Keeping crabs alive

[acarter92]

Hi guys,

I'm planing on making a little cruise to baltimoore inner harbor in a few weeks. On our way back, we are going to try some crabbing, and hopefully catch enough for supper.

Anyways, I'm having trouble figuring out what to do with them after I catch them to keep them alive. It will take us about 2 hours to get to the ramp from where the crab are, the ramp is fresh water so we can't catch them closer. Then about 1 1/2 hours back to the house from the ramp.

I've read that you don't want to submerge them or they'll drown. I have a small livewell in my boat (17ft spectrum). I'm thinking I'll put them in there with the tube out, so they will be constantly splashed with fresh water (fresh salt water that is) but not submerged. Then, can I just throw some ice on top of them in the livewell for the drive home, as the ice melts it will drain out.

Maybe I'm over thinking it, but I don't want them to die because I won't have too many chances to catch them.

Also, am I reading it right on the Maryland DNR website, that if we don't keep more than 2 dozer /person we are legal without a license (I live in PA and don't have a MD license)


Thanks,
Austin

 

[dingbat]

Re: Keeping crabs alive

You're restricted gip net, hand lines and 10 or fewer traps and rings or combination of traps and rings w/o a license. No crabbing on wedensdays from boat. 2 dozen per person.

The plan with the livewell and ice will work just fine. You'll be amazed on how tough they are.

I got to ask, where are you crabbing that you're close to the Harbor yet two hours from the ramp?

 

[acarter92]

Re: Keeping crabs alive

You're restricted gip net, hand lines and 10 or fewer traps and rings or combination of traps and rings w/o a license. No crabbing on wedensdays from boat. 2 dozen per person.

The plan with the livewell and ice will work just fine. You'll be amazed on how tough they are.

I got to ask, where are you crabbing that you're close to the Harbor yet two hours from the ramp?

We are putting in at "havre de grace" and cruising down to baltimoore, probably about 2 hours at 20-25mph. The plan was to try for crabs east of the harbor, around the hart miller island area. Do you think we'll have any luck there?

Thanks,
Austin

 

[s freud]

Re: Keeping crabs alive

As someone living in VA, I hear MD is a great place to catch "crabs" but most people want to get rid of them asap, not keep them alive.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Keeping crabs alive

We are putting in at "havre de grace" and cruising down to baltimoore, probably about 2 hours at 20-25mph. The plan was to try for crabs east of the harbor, around the hart miller island area. Do you think we'll have any luck there?

Thanks,
Austin

It's been slim pickings north of the bridge for a while now. Not to good to the south either. This heat isn't helping any

 

[acarter92]

Re: Keeping crabs alive

It's been slim pickings north of the bridge for a while now. Not to good to the south either. This heat isn't helping any

Huh, well I guess it's worth a try. Maybe the weather will be better in a few weeks.

Austin

 

[dingbat]

Re: Keeping crabs alive

Huh, well I guess it's worth a try. Maybe the weather will be better in a few weeks.

Austin

Combination of water temps and salinty. Not going to get better for sometime.

 

[acarter92]

Re: Keeping crabs alive

Hey guys,

Has the crabbing gotten any better in the last month or so?

I never got to make that trip, bent a prop shaft that caused a few other problems (lost a month of boating). Anyways, leaving Saturday for Belgrade Lakes, ME for a week and after that I'll be back on the water every weekend.

So I'm looking to try some crabbing towards the end of the month.

Austin