Both are viable methods. Some crab from a stationary anchored ( or double anchored with traps and hand lines) boat over a honey hole.
Others crab by "jugging" with strings of traps set out over an area with some separation between them and some kind of float on top to retrieve them. Then run back and forth checking them.
I used to anchor on an old favorite spot in the Navesink River for years back by Red Bank. But recently it's not that concentrated calling for "Jugging" style. Jugging helps you zero in and you find a few traps catch everything while other traps are empty on every pull.
Hello I've always crabbed from land but have a boat this year and wanted to know if while using collapsible traps from a boat must you anchor and have them tied to your vessel or are you allowed to drop them tied to a float say every 20-40 ft appart not impeding a navigational water way and keep circling checking them. I only crab in New Jersey waters Hope this isn't a dumb question and thanks for any help.