
 
I'm curious to hear about your experiences—please drop a comment below and let me know how your year went!
 
Despite the dip in local catches, I didn't let it get me down. Instead, I embarked on an epic journey across Florida, casting my lines in Broward, Brevard, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, Putnam, Marion, Volusia, Wakulla Counties, and beyond. And wow, what an adventure! Each destination brought new challenges and excitement, with the Gulf Coast and particularly the Panhandle delivering some outstanding crabbing(sorry I know this the wrong page for gulf coast but wanted to share).
 
Crabbing has taken me to incredible places this year, and I hope you had the chance to partake in this fantastic hobby too. If you haven't, I strongly encourage you to grab the opportunity and explore all Florida has to offer, particularly the CRABBING!
 
I'm gearing up to check my traps I set this Wednesday—heading out tomorrow morning to collect the "big catch" lol. Either way, today is December 27th and the crabbing is still rocking as we wrap up 2024, and I couldn't be more grateful to be catching blues year-round!

Cheers to more crabbing adventures in 2025. Tight lines and full traps, everyone!
If interested in seeing the exact locations and methods I use while crabbing, feel free to visit 'Jimmies and Sooks' on YouTube. It isn't terrible
https://www.youtube.com/@How_I_Caught_Crabs
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[SHELLFISH]

Brad, Thank you for your year end wrap up and your videos! I have only seen a few of them and should check them out more.
I have also been crabbing a long time mostly in CT but I met some folks here and would occasionally head south to crab with them on the Wye River in MD.  I have also ventured south for a few of the Wye River BCA picnics. Such fun!
Now retired I crab only in my area of Volusia County FL and this year my catch is down by a lot. I'd like to get up north and crab the Jaxsonville - St Augustine areas. I see the YouTube videos by Crabbing with Tony and he does well up there!
I should start venturing out further but I got a car that is at its end and I don't trust it too much! Time for a new car!
This year I am only at 44 crabs down from the usual of about 125-150 crabs per year. I am happy to get about a dozen crabs each time out.
The wife doesn't like to pick crabs so the catch is usually just for me and I try to get out every two weeks. I crab from land or docks here in Florida using metal ring nets I get from Bass Pro when they have them!. I have topless traps I used up north but they get hung up in the vegetation here so I now use the ring nets mostly.
I don't know what happened this year for a reduced catch but it appeared the crabs stayed in the middle of the river and didn't venture out too much in the bays where I can reach them with my ring nets. I bought a few of the castatable traps to try and reach them but they were of little help. I wanted to get the boat out to lay a set of topless traps down the middle of the river but it never happened.
I hope next year is better!