Thank you! Didn't even know where it was and had to look it up on the net; found it around the lower end of New Jersey? <sigh> Unfortunately, that's one heck of a drive for me. Wish these tasty critters would swim a bit further north.
The term "Peekytoe" is the Maine name for them. I know Maine might be a bit of a drive for you too, but like you I am between Maine and New Jersey and these are the crabs I always get. I am north of Cape Cod in the cold waters of Massachusetts Bay. If you are in NY they must be near you too.
My method of hunting was always drifting over seaweed beds while freediving at low tide. I know they are under rocks too but freediving is done one breath at a time and moving rocks burned too much oxygen.
Any place I was seeing lobsters, was good rock crab hunting. I am new to blue crabbing, truthfully never caught one yet, but I would try jetties and rocky areas for Peekytoe.
On a side note, I used to freedive spearfish in RI waters. I don't remember seeing alot of rock crab, but I was chasing stripers so I wasn't looking. The warmer waters down your may need a different strategy, but they are out there....in the millions
Now I want to go peekytoing..... think my wife would notice if I was absent for a few hours on mothers day at dawn?
