Pamlico Sound tips

[mkbay]

09/24/2018
Hello all,
We will be visiting Hatteras Island in about a week. 08/29-10/06. I'll be staying at a house that is no joke 5' from my slip. We will be using a boat to crab and will be using the topless and stackable traps. I will also be dropping 2 full size crab pots near my slip. We will also have some fun using hand lines at and near the slip. Hands down, using a trot line is my long time favorite. I know trot lines are not allowed in NC by recreational folks so I'll try all other methods to see what is most productive. For bait I'm planing a little experiment to find the best bait and will also experiment with various depths. I have 21 traps and I will bait 7 traps with chicken, 7 traps with whole fish(Alewife or Menhaden), and 7 traps with Razor Clams. I like to use bait bags that are attached to the traps under a stainless steel spring. Works better for me than using bait clips or pins. I will be using orange bags for half of the traps and black bags for the other half.
I'm from Annapolis, MD on the Chesapeake Bay. I had a commercial crab license for about 20 years but recently sold it as I wasn't using it. I like this forum as it gives me ideas and tips about crabbing the OBX. My questions are as follows and pertains to the Pamlico Sound
01. What's the best depth to lay traps
02. Is the northern Pamlico better than the southern part
03. Opinions on the best bait
04. What kind of bottom is most productive. sandy, mud, oyster beds or grasses
05. Incoming tide seems to be better in the Chesapeake, is that true for the Pamlico Sound
05. Depending if how crabbing is we will do a little fishing. I'll bring some peeler crabs and will have some minnows from our trap at the slip
06. What's biting this this time of year? Any Rock fish and any comments on trolling the Sound?
Any other comments for crabbing these dates would be appreciated
Thanks much,
M