Finally, Caught Some Keepers

All photos taken by Seamus Talinao

Last night after reading some good reports from bluecrab.info, I loaded up the kayak for an early trip today. 

It turned out to be a beautiful morning. My son and I got out there at around 7:30 am. I was suppose to crab and his job was to take pictures and notes to document the trip. The marina was busy, but we did not have any issues getting in the water. Unloading the kayak from the car and loading all the gear on the kayak is starting to become routine, which is nice.

The water temperature was about 62 degrees. The tide was rolling towards the Bay and it was a chore paddling up the creek. I feel more confident maneuvering the kayak around now. Before I felt clumsy and all over the place, but of late my strokes feel more fluid and deliberate. I also noticed that I am not getting as wet anymore like before, which is very nice.

Headed up creek

Blue crabs are booming in the bay

Looks like it is going to be a good year...

Blue crabs are booming in the bay • Environment (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital)

Official DNR article

A Beautiful Day for the Worst Day of Crabbing

Loaded up the Jetta to start the day

I have been waiting for this day for weeks now. The weather forecast called for 77 degrees and sunny. And I planned on taking on the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The kayak was loaded up by 8 o'clock with the rest of the gear. It was so nice today even the dog wanted to join me for the trip.

I was on the water by 8:30 am and started my crabbing trip. I turned on the fish finder and it was working as it should. Awesome. Having a fish finder is definitely a game changer. It is really nice to know water depth and temperature. But as I came close to passing the jetties, the fish finder stopped working. So, I turned around and planned to dry dock for a quick trouble shoot. Before I could reach the boat ramp, it started to work again. OK? Maybe it is not a fan of salt water. I don't know. I gave up my attempt to crab the Bay and decided to just stay on the creek where I have had caught some crabs before.

Concept and Gear

I've been playing around with idea of going crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay for a while now. After simply getting tired of paying $100 per 1/2 bushel for them sweet blue crabs. I finally decided it is just dumb not to catch them myself. Especially, since I live only half a mile from the bay.

The question of how am I going to get those crabs out of the water to my steaming pot was answered when a friend of mine told me that he got himself a small fishing kayak. A kayak, yes, perfect. Why a kayak? Why not, it is cheap, it can be stored it in my garage, the maintenance on it is minimal, it can be transported on top of my car and it cost nothing to operate. Plus, I can use the exercise paddling from buoy to buoy. Sure, the boat space and range would be limited, but I am expecting to catch just enough crabs for my wife and I.

The plan is to stack four open-top traps and bungie cord them to the back of the kayak. I can probably fit a wooden bushel between my legs for caught crabs. Go out to the open waters of Chesapeake Beach and set my string about 1/2 mile from the shore. Drop a trap, paddle 50-75 feet, drop another and so on and on. After the last trap is set, go back to the first one and check for crabs. I'll try that for a couple of rounds. If it yields any then I stay and re-set the trap, if not then I pick up my gear and move on to a different spot. A lot of this is going to be trail and error for me since I have never fished for crabs at all. C'mon we've all seen that Alaskan crabbing show on cable, how hard can it be?

Now, let's talk gear. Here are the list of gear I ordered online. I will post details and reason why I decided on each of the items here as they come in the mail.

Wilderness System Tarpon 120 (sit-on-top kayak)
w/ Aqua Bound Sting Ray TLC Paddle                              

Stohlquist TowMOTION PFD                                            

Icom IC M72 Handheld VHF Marine Radio                      

Benchmade Fixed Blade Dive Knife                                  

Capt Moose Topless Stackable Traps- Rigged (x4)            

So far, that should be all the major stuff that will be needed for this endeavor. Other incidental gear will be picked up along the way. Such as, bait (chicken necks), food and water, a wooden bushel, etc.

This would be my first time catching an animal for food. For my entire life I've always been given or paid for food. Looking forward to cross that proverbial line from gatherer to hunter.