North Causeway docks in New Smyrna and Oak Hill

[SHELLFISH]

On 7-14-2018 I went down to see what the crabbing action was. There was only one crabber just setting up at about 1:30 in the afternoon. It was an outgoing tide. I went back down at 8:30 to see if he was still; he was! The tide was now incoming.
After 7 hours he had only seven crabs! The crabs were all about 5.5 to 6 inches. He explained that when the tide was slowing to change over he started getting crabs but when it picked up tb full incoming the bite dropped off. He thought the flow was too strong with the new moon.  The dock was filled with fishermen catching small Whiting!

On 7-15-2018  I went down to Oak Hill and checked Riverbreeze Park: no crabbers were present.
I then went down to Goodriches and found a single crabber with three pyramid style traps tied off to the dock across from the restaurant. He explained he has only caught two decent crabs and a bunch of small crabs.

This has been one slow crabbing season so far! We have had an extraordinarily wet May and June and the water is mostly fresh and loaded with tannin coloring the water black! Not brown but black! I talked with one fish market seller who explained he cleaned several crabs from the area and found their lungs (dead mans fingers) black in color! He said it looked like the crabs were two packs a day smokers!  He said he has never seen that before!

It's also strange that several of the caught crabs I have seen have mature Barnacles on their carapace. Usually the crabs from the area are clean of barnacles. Perhaps they have been out the inlet in full salt water?

[booman17]

Thanks for the report.  I hope it starts to pick up soon!  That was one determined crabber to be there for 7 hours with only 7 crabs.

[SHELLFISH]

I haven't crabbed since 4-18-2018. I am not willing to wait 1-2 hours for one crab!
I am starting to Jones for some crabs big time though! I need some crabs!

[booman17]

I agree!!  The only luck I have had this year has been off of the Riverbreeze pier.  I took a fishing charter out Saturday out of Ponce, and on my way back to the house saw a Pier around the Daytona Shores area that appeared to be rebuilt from the hurricane.  Thinking of trying out there in the next few weeks.  Have you heard anything in regards to that spot?

[tattoo]

Thanks for the report , hope it gets better for you

[SHELLFISH]

No, sorry, I've never been up there.
I did try around the Dunlawton Bridge once a few years ago but can't say I was impressed!
t might be different if I tried it another time.
Crabs seem to move around quite a bit in this area and what produces today might not produce tomorrow!