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This was my first kayak crabbing trip of the season. It was intended to be more of a shakedown run than anything. I used the 600' trotline, baited with chicken necks. I crabbed the incoming tide. (I thought it was supposed to be outgoig, but I alwasy seem to suck at deciphering tide tables. Is it just me?). I ran the line from 5' down to 14'. I always like to crab a gradient, as it allows me to work different depths easily to find where they are. Well...I must've laid right on them yesterday.
My first run produced 10 keepers. One of the best runs I've had on the kayak. Each run produced keeper crabs. All depths produced on different runs. At times, I had multiple crabs on consecutive snoods. I was running the line faster than I normally did...that made for some fast paced action. I crabbed with the the wind and tide at my back...I normally like to run the line the opposite way, but it worked out rather well regardless. The tailwind was quartering, so I pretty much had to use my rudder the entire time to maintain a good angle parallel to the line.
I caught a bushel in 1hr 45min. I crabbed from 5:05pm till 6:50pm. I did not expect that rate of catch. Crabs ranged in size from 5.25" to 6.5". Once I got back to the launch, I tossed back about 6 or so that were barely legal. Quality was pretty good overall. There were a few paper shells, but the vast majority were hard. About a dozen were REALLY dark rusty crabs.
I got them home and began steaming them. I didn't have time to ice them down, so I lost the claw retention...I didn't really care this time though. I need to buy a bigger steamer. I can only do half bushel at a time with my current pot.
It was a great start to my crabbign season. I gave away a bunch of the smaller ones after I culled them again at home. My wife & I now have a few dozen of nice sized crabs to enjoy.
After the first run:
My first run produced 10 keepers. One of the best runs I've had on the kayak. Each run produced keeper crabs. All depths produced on different runs. At times, I had multiple crabs on consecutive snoods. I was running the line faster than I normally did...that made for some fast paced action. I crabbed with the the wind and tide at my back...I normally like to run the line the opposite way, but it worked out rather well regardless. The tailwind was quartering, so I pretty much had to use my rudder the entire time to maintain a good angle parallel to the line.
I caught a bushel in 1hr 45min. I crabbed from 5:05pm till 6:50pm. I did not expect that rate of catch. Crabs ranged in size from 5.25" to 6.5". Once I got back to the launch, I tossed back about 6 or so that were barely legal. Quality was pretty good overall. There were a few paper shells, but the vast majority were hard. About a dozen were REALLY dark rusty crabs.
I got them home and began steaming them. I didn't have time to ice them down, so I lost the claw retention...I didn't really care this time though. I need to buy a bigger steamer. I can only do half bushel at a time with my current pot.
It was a great start to my crabbign season. I gave away a bunch of the smaller ones after I culled them again at home. My wife & I now have a few dozen of nice sized crabs to enjoy.
After the first run:
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