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Posted By: Beth

Subject: Crabbing

I have been coming to the Outer Banks for about 25 years now. I have never tried crabbing. My son shows alot of interest in learning this trade. We will be arriving in the Outer Banks in June. I was wondering if anyone can tell me where to go to get information on crabbing. I do not know anything about it and I am sure I am going to need some help. Thanks alot

Message Replies:

209: RE: Crabbing

9/3/2004 3:57:23 PM

Posted By: Tim

:
Anyone who throws a line in the water to catch fish knows a little about crabbing since those bait snatchers work overtime to get at it.

In the years I have been here the only "crabbers" I have ever seen work the sounds from boats and use dozens and dozens of crabpots. I have seen people, on piers and jetties, with small nets with long polls tring to scoop crabs as they swim by. I can't imagine getting a meal this way, but .........

Tim

210: RE: Crabbing

9/3/2004 3:57:50 PM

Posted By: Guest

well it can be done, and I think it's a lot of fun. long ago, when I was a little tyke and I visited with my parents there was always some canal front somewhere where you could drop a line (chicken livers, necks etc) in a couple of hours we often had 1.5 to 2 dozen keepers which we would cook to go along with dinner.

In recent years it's much harder to find a place to crab that isn't private property. Of course the easy solution is to just rent a canal front cottage. the one year we did that, we would throw a crab pot in the canal in the morning then empty it in the evening cooking the keepers and discarding the minis. you could inquire around marinas and ask if they would mind if you crabbed off the docks. I think if you asked nicely enough, they would tell you yes.

211: RE: Crabbing

9/3/2004 3:58:19 PM

Posted By: Beth

Well someone had mentioned putting bait on a string and dropping it into the sound side and catching crabs that way. I don't plan on eating them however. Even though the Outer Banks is my favorite place in the world I HATE seafood. Thanks for the reply Tim.

212: RE: Crabbing

9/3/2004 3:58:37 PM

Posted By: Tim

Beth,
I hear ya on the seafood issue. I was born and raised in Illinois down near St Louis on the Mississippi river where we ate catfish and carp (yuck). I never had real "seafood" until much later when I traveled the east coast and found I liked flounder. Since moving to Virginia and later N.C. I have found I like crab cakes and shrimp and I have found I really love fresh local tuna -- this a a far cry from that stuff labeled tuna that comes in a can. That stuff is more like cat food than fresh tuna!! I still prefer meat most of the time, but I can now go to many places that serve only seafood and not walk out hungry. Hang in there, try this and that and work up to what you like. Stick with mild fish first and make sure its fresh.

See ya at the beach

Tim

213: RE: Crabbing

9/3/2004 3:59:00 PM

Posted By: Tammy

My son and husband have always done the string with a chicken or turkey part attached to it, but they found a better way-the parts in our cooler aren't very attractive and they don't last long out in the heat. Anyway,we watched some people with a net(buy the small hole type-long handle)just scoop them up off the northern end of Oracoke-(out by the old coast guard station-or so we have been told)-bunch of pilings out in the water. They tried it and quickly decided they could 'select' the right size ones to take back to the campground. Make sure you take a large bucket and some ice to cover them with. Have fun!!!

598: RE: Crabbing

2/8/2005 2:04:35 PM

Posted By: Guest

We always find a late afternoon to drop a line in for our son. We never really get many that are big enough to keep, so we always tell our son it is catch, hold 'em in the bucket for awhile, then release.

The locals are generally really nice. One year we crabbed at creek right next to a restuarant, and the owner came out and offered to steam them for us if we got enough, for free!! We didn't have them steam them (too little), but we did eat there. You gotta patronize folks like that : )

618: RE: Crabbing

2/17/2005 7:56:46 AM

Posted By: Guest

Shrimping/crabbing cruise. June -Sept. $265 for Two hours. Keep the fish shrimp and crabs caught.

www.outerbankscruises.com

2017: RE: Crabbing

7/7/2005 2:19:10 PM

Posted By: LOCAL LADY

There is a great little place in kitty hawk called "Dock of the Bay marina" they will actually set u up with all you need to crab and have a dock there that you can crab from.. now i go to lake skeet for my crabs but I have heard from visitors who have gone to the marinia and loved the experience.. They are located on poor ridge road in kitty hawk :) Happy crabbin

9511: RE: Crabbing

1/20/2007 3:59:07 PM

Posted By: occh

HI BETH ,I AM COMING TO THE OUTERBANKS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JUNE(AVON AREA).ALL I COULD TELL YOU IS I CRAB WITH MY TEN YEAR OLD SON AND I USE SMALL RECTANGULAR CAGES WITH EITHER CHICKEN OR ANY FISH AS BAIT.YOU COULD PROBABLY BUY THESE CAGES ON LINE OR AT ANY LOCAL BAIT AND TACKLE STORE. IF YOU HEAR OF ANY PLACES TO CRAB IN AVON OR CLOSE BY CAN YOU LET ME KNOW THANKS

12648: RE: Crabbing

6/8/2007 5:18:26 PM

Posted By: Guest

I will be staying in Corova,4X4 area last week in June, The Family wants to go crabing, is their some where we can go crabing in that area? And do we have to have a license.

25102: RE: Crabbing

7/19/2008 4:01:07 PM

Posted By: Guest

we go at southern shores marina. Haven't had a ton of luck but usually get 6-10 keepers. makes enough for a good dip. We used to go to collington and catch a lot. don't know if thats any good anymore. good luck

30429: RE: Crabbing

1/4/2009 9:03:40 PM

Posted By: Guest

I've never 'crabbed' in the OBX but it is really easy to do. Chicken necks tied to a line is the easiest way, as soon as they grab the meat you pull up the line and scoop them up with a net. I've done this in the lagoon type areas in Myrtle Beach, so I'm hoping to try it in the sound side of the OBX area. Good luck!

32599: RE: Crabbing

3/23/2009 5:38:33 PM

Posted By: Guest

you need a crab net then you go off a dock to find crabs i shaloow water

34906: RE: Crabbing

4/30/2009 2:03:43 PM

Posted By: Guest

if i were staying at mp 17 corolla would be the last place i'd consider. if you take off towards manteo on 64/264 manteo nags head causeway, when you go over the bridge by pirates cove, make a left on the west end of the bridge, and come back around under it, there is good crabbing in the canal there(dykstra's ditch) and also around the boat ramps and there is a public(free) pier under the bridge. also head north to around mp 8 and take a left on colington road and drive across the 2cd bridge you come too and a public access area on the west side of that. have fun!

37343: RE: Crabbing

6/1/2009 8:38:27 PM

Posted By: Guest

go to billys seafood in colington they will be able to help you with the crabbing

39270: RE: Crabbing

6/20/2009 11:02:24 AM

Posted By: Barry Pa.

We Just got back from our 1 week vacation in Duck and did what i thought was a lot of crabbing with the kids, we bought a crab pot from Bobs bait and Tackle and dropped it off of the Duck pier right down the road, (the longer pier with the boat launch)seemed to have more crabs there and had a lot of fun and about 1 dozen crabs can't wait to do it again next year!

40929: RE: Crabbing

7/3/2009 3:50:06 PM

Posted By: Clueless

Are the crabs you catch in the sound and the canal good? Someone told me they are "mud crabs" and not very tasty. I don't know.

46720: RE: Crabbing

8/2/2009 3:15:11 PM

Posted By: Genecrabman

The Local Crabs around here are some of the best around.. I've sold to Many Marylanders who have told me they are the best they ever ate..

47847: RE: Crabbing

8/7/2009 9:29:16 AM

Posted By: Guest

We are going to Rodanthe next week. How has the crabbing been? Is there a good spot to try?

48119: RE: Crabbing

8/9/2009 1:27:42 PM

Posted By: Genecrabman

The Crabbing has been better up to the North, Around Currituck Sound. I commercial Crab up that way..

48178: RE: Crabbing

8/9/2009 8:35:49 PM

Posted By: Guest

Gene,
We are in Corolla, where up north do you suggest?

53801: RE: Crabbing

9/14/2009 9:52:29 AM

Posted By: Guest

we are heading down for the first time next week. someone said this is the best time of year to fish. is that true and could anyone point me to a decently priced charter. sound is fine no deep sea. we are camping in kitty hawk sat then heading to our rental in nags head.
how much can i look forward to payin for a crab net or pot?
thanks

53936: RE: Crabbing

9/15/2009 9:47:59 AM

Posted By: Dennis

I'll be in Corolla as well on 9/19 thru the 26th.. Grew up in Annapolis crabbing.. chicken necks on a string and a net.. I'm also looking for a decent free spot to go.. Thx!

55995: RE: Crabbing

10/6/2009 3:11:35 PM

Posted By: guest

How late into the year / season can you crab?
November?

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