Blue Crabbing

[FurFinsFeathers]

I've been wanting to try blue crabbing and need some pointers. Any tips and tricks?

[LGI]

Get a dip net and lantern and walk a grass flat at night, more fun than traps.

[fishdish]

It's much better in the fall. You can still find them but not many. September was always the best for me but the number of them varies from year to year.

[FurFinsFeathers]

It's much better in the fall. You can still find them but not many. September was always the best for me but the number of them varies from year to year.

Do blue crabs prefer hanging around grass flats, reefs, or piers/pilings?

[flbluerunner]

Blue Crabs need brackish water.
Permanent type traps work well.
I have to get mine north of Key Largo due to no brackish water in my area of the Keys.
Fish carcass for bait.
Keep moving the traps until you find the right spot.

[fishdish]

You can get them in a lot of different places but where you have freshwater runoff you'll do better. If you live in Port Charlotte you would do well off the piers on the rivers (Peace and Myakka) and on the flats near mainland mangroves where there is freshwater discharge. I have seen them on beaches and on the flats in northern pine island sound but they aren't there too often and I think they're there by chance. You can try now but the numbers won't be there like they are in the fall. Also, the numbers vary from year to year as well. I have heard many theories as to why but my strategy is if i see them while fishing the flats i make sure to bring a dip net on my next trip. It is a matter of timing. You have 3 options to catch them: trap, walking around and collect with dip net, or bait them (chicken pieces, fish, etc..) on a string/line and slowly bring them in to scoop up with a dip net.

[chico]

Fish carcass for baits, look for the commercial traps in the river, you will know where the crabs are. Just DON'T set your traps next to other traps, bad etiquette. I stay at least several hundred feet away. On the peace river, we usually set traps just off to the side of the channels. Never had great results, but enough nice ones for dinner. Sometimes find some decent fish in the traps!! Don't know if keeping them is legal, so I usually let them go.