Thank you for the welcome Tatoo and ILLSWIMHOME, I look forward to contributing to this forum and posting some pics so all can see our beautiful Mississippi blues. I accidentally posted in the South East report forum instead of Gulf Coast. The crabs are available here all year it seems. Some months have been better than others, but the fall and winter crabs seem to average larger and more abundant. We rarely get freezing temps on the coast here, and there is forage for the crabs in abundance. I have the most fun string crabbing off local piers and docks. I seldom use the ring traps because the big " smart " crabs will almost have nothing to do with them here. They seem too hold the bait better on cloudy days and dingy water clarity found in the local bayous. Good luck and tight lines to all.
I agree with you observation on the dingy water and cloudy days, and those big boys did not get to that size being stupid. I feel exactly the same for the trot line up north here......