Crabbing Question

[surfrocket]

this post is funny i cant believe i havent checked it out sooner.the only thing i want in stockings is some hott chick,and if she mentions clams or crabs in there,  im out of there.lol   i am actually taking my daughter and my x crabbing tomorow after work, i will give the report. we are going to my favorite bridge, i'll do some fishing too. let you guys know how it works out.

[ped579]

I will stop at the two docks in Seaside and find out for you guys.  Dock Sider Outfitters and Seabreeze boats.  Both should be pretty good right about now.  If you are looking to rent a boat both places have them as well.

Plus you have a number of small piers in Seaside Park that I believe are accessible at night for crabbing at no cost.

Here is a hint if you are going to use bunker as bait and are going to pay a B&T shop ask for the crabbing bunker, it is cheaper.  Right now the going rate for fresh bunker around here is $2.00 a bunker.  That could get expensive quick.

Happy Catching

Paul

[ChrisL]

I hit the south pier by Dock Outfitters Tuesday morning on incoming tide for just under 2 hours.  Had a little over 1/2 dozen keepers and 20-30 shorts with 2 traps on bunker.  Others seemed to be getting similar results.  Even with the number of shorts, the keepers were good size (5 1/2 - 6 inch).

Dock Outfitters get $1 for crabbing bunker, but if you're gonna cut it up, be careful, it's frozen solid as a rock. 

[ped579]

Did you ask if they could cut it up for you?  I know Seabreez boats at the North pier will hack it in pieces for you just ask.

Paul

[Mr Limpett]

I was just thinking that it would be nice to take the wife crabbing, but realized that you
have to have a boat operators licence to rent
a boat with an outboard! Right?
-Mr Limpett

[IrishAyes]

If I remember correctly, the boat rental has to give 'safety instructions' to the renter. No safety cert is needed.

[Pfishingruven]

Paul,

       Where did the rumor ever come from that spotlighting crabs is/was illegal?  Just curious...I have always known that it is not illegal, but I have heard people tell me you are not allowed to crab that way??

 

[ped579]

I don't know but as kids we used to do it all the time. 

If someone can show me the ruling then we all will know.  Its just like driving barefoot some say it is illegal but my college buddy is a First Sgt on the NJSP and he says there is no law that says you can't

Myth or Fact?  SHOW ME... 

[Pfishingruven]

YEAH!!  I think it is a MYTH.  I actually search all of the NJ FGW laws and didn't come up with anything.  My father always told me it was a myth also...I am a night person, so I might just give it a try in the near future. 

Love eating those crustaceans!!

 

[ped579]

I have to agree.  Here is the PDF of the only law written for crabs:

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/non-comm_crabpot_regs.pdf

Nothing in there states anything about no lights.

Paul

[bayonne]

Sounds reasonable, I'm going to have to give it a try . Blueclaws do make good Striped Bass bait. Just cut one in half and put the hook in one leg socket and out of another . They use them alot in the Virgina Surf, but not many people in Jersey want to part with a few from their meal.



ive used calico crabs befor and have caught stripers on them

[TRSteve71]

Going to have to grab my big mag lite and the new cages and go crabbin! Can taste em now..

[Kodiak814]

Man, load of posts on this wonderful ART....I grew up vacationing in Lavallette and as time wore on, I invested in a 12 foot boat with 10 horse engine, my father, being the engineer he was saw an opportunity there, we used to buy bunker, buy traps and then crab...or....buy spearing and fish from the piers.  With the boat, we invested in a 20 foot seine net, we would boat out to the various beachy islands in Barnegat Bay there, seine in the morn for an hour or so and gather about a 20 gallon bucket filled with spearing, killies and various other bait fish wandering through that day.  We would then proceed to the Mantoloking Bridge duringa nice tide change, chum sparingly the spearing and catch snappers till our hearts content(There was no limit in those days and 50 to 100 was normal 2 to 3 hours catch), then we would proceed anywhere we thought looked "crabby", drop lines with 2 or 3 snappers strung on and slits in there bods and catch crabs till all bait was gone!  Only money spent, GAS!!  Not a bad deal...but alas, boat sits hidden in weeds in Sussex County with more bees nests in the seats then ever they saw butts.  LOL  Some day get my kids to do it that way, VERY NATURAL!  Except the gas use of course!

[hook]

Good technique, my Grandfather used it for  keeping the bait on better as well as slowing down the chum process not for tangling the crab up. It also helps the killies from tearing up the bait
Good Luck

[JollyJoJo]

Capt Ed very well said, ym bf did somethnig simlar to this very recently, and I am stunned that he was silly enough to allow himself to do it!
I know when you're out on the boat or on the'rock' you dont neceserily think your hands need washing every 5 minutes but the collection of germs and bacteria combined with the the rest of money handling/sweat etc and long time away from it all made him very ill. Thankfully salmonella wasnt the case but it was very nasty and he ahs learnt ever since bless him..
We think fish actually works better anyway!

[BigAl13]

Hay guys try this one on for size.  Don't like the heat of the day or getting sunburn?  Go night crabbing with a flashlight or portable spot light.  The crabs like to come to the surface at night and will follow your beam of light right to the dock all you have to do is scoop them into your awaiting net.

I have been doing this for years on the docks off Seaside Park since the late 50's.

I do this as well, though one time a guy from f&g told me it was poaching and illegal, he didnt write me up but since then have been wondering if I am breaking the law

[overbite]

  Just a thought and a fact do commercial or recreational crabbers remove all the traps at sun down NO  Do they retrieve them at Night  YES. Scalping has been done eons in Nj and elsewhere, And by far not against the Law. When I was kid Catching Soft shell crabs on the Flats of Barnagate  Bay at Sea Side N ST and Beyound at low tide was at "Night"  was the way to go with a Bushel basket in a Inner tube a dip net and a flash light, Plus throw in a dozen Eels or more and life was good. and so was the extra Money. Bill

[IKAT]

   What do you care your a Cheater anyway   

JUST KIDDING BILL 
Night crabing is one of things I really miss--Just anchor up with some friends and in a few hours your good to go--A few Q-BEAMS shinning in the water and some box traps BS-n --no hot sun and miss the traffic on the way home.

[HookedupND14]

yes ive heard the stocking method ,  never used it but we usually drop commercial traps ,  its starting to slow down now but 2 weeks ago they were out and hungry,  i think the full moon will be one of our last attempts

[Luna Sea 5]

Last weekend I got only a dozen jumbos.. Last year at this time, this is what I caught.