7-11-10 Gunpodwer

[ChrisS]

If you wanted to, for the better good of the crab population, you could make a case that keeping a "mature" but light crab could infact be extremely harmful to the population as a whole.

The Gunpowder, although notorious for yielding a terrible quality of crab, is well known for also yielding very LARGE crabs of terrible quality. If these crabs were allowed to be released, that would increase the mature breeding stock.....and that goes for light crabs through out the bay.

[BasketBreaker]

Is there a topic in here on the lights vs the muds when it comes to areas or depths and such?  I'm not an expert on crabbing but been crabbing the UB off and on since 84 specifically Middle River.

Do you generally see lighter crab in certain areas of the bay, or around tributaries, depths, and such?  I'd think that a "lighter" crab would be more vonerable to injury/attack both in the water and in a basket. so do they seek out safer water...do they know they are light?  I'd imagine a rockfish or blue could tear up a paper shell.

Bowmovements.....I know what you mean with them going to waste...I had a few pass on me before I even got the boat in earlier this year  You noticed my "special traps," next to the Ranger.     thanks for mentioning the forum!

[Captain Seaweed]

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[zfatdaddy]

Better quality crabs are typically in deeper water. I also have noticed that the quality of the crabs are better on a falling tide versus an incoming tide.

Phil 

[captaincrab55]

Better quality crabs are typically in deeper water. I also have noticed that the quality of the crabs are better on a falling tide versus an incoming tide.

Phil 

   Define,  "Deeper Water"...

[zfatdaddy]

9-17 foot of water. I like 10-12 myself.


This is the reason the WYE AND CHESTER have the best crabs!! Both rivers are very deep.
Phil

[BowMovements]

Is there a topic in here on the lights vs the muds when it comes to areas or depths and such?  I'm not an expert on crabbing but been crabbing the UB off and on since 84 specifically Middle River.
Do you generally see lighter crab in certain areas of the bay, or around tributaries, depths, and such?  I'd think that a "lighter" crab would be more vonerable to injury/attack both in the water and in a basket. so do they seek out safer water...do they know they are light?  I'd imagine a rockfish or blue could tear up a paper shell.
Bowmovements.....I know what you mean with them going to waste...I had a few pass on me before I even got the boat in earlier this year  You noticed my "special traps," next to the Ranger.     thanks for mentioning the forum!

You got it brotha!  You been out lately?  As for you questions most rivers with allot of grass and shallows are prime for sloughing crabs.  The sloughed crabs hold on to the grasses and hide until they can move along the bottom easily.  The GunPowder may be one of the biggest sloughing grounds in the upper bay.  The crabs are huge but junk like Chris S. said. It will yield some great fall crabs though.  Oh, I would imagine they know they are light due to their behavior of seeking refuge. Just my opinion though. 

[BasketBreaker]

THANKS GUYS FOR THE INFO.....Bowmovements....let me know when you wanna go striperfishing.  They'll be up in the rivers starting as early as late Aug.......I destroy them 18-28"......by the way, those traps are totally worth it....it you've got the "Guns" to pull them up...LOL

I mix the striper meat and crab meat together and make cakes....and I can't even tell the difference with all the Maryland salt AKA Old Bay.

[BowMovements]

He ll  yeah!