ROCK CRABS

[Rmod13]

Been looking into other things since blue claw season is coming to an end soon , been hearing that end of winter before spring in the cold water you can catch rock crabs easily,is this true in nj and what may be the rules /laws to doing so.. thanks for any advice

[Capt. Frank]

I've never heard or saw anyone catch or have a rock crab in north NJ.

Just spider crabs.  Back in the day had horseshoe crabs everywhere.   I have seen one of them in almost 20 years either.

[luv jerzeeblues]

I've caught crabs in early and mid spring that I believe are called "pinkie or peeky toe crabs" but may have also been called rock crabs. There were lots of them and later found out they are edible and have a nice taste. I'm going to try eating them next time. 

[#1 JIMMY]

Back in the 1980's my buddy and I would catch loads of rock crabs technically jonah crabs off the Long Branch fishing pier in the ocean. It burned down many years ago. They would fill the crab trap most times 5 or 6 in atrap. The best part is in the claws. There is a fishery for them now off the New England coast. You can buy the claws at a lot of fish markets in NJ and at BJ's wholesale club. They are similar to Florida stone crab,. Pic of them

[Capt. Frank]

There are the ones that you can only remove the 2nd claw and then had to throw it back?    That's the rule in other states.

Back in the 1980's my buddy and I would catch loads of rock crabs technically jonah crabs off the Long Branch fishing pier in the ocean. It burned down many years ago. They would fill the crab trap most times 5 or 6 in atrap. The best part is in the claws. There is a fishery for them now off the New England coast. You can buy the claws at a lot of fish markets in NJ and at BJ's wholesale club. They are similar to Florida stone crab,. Pic of them

[#1 JIMMY]

in NJ the regulation is 50 Jonah crabs with a 4 3/4" shell. No regulation on removing only 1 claw.

https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2018/maregsum18.pdf

[Rmod13]

Ok cool that's what I remembered them being called "Jonah crabs ,,when are they in season?

[Capt. Frank]

Ocean going crabs?    No wonder blackfish love them.

I don't see any NJ regulation on them on that sheet- just blue crabs.

[#1 JIMMY]

It's there. The last species in the middle column