Mantaloking bridge 8-20-14

[bayonne]

hit the bridge with 8 traps from 630 am-630 pm caught a couple of hundred crabs but only 3-4 dozen were keepers including females most were just keepers and 5 in and a couple were big 6-7 in hard day of crabbing

[fluke - u]

 

[Eng 94]

I know plenty of people tell there war stories on how fishing and crabbing was back when. Well here is my experience since 1956 in the shore and inland bays.

The Manasquan and Metedeconk were always loaded with good crab, never a bad day of crabbing....you would always come home with a peach basket of Blue Claws. Claming in the Barnegate Bay was great. Fishing these areas was just as bountiful. Not now though! What people are calling a good day today to me is a joke....at the risk of sounding snobby. I'm not trying to be though,just honest as I see it. It's a shame how fishing and crabbing has changed so much in our area...I don't know the entire reason but a lot has to do with past environmental issues with pollution and some poor fisheries management. We are all paying for it in one way or the other. Lets hope someone comes up with the right answer....so far I'm not so impressed with the DEP approach. Sorry to get on a soap box here,but I tired as hell seeing what is happening to our shore and inland waters.     

[Reefsquatter]

It is just a little different now, can still dig up a limit of clams with some effort, and the crabbing was really good on the west side this year, bushels were the norm. Just got to look a little harder that's all.

[Eng 94]

Yes that is true, trouble is us oldtimers were spoiled. I think fishing is coming back very slowly. Wish I was younger and in better shape so I could get around a little better, I'm sure that would make a difference....so would a boat.