Family

Family

As a youngster growing up in our house where if you asked for a “crabbing sandwich”, regardless of if it was mom or dad who made it, you would get a ham or turkey and cheese sandwich with mayonnaise, and the key ingredient, wait for it, extra mustard! Yes, so like most of you are thinking it’s pretty much just a regular lunch meat sandwich. Yes, it most certainly is. Well, besides the dash of Old Bay seasoning which may be expected for those who are from the Chesapeake Bay area. As a child though, with limited years on this beautiful green earth and with fewer life time milestones experienced, the memories you do have can seem to resonate stronger. Memories like spending all morning and the early part of the afternoon hand-line crabbing from a pier with your family and friends. Every little detail from those experiences is so hard to forget, and the slightest day-to-day occurrence can bring back a rush of childhood memories that fill you with warmth and happiness. Simple things can trigger those favorite memories, like eating a sandwich that has a little extra mustard and Old Bay seasoning on it under the warm summer sun can bring back memories so strong you feel you can smell that salty bay water even though your miles away!

Last Outing of the 2014 Crabbing Season: No matter how many days since the last outing its hard to forget the smell of that salty brackish bay water!

I grew up with my older brother, and it’s him and I that once the New Year rolls around can’t stop chatting about what that year’s crabbing season will entail. Why does it seem we have this inherent love for it? There are probably a few reasons we could each think of, some overlapping and some personal, but I feel we could both look back to our childhood memories and our family for one of the stronger reasons.

My Brother, Nephew, and I: During our last outing on the water for the 2015 Crabbing Season we took my Nephew along who couldn’t have been happier to be joining his Pops and Uncle on their crabbing trip.

It all started early on in our childhood with early mornings in which our Dad would pack up the truck with hand-line, chicken necks for bait, a couple nets, a bushel basket, a measuring stick, and a cooler with food and drinks. Mom had of course prepared the “crabbing sandwiches” and other snacks the night before, as well as made sure we had plenty of sunscreen and towels in case we got brave enough to jump in the water to cool off. It was a long ride for a kid in the back seat, but we knew it would be worth it. Riding along gazing out the window, I was so excited with anticipation of what we might catch, how long it may take for the first crab to be on a line, who would be the first to pull it up, and who may be the first to net. Sometimes the trip would also include our cousins and family friends, which would only build the excitement as we were all eager to get to the water and start having fun. We would travel through several small towns along the eastern shore, making our way to a public pier we would routinely spend the day, almost feeling as if was our private pier; it was “our spot”!

Our Dad and Uncle back in 1990-Something when we were growing up.

Once we arrived, we would burst out of the back seat eager to run down the length of the pier; viewing the boats that were docked, investigating if there was already any other crabbing lines or pots tied to the pier, and taking in the view of whatever water activities may be going on. We usually arrived early in the morning, and as such we kids were able to claim the public location as our own for the day. We would quickly encourage and help our Dad get the lines prepared; him cutting the hand line and tying on the chicken necks, and us tying the line to the pier pylons and casting the chicken neck into the water. Mom and the other ladies would make their way to the end of the pier where there was a wider portion of dock and they would set up their lawn chairs and begin to apply sunscreen. There would be a relaxing morning of reading the newest novel ahead of them, at least till we started bothering them for the first round of “crabbing sandwiches” and snacks!

Some days within a few minutes, other days a bit longer, but eventually as we patrolled the hand-lines in the water we would see one that called for action. We would look for a taut line that would slowly grow stretch tighter, indicating there was a crab feasting on the bait at the other end of the line. We would yell for our brother or friend to come quickly, as the process of hand-lining for kids usually required two participates at least, with usually additional onlookers. Whoever discovered the taut line would usually be the one to pull it, while the other would net, slowly working in a rotation if we found it necessary. The person pulling the line would either get as close to the pylon as possible where the line came to the pier, so that they could begin the slow steady process of pulling in the line with as little disturbance as possible. The feel of the tight line as you started to pull is still so fresh in my mind 20 something years later, and having spent most of those years without using a hand line. There was the distinct feel of a tenacious blue crab hanging onto the bait and paddling the other direction with its back fins, trying to escape with the bait. Their efforts were felt as you would reel in the line as a sort of constant pressure. On occasion you would feel a slight slack in the pressure, and quickly pause in the efforts of pulling up the line in hopes that the blue crab wasn’t abandoning the bait for good. Sometimes the pressure would return with the blue crab latching back onto the chicken neck, and you would find a sense of expertise in your skill at pulling the line recognizing what to do to not lose the potential “keeper”. As you neared the end of the line both the bait and the blue crab would start to become visible as they also neared the surface of the water. It was at this point the person with the net would finalize their position in order to make sure they had the best vantage point to scoop what may be part of our future meal out of the brackish Chesapeake Bay water. Sometimes netting would involve slowly dipping the net into the water behind the crab and strategically pulling them up out of the water onto the pier decking, and other times it involved a more quick sweeping motion, plunging the net into the water, and catching the crab in one exciting moment. While this was going on the onlookers were just concerned with staying out of the way of the two in action trying to net the crab, and the best place to stand to catch a first glance at what may be on the chicken neck.

Hand-Line Crabbing in 1990-something on the Chesapeake Bay!

Regardless of whatever netting method seemed best for the particular location and position of the crab, as long as the person pulling was able to get it into range and the netting was successful, all were enthusiastic and excited for the catch. When we were younger the parents would have to measure up the blue crab to determine if it was a keeper, but as we grew slowly older and slightly more experienced we would also enjoy the task of handling and measuring up the catch.

Having fun crabbing, and making memories that would last a life-time!

After a long morning with the tied coming and going, we would pack up the vehicles for the ride back home. On the most eventful of trips, it was almost guaranteed the kids would fall asleep with the windows down and the fresh summer air flowing through the car. There were also the times were we had struggled to make it back home without closing our eye lids during the car ride, only to find ourselves taking that obligatory afternoon nap on the living room floor of our country house, where the windows would be wide open letting in the fresh country air. For me, even now, I would expect nothing else with such an awesome day soaking up the summer sun, breathing in the fresh air filled with the smell of the salty bay water, and experiencing all the joy that the Chesapeake Bay has to offer. Although the short nap would be refreshing, the best would yet to come. To awake from a nap to the house filled with the smell of steaming Maryland blue crabs liberally covered with Old Bay Seasoning was truly waking up from one dream only to continue living another.

Steamed Maryland Blue Crabs with Old Bay Seasoning!

Till this day, some of our family and family friend’s greatest memories of visiting were those same trips that I find so fond. Memories like this I plan to hold dear to my heart until the good lord calls me home. In the meantime, I hope to create similar memories with the next generation of our family and my own children one day!

My nephew assisting in culling crabs on our last trip out for the 2014 Crabbing Season!

Best Practice or Superstition!

Best Practice or Superstition . . .

Who Cares When Its a Sunny Day Out on the Water!

Heading Out – Boathouse

Our last trip out was during the early afternoon on a sunny 76°F day with only a few clouds in the sky. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful afternoon to be out on the water, or as temperate weather in late summer for that matter. As nice as the weather was, setting up the trot line or traps during the afternoon is sometimes out of the ordinary, as most serious crabbers practice getting out on the water as early in the morning as possible (while remaining legal that is). It involves taking the time the night before to look up the time of sunrise and planning their trip accordingly, aiming to set the gear at a half hour before sunrise. Making sure that as the sun is starting to make its presences the trot line is in the water and ready for the first run of the early morning! Getting started so early is sometimes attributed to fewer shadows that may scare some of the more cautious blue crabs to drop off the line early. Perhaps to some it’s so you’re not personally working the line or pulling traps in the middle of the hot summer sun. Or maybe for others it’s just practice that has been handed down generation to generation to try to predict the best conditions when the blue crabs will take the bait. In the end, perhaps it just boils down to superstition! Regardless of our personal thoughts of making sure to get on the water in the cool early morning, it’s hard to complain about a sunny day on the water.

Two Crabs in the Net

Calling Crabs in the Afternoon Sun!

Measuring It Up

We took our chances of some afternoon crabbing, because of how slack the early season was. At least if we found ourselves heading back to the docks with a less than excitable catch, at least we were able to enjoy the weather while being on the bay. We were set up a little after 2:00pm in 82°F water that ranged in depth from 8ft – 14ft. We found ourselves with a surprising first run on the trot line with 18 crabs total, 7 of which were nice keepers. The first pull of the traps provided some more excitement with 8 crabs total, 6 of which were keepers. The day continued with busy runs on the trot line, and a few crabs being added to the basket by pulling traps in between runs. At one point we decided to forgo pulling traps because of how busy the trot line was; only if they were all keepers we would have had two bushel before the end of the planned trip.

We found ourselves picking up gear after a few hours with ¾ bushel crabs to steam up and enjoy! It was the first decent catch of the summer, and it seemed as the crabbing would be pretty steady from that point on.

The Catch

As this is being written several weeks post trip, there have been similar reports of pretty steady crabs when running trot lines, including plenty throw backs. Others have also reported that even though they are only catching a few this years, there are some “gator-buster” river crabs out there for sure; which is what we were experiencing during our trips out earlier in the season. It seems that the crabbing has picked up some and held steady, making for some enjoyable crabbing trips. Hopefully it will continue to be steady and pick up even more as we approach the early fall stretch of the crabbing season.

Whether is best practice or superstition, sometimes it doesn’t matter when it’s a sunny day out on that brackish water!

The Group

A Slow Crabbing Season Leads to a Season of Exploration

A Slow Crabbing Season leads to a Season of Exploration!

The Holiday Weekend Crab Report

The Trip Out

Our goal was to be on the water by sunrise, but it was a slow start to our holiday weekend crabbing excursion as one of the deck hands was already 15 minutes late for departure. But it was July 5^th and everyone was in good spirits because of the holiday, so there was only minimal verbal harassment as repercussions for his tardiness; something that on another day may have been the topic of banter for the rest of the day! Once we were under way, we all knew that we couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather out on the water this morning with some of the scolding hot days that we have already experienced this summer. With cool air almost reminding us of autumn, and those late season fat river crabs, we made our way to a location that we have crabbed before but only about once every season, if not every other season. With only two other recreational boat trailers at the ramp, we figured that the waters would be wide open, but the one spot we were hoping to drop our line at was already being run by one of the recreational crabbers and bordered by a commercial crabber. Time to go explore!

July 5th Sunrise

Heading Out

The Setup

It wasn’t long before we found another location that looked satisfactory, and thought it was worth giving a try. Although, once we started laying down the trot line we realized we weren’t on the edge-of-drop-off as we wanted. The 1,200ft of trot line ended up lying in a depth of 10ft of water to a gradual depth of 4ft of water. We made sure to drop our traps a little further out closer to the edge-of-drop-off where we may have preferred the trot line; the 20+ traps were set in 8ft – 12ft of water. All of the gear was in the warm 79 degree water by approximately 6:25am.

The Run

The first run of the trot line was made under heavy glare as we were running in the direction of the sun rise. Regardless of sun glare we dipped a rather exceptionally sized 7”crab off the line within the first 200ft; reactionary hope was already in the air. Although, the hope was quickly smothered as we weren’t able to complete the full run without having to stop to remove a rather large branch hung up in the line. We would notice for the rest of the day that there was a moderate amount of debris in the water; perhaps from the storm passing through, or perhaps just the location. Once the branch was removed, we ran the trot line the other way, which improved the issue with the glare, but now we faced slack in the line that we eventually corrected with trying to reset it tighter by hand. With an incomplete first run we started to pull traps; the first run of the traps produced one keeper. Second run on the trot line produced another two large males, and a large female that was thrown back to river. Second run on pulling the traps picked up with about a half dozen keepers. Third run on the trot line was a skunk, with a couple keepers from the third run of pulling traps. The rest of the day the trot line was slow, with the traps modestly producing (modestly being relatively for such a slow season). Although some are blaming (or should I say predicting) the slow crabbing season on low populations of females, it would not have been evident where we were at as we must have returned a half dozen plus large female crabs back to the waters. We eventually picked up the trot line and the traps, to make our way back in. We reset our traps at a location closer to the boat ramp we launched from in hopes to add to our limited bounty before calling it a morning. We were only able to snag one more worthy size crab to add to the basket. We picked up completely after about 3 – 3.5 hours on the water, with our catch consisting of a few crabs over two dozen heavy keepers, ranging from 6” – 7”. This would be enough to keep us happy once steamed up with a cocktail of vinegar, crab seasoning, beer and water . . . at least till our next venture out!

First Catch of the Day

Another Large Keeper!

Only a Few, but Large!

Long Claws!

The Experience

With the way the crabbing season has been very slow, with low catches well under satisfactory, this wasn’t the first time of the season that we had decided to go back to locations that we hadn’t crab in several seasons, nor having to resort to trying to find that gut or edge-of-drop-off that we hadn’t crabbed before and predict that it may produce. It is a season like this that doesn’t allow you to have that negative hindsight on where you should have spent your morning efforts. Its seasons like this that allows you to go find new niches along the rivers of the Chesapeake. Perhaps you’ll get lucky and find one that’s producing, or even if it doesn’t produce it may be an enjoyable location to crab that you add to your repertoire of locations. So far this year it has been the season of why not try some old spots and completely new spots without the fear of missing out on your favorite spots that have produced over the last few seasons. Exploring is great, but with that said, bring on the crabs!

The Catch!

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July from Long Point Outfitters

Fourth of July Weekend approaches along with Hurricane Arthur!

With Hurricane Arthur now classified as a Category 1 Hurricane, and making its way past the Outer Banks tonight, the National Weather Service has now issued a Small Craft Advisory for the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Although it is not likely the area will experience more than rain, wind, and scattered thunderstorms from the hurricane, perhaps even clearing up by Friday depending where you live and crab, will you be canceling or pushing back your Fourth of July holiday weekend plans?

NWA/NOAA Hurricane Arthur Potential Track Area as of Thursday July 3, 2013 at 2:00PM EDT

For us at Long Point Outfitters, I know that nothing feels more like freedom than being out on the water! Although we enjoy crabbing early in the season just as much as we enjoy crabbing late in the season, there is something about making it out onto one of the Chesapeake Bay’s many fine rivers on July 4^th weekend that has always given us a sense of freedom to be able to enjoy what we love. The whole experience resonates why we’re proud to be an American and the freedom that comes with that! Perhaps it’s those broad stripes and bright stars flown at the many water front properties that can be seen from the water. Or maybe it’s even the occasional spotting of an American Bald Eagle flying over, or perhaps perched in a tree or local field just beyond the river’s bank. I think these visuals all add to what a great experience being out on the water can be, especially on a holiday weekend that celebrates the freedoms we have. I think some of the experience may also be rooted deeper, that it may be from a feeling we sense by doing something with your hands that many past generations of Americans have done before. Whether for recreation or commercial, it is a sense of carrying on traditions that can be experienced; our own form of American traditions for us so blessed to have been born and raised on the bay or now live near the bay. Lastly, I think that the American spirit can be found in the nature of entrepreneurship and those that work hard to achieve things in life. I mention this as I believe this can be found in the experience of crabbing whether as participating in what some may consider a laborious hobby, and most definitely in those that work sun-up till sun-down to earn a living from the bay. “Small town USA” is thought of by most when getting back to their American roots during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, but for us perhaps it’s more of “water town USA”.

American Flag along the river bank beach!

American Flag on the beach along the river bank

At Long Point Outfitters we know we will be back out on the bay at some point this weekend as soon as the winds die down and waves settle! To all others who enjoy spending their July 4^th weekend on the bay, enjoy and please be safe.

For more information on Small Craft Advisories and updates on Hurricane Arthur, please visit The National Weather Service at: http://www.weather.gov/

Map from http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Welcome to Long Point Outfitters!

Welcome to Long Point Outfitters! July 1st, 2014 marks the launch of Long Point Outfitters online and social media. Long Point Outfitters is a grassroots group who explore, share, appreciate, and enjoy both modern and traditional crabbing strategies on the bay! We look forward to sharing our own personal experiences on the bay from season to season, as well as, other current events as they relate to the bay, historical references and past experiences, and other interesting and useful information surrounding crabbing and life on the bay. We hope you enjoy, and remember; it’s not about the Miles, but the 1,200ft of trot line!

Long Point Outfitters

It's not about the Miles, but the 1,200ft of trot line!

Author: C&A Sylvester