Bays, beaches and bayous are all places you will find them, and Pensacola Bay is home to its fair share of them. Catching blue crabs can be a great family activity and literally anyone can catch a few with no experience needed.
Where is the best place to catch crabs in Florida?
1. Simpson Creek (South of Amelia Island) Okay, here's the best spot in Florida that I've found for blue crabs. It's in a tidal creek called Simpson Creek, located between the southern tip of Amelia Island and Jacksonville.
Is there a blue crab season in Florida?
Though blue crabs are available year-round, they are most abundant from May to August . During the busy months, Hagins estimates he goes through roughly 300 to 400 bushels of crab a week — about 12,000 to 16,000 pounds.
Do you need a fishing license to catch blue crab in Florida?
Recreational fishers age 16 and older (including those normally exempt from needing a license) are required to complete an online, no-cost recreational blue and stone crab trap registration before using blue or stone crab traps.
What's the best time to catch blue crabs?
The best time to catch crabs is while the water is moving, especially when the tide is coming in . As high tide approaches, crabs are pulled toward shore as they actively feed on tiny aquatic creatures that are stirred up by the moving water; this makes them easier to find and catch.
How many blue crabs can you keep in Florida?
The following are some other Florida blue crab regulations to keep in mind: You're only allowed to harvest 10 gallons per day. Each person can only own five legal crab traps .
Do I need a license to catch crab in Florida?
Recreational Regulations
Anyone harvesting stone crabs recreationally must have a Florida recreational fishing license . Claw size requirements for commercial harvest also apply to recreational harvest. Recreationally harvesting female crabs with eggs is prohibited.
What time of day is best for crabbing?
What's the Best Time of Day to Go Crabbing? The best time to go crabbing is when the slack water (otherwise known as slack tide) is present , this is the period around the high or low tide. During this time the crabs will not be pushed around by heavy waters or currents and will often be found out foraging on the beach.
What is the best month to catch crabs?
The primary season for all crab species is October to January when they are often at their largest and populations are highest after spawning. Some regions even stretch crabbing season into July.
How big do blue crabs have to be in Florida?
It is unlawful to take or possess any crab that is less than 5 inches from spike to spike across the back (other than a “peeler” or a mature adult female crab).
What's the best bait for blue crabs?
Chicken necks are the best bait to catch blue crabs. Crabs love the stinky part of a chicken, like lungs, liver, and neck. Chicken is great as it is not attractive to other marine life. Meaning when used, it doesn't make other species go after it.
How do you eat Florida blue crab?
How many blue crab traps can you have in Florida?
Upon completion, each person will receive a series of five unique trap registration numbers, one for each of the five traps the person may fish under the recreational blue crab fishing regulations.
How long do you leave a crab trap in the water?
You don't want to leave your crab traps in the water for more than six to eight hours , since once the bait is gone the crabs will turn on each other, often resulting in one large survivor-crab.
How many crab pots can you have in Florida?
Recreational crab fishers are limited to five traps per person . You can catch one gallon of stone crab claws per person as a recreational crabber, or 2 gallons of stone crab claws per vessel, whichever is less.
Is it best to crab at low or high tide?
Most crabbing enthusiasts agree that the ideal time to crab is during slack tide , the time just around or after a high or low tide. The reason is that during slack tide, crabbers can reach deeper levels of water from a pier or seashore than at low tide.
Where do blue crabs go in the winter?
Blue crabs have less of a tolerance for colder water temperatures in the winter, so they have to relocate. Blue crabs retreat to deeper waters and spend the winter months burrowed into muddy or sandy bottoms . This is not technically considered hibernation, but rather a dormant state.
What temperature do blue crabs come out?
Blue crab growth is regulated by water temperature. Growth occurs when water temperatures are above 59°F (15°C) .
Where is the best place for crabbing?
- Chesapeake Bay (Maryland) This bay is an estuary inland of the Atlantic ocean in the states of Maryland and Virginia. ...
- North Florida. ...
- Louisiana. ...
- 4. California. ...
- Washington.
What is the rules for Florida crabbing?
Regulations. Minimum Size Limit: 2 7/8 inches; only claws may be harvested . Daily Bag Limit: 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons per vessel, whichever is less. Harvest from egg-bearing crabs prohibited.
Is it good to go crabbing after it rains?
I agree with ChrisS, with the influx of rain it will put much needed oxygen into the water . Crabs have to eat and go on with life. It will be just a matter of locating them and they should still be in their favorite haunts as before. The cooling effect should keep them shallower in the water.
Are blue crabs active at night?
Blue crabs are most active at night . You'll occasionally see them out and about during the day but those crabs are the exception, not the rule.
Is crabbing good at night?
Crabs are nocturnal, making nighttime the best time to go crabbing . It's a relaxing experience and you usually have the water to yourself. Nighttime crabbers also have a secret weapon: flashlights. Crabs are drawn to the light, which makes for a large catch.
