NC Trip\Adventure

[Steve]

From what I recall, the bag limit is one dozen crabs per person. No commercial gear allowed. No unattended gear allowed. You can use handlines and traps, but no pots. Distance from the deck to the water's surface is about 3-4 feet. Each lock can support one or two parties, depending on how many lines each has in the water. There are other locks and crabbing spots in the refuse, I had the most luck at the Lake Landing and Waupoppin canals. Good luck!!

[Pete Miller]

Had a great time with Joe and Tim crabbing at the Lake Mattamuskeet Refuge.

We crabbed at several locations and our best catches were from the Waupoppin Creek Canal and Lock.  Fairly good water flow out of the canal to sound the first day.  Hardly any movement either in or out the second day.   Plenty of places to crab/fish from canal banks and we ended up here (see image) where the Waupoppin canal meets the Lake.   Caught a pretty good deal of catfish and bream in the traps.

Canal depths were generally from 2 to 5 feet.  Water Depths at  the locks were generally 4 to 5.5 feet.

Regulations - 12 crabs per person.  A total of 5 handlines/traps per person.  Most of the crabs were not quite full from last shed.

If going to Lake Mattamuskeet bring plenty of bug repellent, sunblock, and liquid refreshment.  Not much shade in the good crabbing spots we found.   The lake is 18 miles long and 6 miles wide.  Main body of lake varies in depth from .5 feet to 5 feet.  Saw a pretty good bit of wildlife-plenty of turtles(fed well at our expense), birds, geese, herons, egrets, fish, otters, deer and only one small moccosin.

[Joe Crabs]

Hey Steve when did you go, what month. Like I said I think I went a little early for all the monsters.

[Steve]

We went in early July a few years ago.

Glad to hear that the Waupoppin canal lock was productive for you... it's my favorite spot! Seems like that spot is relatively unknown... everyone usually ends up at the Lake Landing canal lock which is closer.