Crabbing on the Tred Avon

[Brian0075]

I do not what to start anything but this really needs to be said. There are two types of crabbers commerical and recreational. I understand how most of you feel about com crabbers, their stripping the Bay and it's rivers. But we do have laws in Maryland. The Rec crabber may start crabbing one half-hour before sunrise and the Com crabber may start one hour before sunrise. By the rec crabbers going out and laying their lines before legal time the Com crabbers have no where to lay theirs. I know the Com guys don't own the water but they are trying to make a living, Rec crabbers are not. Lets start obeying the laws before someone gets hurt. How would feel if someone was taking away your way of life, your way to feed your family.

[Pinchy03]

I know your trying to make a living and everything doing this, but after you commies stretch out your line that doesnt leave a whole alot of area sometimes for us rec guys either, then if we set up within 100ft of you we get the evil stare as if were stealing your crabs. As far as starting before legal time though, you dont have to worry about me I like to sleep too much

[LILY]

Hey Brian

I crab the wye river a lot in the summer and have family that lives on belle point.. I have seen you guys dipping crabs before the sun comes up , with a light above the line .. I would call that breaking the law...[tongue..

It is first come first lay.. You guys have plenty of water to crab in.. We are looking to have a good time and catch a bushel for our families..

I think the Govener should pay you commerical guys a salary for one year and let the crabs have a year off[grin].. I would agree with this... I can go a year without crabs and think how many crabs there would be..[smile] They only average a life span of three years

Phil (lily)[grin]

[C-Hawk18]

Hey Lily,

A commercial crabber "dipping crabs before the sun comes up , with a light above the line" is not illegal. By Maryland regulations a commercial crabber can begin removing crabs from his gear 1 hour prior to sunrise. I have a light on my boat just for that purpose.

[Durado]

I have a flood on the starboard side of my vessel. It's pretty dark, 1 hour before sunrise and it is perfectly legal for Commercial crabbers to start harvesting at that time......

A. Commercial.

(1) Notwithstanding Natural Resources Article, §4-813, Annotated Code of Maryland, an individual licensed to catch crabs for sale may remove crabs from commercial gear in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries only during the following time periods:

(a) Trotlines and Scrapes:

(i) Between 1 hour before sunrise to 9 hours after sunrise during the period May through September; and

(ii) Between sunrise and 10 hours after sunrise during April, October, November, and December; and

(b) Crab pots, bank traps, collapsible traps, net rings, handlines, or dip nets between 1/2 hour before sunrise to 71/2 hours after sunrise.



Regardless of who is wrong, here in opinions...
the rec. crabber was the one breaking the law.


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B. Recreational. Except for handlines and dipnets, a person may not set any recreational crabbing gear or catch crabs for recreational purposes from a boat during:

(1) May through September between:

(a) 5 p.m. and 1/2 hour before sunrise in the main Chesapeake Bay; and

(b) Sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise in tidal waters tributary to the Chesapeake Bay;

(2) April, October, November, and December between:

(a) 5 p.m. and 1/2 hour after sunrise in the main Chesapeake Bay; and

(b) Sunset and 1/2 hour after sunrise in tidal waters tributary to the Chesapeake Bay.

[C-Hawk18]

Hey Brian0075 - I didnt' read your post fully the first time but what was the comment -

"I understand how most of you feel about com crabbers, their stripping the Bay and it's rivers"

all about?

[scotty80]

Lets start obeying the laws before someone gets hurt.
Sounds like a personal threat to all rec guys on the Tred. Unless I'm unaware of some major catastrophe if trot lines get crossed ?

If you see a pattern of illegal activity then call DNR and report it. That is unless you have something to hide ???

There is no law that guarantees you the right to make a living off the Chesapeake Bay, regardless of the past. There are plenty of Comm guys here that understand this.

[Brian0075]

No threat I haven't even been crabbing yet but I know those guys and there has allready been a few anchors thrown and a couple of boat hooks swung. I just don't want to see anyone get hurt. On top of all this on one occasion there were kids on the boat. They don't need to see this kind of stuff to include their own fathers breaking the law.

[scotty80]

My bad Brian, thanks for the info. I agree that 'everyone' needs to follow the regs. Throwing anchors or swinging hooks does not. Calling DNR to report it does.

With a little mutual respect, neither should be necessary.