the winter watermen are at it again

the winter watermen in maryland are busy in this off-season collecting abandoned "ghost" crab pots from the bottom of the chesapeake bay. last year's program in virginia was a great success.

chesapeake bay blue crabs

blue crabs in the chesapeake bay started molting the last week of may, and they told me at captain faunce's memorial day would be the last weekend for good hard crabs for three weeks or so: they were right, for sure. the crabs have not been really worth picking, apparently due to the recent full moon shed. they should be gaining weight soon, though. razor clams have been the most successful bait of late, followed by chicken necks, according to this week's dnr's fishing report.

ghost crab pots

this year the state of virginia started a program to remove abandoned crab pots and other debris from the chesapeake bay. 58 watermen participated in the program which covered over 1500 square miles and recovered 8600 pots, along with 61 nets and a baby stroller. this is a fantastic program coordinated by the virginia institute of marine science (VIMS)! not only did it replace income for the watermen lost due to the elimination of the winter dredge, it will help revive the health of the ailing bay: almost 5000 animals were killed while trapped in these derelict pots. This is the only large-scale program of its kind in the country that seeks out and removes unmarked, submerged, derelict crab pots using side-imaging equipment. very cool. support vims, please.