Should I keep females?

Started by Crabbeer, September 02, 2003, 09:02:25 PM

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Crabbeer

I know a female crab mates once when she is molting to become mature.  After mating she may spawn several times.  The question I have is when should I consider keeping a female - without fear of depleting/robbing the reproductive crab.  

Today I caught 5 very large females that were very heavy.  I don't like keeping them because of the possibility of spawning so I threw the first three back.  I caught two more (6+ inches) that were very heavy and decided to keep them.  Did I risk extracting a 2 million egg spawning she chab?  Or is a female of this size not likely to spawn anymore?  Any guesses?  
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Wye River Web

I guess this is a tough question for most of us that love to crab.  I have taught my children not to keep the females (no matter what size)  because they hold the future.

I know it is tough to throw back a heavy one that may be approaching 7 1/2 to 8 inches, but....  Good habits should not be compromised.  Who know if she will lay again ?  I always try to "error" on the side of sound practice.

Throw them back !

Wye River Web

Tom Powers

Just a few thoughts.

Most female crabs spawn (i.e. sponge up and lay eggs) once,  some spawn twice, some spawn a third time all off of their last mate when the go from a triangle apron to a sook with a domed shaped apron.  Verrrrrrrry seldom will a female crab spawn after that last time.  

Removing a sponge crab from the water kills most of the eggs.  This is strictly anecdotal evidence from the guys at VIMS that are trying to raise them from eggs.

Tom

Steve

Female crabs spawn in high-salinity waters because their eggs will not survive in brackish water.

If you catch a female in the mid- to upper Chesapeake Bay, most likely she has never spawned because the waters are too brackish.

I've written up a page which discusses this topic in great detail. Please give it a read:
http://www.blue-crab.org/spawning.htm

Crabbeer

Thanks for the informative replies.  I agree with the sentiment expressed as far as avoiding keeping of the females.  

I understand that females will migrate south to the higher salinity spawning grounds when they are ready to spawn.  They may also spawn twice in one year.  Would it be a safe assumption to say that these same crabs that may have had their last spawning will return to the upper bay (lesser salinity) waters in the following year?  The page Steve referenced suggests that most females spawn twice and then die.  If a crabber believes the female he catches has probably already spawned twice, why throw it back in to die?  

I am really on the fence when it comes to this topic.  I can say that I would NEVER keep an immature female, a sponge crab or a smaller mature female.  I just wonder about those larger ones that appear to be beyond spawning age.  
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D Crabster

Hey I guess I'll throw my two cents into this mix.  If we are not sure if a female has spawned once, twice or evan three times.  Then why take a chance and keep her........ throw back all the sallies,  there are plenty of jimmies for the taking.

ken

when a female is a jumbo i will keep them at  times...do to the meat is alot sweeter and im sure she's just about over her life  cycle  anything small i do throw back

Crabpop

#7
In my whole lifetime I've only kept one female, and that one I caught 24 years ago....on fried chcken....at a company picnic.  Ain't tried to ketch any since.  
(Pssssst, they're talking about female crabs, you idiot!)
Ooohhhh, well, I don't keep none of them either.

Crabpop ::) ;D
Severn, Md USA

D Crabster


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