Alright, let’s gab about catchin’ them crabs in Jersey, you know, the blue claw kind. Folks ‘round here, they love it. It’s a good way to spend a day, and you get some tasty eatin’ outta it too.
Where to Find Them Crabs?
Well, now, Jersey’s got plenty of spots, that’s for sure. You got them places with the boat ramps, if you got a boat, and them piers and parks too. Lots of places, really. From Long Beach Island to Toms River, down to Cape May, they say the crabs are there for the takin’. Heck, even just ridin’ around, you see folks with their lines and nets. They know where to go, those folks do.
What You Need for Crabbin’
Now, don’t go thinkin’ you need fancy stuff. You can use a hand line, just a string with some bait, or them collapsible traps, they work good too. Or even a scoop net, if you’re quick! Some folks use those Chesapeake-style crab pots, but you gotta get a license for that, just two pots is all you can use.
- Hand lines – Easy to use, just tie some bait on.
- Collapsible traps – These fold up nice and easy to carry.
- Scoop nets – Gotta be sneaky and fast to catch ‘em with these.
- Chesapeake-style pots – Need a license, but they hold a lot of crabs.
Best Time to Catch Crabs
You wanna go when the tide’s comin’ in, that’s the ticket. Two hours before high tide and two hours after, that’s when them crabs are most active. Mornin’s good too, early mornin’, before the sun gets too high. Seems like when the sun gets high, them crabs get lazy or somethin’. If you usin’ traps, tide ain’t as important, but still, the comin’ in tide is best, so they say.
Bait for Crabs – What Do They Like?
Them crabs, they ain’t picky, but they got their favorites. Chicken, that works real good. Some folks like necks, some like legs. Any oily fish works too, they say. Bunker, that’s what they call menhaden ‘round here, that’s real popular. Just take some fish parts, and them crabs will come runnin’. You tie that bait on good, and you wait. That’s all there is to it.
Rules and Stuff
Now, you gotta be mindful of the rules. They got rules about how many crabs you can keep, and how big they gotta be. And you sure as heck don’t wanna get caught with a bunch of undersized crabs. Game wardens, they don’t mess around. So, you check the rules before you go. They have size limits and catch limits. And you better follow them rules.
Crabbin’ is Fun
It’s a fun thing to do, crabbin’ is. You get to be outside, by the water. It’s peaceful, mostly. ‘Cept when you gotta fight off them seagulls tryin’ to steal your bait! And then, you get to eat them crabs. Boiled, steamed, in a cake – there’s a lot of ways to cook ‘em up good. Lots of folks here, they love their crabs. It’s a Jersey thing, I guess.
Some Tips for You
So, if you wanna try your hand at crabbin’, go ahead. Find a spot, get some bait, and give it a go. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t catch nothin’ right away. Sometimes, it takes a little patience. And if you see someone catchin’ a bunch of crabs, don’t be shy, ask ‘em what they’re doin’. Most folks are happy to share a tip or two. Remember, the early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the crab.
And last but not least, have fun with it. It’s about enjoyin’ the day, bein’ outside, and maybe, just maybe, catchin’ a bucket full of those tasty blue claws. Good luck to ya!
Tags: [NJ crabbing, blue crabs, crabbing spots, crabbing tips, crabbing bait, crabbing regulations, New Jersey fishing, crabbing season, seafood, where to crab in NJ]
