CRABBING ON THE OUTGOING

[On a mission]

My boy and his buddies want to go crabbing tommrow. I don't crab that much but have heard that the outgoing is not that good. Anyone have any input. They are going for the fun, but if they can't get any I need to let them know. Thanks

[gimmeumpqua]

1 hour before to 1 hour after slack tide. That way the "bugs" aren't being swept away by the current. Doesn't matter whether or not this "tide window" is incoming or outgoing.


Kurt

[greenbuttskunk]

no it is not. Crab do not like freshwater and will bury themselves into the sand and wait till a flush of salt. Don't waste your time and gas heading down there. IMHO.
GBS

[El-Kabong]

you also stand a much better chance of losing your traps!

[Aufish101]

On a mission,

I don't have much luck on an outgoing tide, right at high slack and a little after is ok, but then it slows down a lot till low slack.


Aufish101

[KChookem]

While it is my choice, I've crabbed all the way through ebb when the tide change is not too great (say 3-4 feet), AND if I can find a place to get out of the strong current. You really have to pay attention to where you drop the floats and be ready to get them if they are about to go under - and this can happen suddenly and without notice. I would start in 15-20 feet of water if I were not certain. If they think of the Bay like a river, there are places were the current is slower,its just not as obvious.

You will also have to see how much seaweed piles up on your traps, which could be another problem (too much and the crabs can not even get in).

Of course, if you son can time it to get the last hour or so of the outgoing, and go through slack, it will save a lot of problems. But then, if a float goes under and can not be found, they may be on the slack tide still looking for the lost traps!

[PayDay]

Not to point out the obvious, but I learned a long time ago it's not a good idea to go crabbing on an outgoing tide unless you have 2 reliable motors on your boat. :grin: