Crabbing Places

[murphdog]

I am coming to the area June 11th and would like some help finding a public place to take kids crabbing. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

[graytonrbust]

I love to crab!! I will be there the 14th and I have the same problem. As a child I always crabbed off a pier behind a house on Garfield Ave. (the Pink house---Oldtimers stomping grounds) and loved every minute of it.

[Donna]

When we were kids, we had tremendous luck grabbing blue crabs from the inlet between Western Lake and the Gulf at Grayton. We would drag plastic laundry baskets through the water and bring them up, along with tons of shrimp, which we bagged in Wonder Bread wrappers that had holes punched in them. We're lazier now, so go crabbing at Goatfeathers Market in Seagrove... :laughing1 Happy crabbing!

[murphdog]

Thanks for the comments! My parents used to take us to old abandoned docks etc. 25 years ago around Panama City Beach. I had some luck on St George Isand a few years ago, but it is much more developed here. Seems like we are all in the same boat.

[kurt]

The lake inlets at the beaches are good, if there aren't people swimming there. There are several public docks and boat launches. On Western Lake, North 395, North 393, etc.

[Landlocked]

Kurt,

You had a chance to do any fishing lately?

[kurt]

Kurt,

You had a chance to do any fishing lately?

Nope - I hear it's been slow on the beach - and a lot of Sargassum.

I have some friends out in the Gulf today and will get a report.

http://www.crystalbeach.com/922uu.jpg

[Landlocked]

I hate that stuff. Really screws up the fishing. Thanks for letting me know

[Seasider]

My kids had fun crabbing on the bay shore behind the Blue Bar on 331 after dinner one night recently.

[murphdog]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Paula]

What are the crabbing techniques? I'll be at Seacrest Beach (not the Seacrest Beach community, but Seacrest Beach) in July with 2 kids and it would be fun to take them crabbing but it will be more fun if they actually catch a few crabs.

[graytonrbust]

I will be down next week and plan to fish, and crab....my problem is that I don't fish! So therefore I have no idea about the types of fish that are there...probably a silly question to all you guys, but a real dilemna for me :idontno:
I will be fishing from one of the piers on the lake at Grayton...

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[kurt]

What are the crabbing techniques? I'll be at Seacrest Beach (not the Seacrest Beach community, but Seacrest Beach) in July with 2 kids and it would be fun to take them crabbing but it will be more fun if they actually catch a few crabs.

Go to a brackish area - lake, bayou, bay, etc.

Simply tie a piece of bait to a string and toss it in the water. Leave it there for a while and then very gently start to pull the line in. If you feel some resistance, that means there is a crab holding on. When you can see the crab, slip a long handled dip net behind it and scoop quickly. The technique is easier than it sounds.

The bait used to catch crabs is not something to bring up to persons with squeamish stomachs. Crabs are scavengers and they will eat just about anything. People use fish heads, dead mullet, chicken backs, liver, and other low food value and odoriferous products. The fact that a blue crab can turn dead and decaying materials into the white flaky meat of the backfin part of the crab or the sweet meat of it's claws may classify as one of natures miracles.

[kurt]

I will be down next week and plan to fish, and crab....my problem is that I don't fish! So therefore I have no idea about the types of fish that are there...probably a silly question to all you guys, but a real dilemna for me :idontno:
I will be fishing from one of the piers on the lake at Grayton...

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

There are many types of fish in the lake - redfish, trout, bass, bream, mullet, etc. You can catch them with all types of gear, including cane pole, casting rod, or fly rod. A simple hook and bobber with live or cut bait will work, and many different types of lures.

Mullet are caught with a cast net, and the little ones can be used for bait.

[Smiling JOe]

The fact that a blue crab can turn dead and decaying materials into the white flaky meat of the backfin part of the crab or the sweet meat of it's claws may classify as one of natures miracles.
I was thinking the same thing about the delicious king crab that I was munching last week.

By the way, the old timers were called, "long-neckers" due to the fact that they used chicken necks for crab bait.

[Paula]

This is all very helpful. What are the best places near the Seacrest Beach/Camp Creek area for crabbing that are easy to get to and public access. Are you saying that it's possible go go crabbing with a stick and a string with some bait stuck to the end of it (chicken necks and liver don't bother me at all -- I like making chicken liver pate)? That would make me very happy... Would we get stopped if we didn't have a fishing license? Thanks!

[Smiling JOe]

This is all very helpful. What are the best places near the Seacrest Beach/Camp Creek area for crabbing that are easy to get to and public access. Are you saying that it's possible go go crabbing with a stick and a string with some bait stuck to the end of it (chicken necks and liver don't bother me at all -- I like making chicken liver pate)? That would make me very happy... Would we get stopped if we didn't have a fishing license? Thanks!
Yes, and you don't even need the stick, just the string, bait, and net. You do not need a fishing license if you are fishing from land, but you will need to follow the laws regarding those which you can keep, and those which you must release.

[kurt]

You should not keep the females because they spawn but once in their lifetime - and the male is tastier anyhow.

Here is how to identify:
http://www.blue-crab.org/identification.php

So long as you use five or fewer traps, you are considered a recreational crabber and are governed by the state's salt water fishing license regulations. Recreational laws regulating the harvesting of blue crabs are very liberal. There is no minimum size limit and no closed season.

The only restrictions are a 10 gallon bucket of whole crabs per day limit and a prohibition against keeping egg bearing females. To these rules I would add not keeping a crab unless it had at least a 5 inch shell, measuring from point to point. Smaller ones than that won't have much meat on them. If you want to run six or more traps you will need a salt water products license.

Cooking your catch is simple if you have a big pot. Crabs can be boiled or steamed. Whichever way you go, the animals must be alive when you start. Keeping them on ice will slow them down and minimize the awful crab screams heard by all animals within a 1-mile radius.

I like to clean them first by opening the shell and using a garden hose and nozzle on the innards. Place them in a pot with a few inches of water and sprinkle a bit of Old Bay seasoning on each layer. You'll know when they are done when the shell turn bright red.

Disclaimer: the screaming may be a product of my imagination.

[Paula]

Thanks. Can't wait to try this out with the kids in July. How can you tell a female from a male crab?

[Landlocked]

Smiling Joe-

Does that no fishing license deal include if you're fishing from the surf on the gulf side? I had already planned to pick up a Florida license on the way down but it would be nice to cut out one more stop.

[kurt]

Thanks. Can't wait to try this out with the kids in July. How can you tell a female from a male crab?

See the link in my post above.

[Landlocked]

"How can you tell a female from a male crab?"

The Jimmy's have a jimmy and the sally's don't. :biggrin:

[Smiling JOe]

Smiling Joe-

Does that no fishing license deal include if you're fishing from the surf on the gulf side? I had already planned to pick up a Florida license on the way down but it would be nice to cut out one more stop.
You are correct. No fishing license is needed when fishing from land (or surf), but you will need to follow the laws regarding your catch.

[Smiling JOe]

Thanks. Can't wait to try this out with the kids in July. How can you tell a female from a male crab?
The males are jerks, and the females are moody. :floor:

[Paula]

Ok, but let's assume both the males and females are on their best behavior because they are trying to impress the visitors. Then what would I look for?

[murphdog]

If you are a nonresident of Florida are you allowed to fish/crab without a license? I looked at the state site and it mentions residents are exempt, but no mention of non residents.

[kurt]

You are right, as has been posted here in other threads, regulations are stricter in the last few years.

http://www.marinefisheries.org/license.htm


Recreational Saltwater Fishing License You do not need a license if you are:







· Any child under 16 years of age.



· Any resident who is a member of the United States Armed Forces and not stationed in this state, when home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders.

· Any person fishing who has been accepted as a client for developmental disabilities services by the Children and Family Services (http://www.state.fl.us/cf_web/), provided the department furnishes proof thereof.

· Any resident fishing in saltwater from land or from a structure fixed to the land.

· Any person fishing from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter, party boat) that has a valid vessel license.

· Any person fishing from a vessel, the operator of which has a valid vessel license issued in the name of the operator of the vessel.

· Any person who holds a valid saltwater products license (SPL).

· Any person fishing for recreational purposes from a pier that has been issued a valid pier saltwater fishing license.

· Any resident fishing for a saltwater species in fresh water from land or from a structure fixed to land.

· Any resident fishing for mullet in fresh water who has a valid Florida freshwater fishing license.

· Any resident 65 years of age or older who has in her or his possession proof of age and residency. A no-cost license under this paragraph may be obtained from any tax collector's office upon proof of age and residency and must be in the possession of the resident during hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing activities.

· Any employee of the commission who takes freshwater fish, saltwater fish, or game as part of employment with the commission, or any other person authorized by commission permit to take freshwater fish, saltwater fish, or game for scientific or educational purposes.









And Blue Crab regs:
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recbluecrab.htm

[Landlocked]

Oh well,

Looks like I'll have to pick one up

[kurt]

You can purchase online at

https://www1.wildlifelicense.com/fl/

Or at the tax collector's office in the SoWal annex on South 331.

[Landlocked]

I'll stay away from the tax collector. I usually don't get along with them very well. Thanks for the online info. That makes things easier

[kurt]

I'll stay away from the tax collector. I usually don't get along with them very well. Thanks for the online info. That makes things easier

By the way - my friend pulled in 5 snapper the other day - kind of slow. Might be partly due to the 12 foot Hammerhead next to the boat, while a mile off Blue Mountain Beach.

It was probably only 10 feet. . . . You know fishermen. or in this case - fisherwoman.

[Landlocked]

I'd love to have the numbers on that spot! 1 mile out. That's great. If they had a hammerhead near the boat, I'm surprised they got anything in the boat at all. Dolphins have also ruined my trips in the past.

[BeachDreamer]

Awful crab screams? :eek: I think I will stick with PB&J!

[Smiling JOe]

Sorry for giving you bad info. Thanks for the correction Kurt.

[kurt]

Sorry for giving you bad info. Thanks for the correction Kurt.

I didn't know either until a couple of weeks ago when we were posting about it. I guess it's time to get the lifetime.

[murphdog]

Thanks for all the tips. I had the best luck on a dock near the inlet at Western Lake off 283. We caught 12 nice sized males ...6 each day in about an hour near dusk. We used partially (mostly) eaten Hooter's wings as bait.

[kurt]

Thanks for all the tips. I had the best luck on a dock near the inlet at Western Lake off 283. We caught 12 nice sized males ...6 each day in about an hour near dusk. We used partially (mostly) eaten Hooter's wings as bait.

So the wings are also attractive, just like I tell the girls. :floor:

[cassie]

For years we've just went out on the beach after dark with flashlights, a bucket and some nets, caught TONS of little white crabs. Fun for the kids, catch and release of course. However, over spring break we took a bunch of kids out crabbing and didn't see one freak'n crab. Not one ... was it to early, cold .. does that matter?

[kurt]

For years we've just went out on the beach after dark with flashlights, a bucket and some nets, caught TONS of little white crabs. Fun for the kids, catch and release of course. However, over spring break we took a bunch of kids out crabbing and didn't see one freak'n crab. Not one ... was it to early, cold .. does that matter?

Ghost crabs - probably too early. If you see their holes in the daytime, then you should find them around there at night.

http://www.edge-of-reef.com/brachiuri/BRAocypode-19.jpg