NE Florida ICW in January

[Kencraft206]

I'm going to be in Saint Augustine, Florida for a week in January. I have access to a dock on the ICW. ( 0-6 feet deep) I have some open top traps.  I'm a newb, any tips on baits, tides, time of day?

Thanks, John

[Crabcruncher]

Bait....chicken drumsticks

tide....incoming, or at the very least, moving.

best time of day....afternoon on a sunny day, allows the shallow water to warm up enough to coax a few crabs that are hanging out in twelve ft. of water to come into less than six ft. of water for a late snack. Best time would be just before dark.

[Kencraft206]

Thanks Crabcruncher,

It sounds like you're recommending deeper water if I could get a boat?  Any target depths for the ICW in January? Thanks, John

[Crabcruncher]

If you can find an area that has between eight to fifteen, without worrying about a barge sucking all your traps up, that would be where they spend the winter. 
I was crabbing a few Decembers ago, first time in a new spot, dropped thirty topless traps in four ft. of water, made two runs and caught zip.
Crabbing partner wanted to write the area off and move. I decided to try traps in ten ft. of water, same area, about thirty ft. further from shore, and hit the motherlode. Two bushels in less than three hours. Best run was 27 out of 30.
I have also caught crabs in two ft. of water in the Winter, but only on the side of the bayou that was exposed to the Sun the longest, and about midday.
I just bought some crabs to pick for a stuffed shrimp recipe, and I got a pound of meat from seven crabs, so they are pretty full this time of year. Number ones down here cost about two bucks a crab, live.

[Kencraft206]

Crabcruncher, that's very helpful information, thanks!