Crazy for Crabbin' - Story by Tina Wagner and Photography by Devon Sinclaire

Crazy for Crabbin'

Story by Tina Wagner and Photography by Devon Sinclaire

Crabs are not only fun to eat but catching them is a sport all in itself. If you have never tried to catch them yourself because you just aren't sure how to go about it, lets see if we can help a little.

Crabs are caught by a variety of methods. Most recreational crabbers or "chicken neckers," (fondly named after the bait they mostly use) catch their prey by using a simple hand line and dip net. More than likely this is how you would go about crabbing if the idea caught your fancy. To do this you need a net with a pole no longer than six feet, a line with a chicken neck tied to it and somewhere to tie the line. (Generally tying the line to a pier works the best. Of course you must have permission first from the person who owns the pier to tie your line on and crab. You will notice public piers because others will be crabbing as well.) Make sure that you also have something to keep your catch in. Most popular is the bushel basket available at most any fishing store in the tri-county area. This process of crabbing works as follows: the crab will swim to the chicken neck to feed. The crabber will notice that the line becomes straight and taught. Slowly pulling the line to the surface of the water the crabber waits until the crab becomes visible and then slowly scoops the crab out of the water with the net. You may not catch enough for a crab feast this way, but it is lots of fun for the family and the kids will surely enjoy it. Certainly if you are out on the boat you can toss the line over the side and give it a try.

Commercial crabbers, those who make a living out of catching crabs use many methods to bring in a catch. The crab pot, invented in the early part of the 20th century is the most popular method. This is a large square trap made out of galvanized chicken wire. The idea behind the crab pot is that it tricks the crab into believing that it is trapped, causing it to feel threatened which then causes it to swim into the "parlor" of the trap where it remains until it is removed. This is a more high tech way of crabbing, requiring a thorough knowledge of how crab pots work and where best to lay the trap.

Other types of traps include the ring net, which works best in calm water, with flat, sandy or muddy bottoms and the pyramid and box traps. All of these traps are also popular among recreational crabbers as well and lie flat on the water's bottom with bait that lures the crab to feed. When the trap is lifted, the crab is trapped and brought to the surface.

The trotline is another tool widely used by commercial crabbers. In parts of Maryland it is actually the only method that crabbers may use by law. A trotline is a very long line that is anchored with heavy weights on each end. The line is baited from end to end and is placed on the water's bottom. The waterman starting at one end of the line pulls it up. As it is pulled the line drapes over a roller attached to the side of the boat. As the boat moves down the line, the line is raised towards the surface where hopefully crabs will be feeding on the bait attached at various intervals and the waterman will then scoop up the crab with a dip net.

Finally, scapping for crabs is crabbing at its most basic. When scapping, the crabber merely uses a long-handled dip net called a scap net and while wading in the water looks for crabs in the eelgrass. Because crabs seek shallow water to molt and become weak after doing so, this can be a successful method of catching crabs, however, patience is required. It is suggested if you are scapping near the shoreline to do so at night with a bright light.

The success in trapping a crab is getting it into the trap to begin with. This of course is the job of the bait. Many baits are used among crabbers, recreational and commercial alike. As previously mentioned, the chicken neck is popular among those crabbing to while away a Sunday afternoon. Those serious about the day's catch may choose eel, cut into four inch pieces, bull lip, (a tough cut of meat from the facial area of beef), menhaden, which is plentiful and relatively inexpensive and turkey necks which are known for their durability.

Crabs have become a scarce commodity and because of this, there are many laws that pertain to those who catch them. Be aware of these regulations before you venture out on your crabbing adventure. Know what they are. Commercial crabbers who use trotlines, 11 to 30 traps or rings, and or up to 10 eel pots for their own bait, must have a license. However, a license is NOT required of the recreational crabber who uses 10 or fewer traps and rings, dipnets, handlines and who catches no more than two dozen hard crabs and no more than one dozen soft crabs or peelers. Recreational crabbers may set recreational crabbing gear and crab from boats during May, June, July, August, and September between one half hour before sunrise to 5:00 p.m. in the main Bay and between 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset in the tributaries of the Bay.

Recreational crabbers may not set recreational crabbing gear and crab from boats on Wednesdays except handlines, dip nets, and pots at private piers. The minimum size crab you may keep between now and July 14 is a 5" male hard and a 3 1/4" peeler. After July 15 the size changes to the minimum being 5 1/4" male hard and 3 1/2" peeler. The minimum size for soft crab is 3 1/2 inches during the entire season. Be aware that a new crab trap called the crab alert has been on the market and is illegal to use in Maryland. Using illegal methods to catch crabs has a maximum penalty of $500 for the first offense. There are other regulations, most which pertain to commercial crabbers but a quick visit to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website www.dnr.state.md.us will quickly clear up any questions that you have.

So what are you waiting for? Get the net, grab the kids and have some fun!