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Another Memorial Day weekend has come and gone and although the weather held out beautifully, stiff winds did hamper the action for many. Those that did brave the white-capped waters of the bay or the significant swells of the ocean were rewarded as fishing on all fronts continues to grow. Among the factors that have triggered this recent fishing explosion is the incredible amount of baitfish. The Bay, it's tributaries such as the Forge and Terrill Rivers are simply 'chocked full' of shiners, killies and even the occasional school of 'peanut bunker'. Many of those fishing for blues from the beaches as well as on the Cranberry dock, have hung up the artificials for chunks of mackerel and bunker and been quite successful with these alternative baits.
As a result of the aforementioned influx of bait, fluking in the bay has come into its own with spearing/squid combos getting the nod. Flounders are definitely around especially at the top of the tide. Heavy chum and an occasional handful of corn will keep these 'flatties' hitting your rig. Reports of stripers is also increasing with several keepers now being taken on a regular basis in the west cut and the 'hole' inside the jetties. Clam bellies and 'live-lined' eels are working best but don't rule out those redheaded poppers at dawn and dusk. No news of weakfish, but then again, you never can predict when or where they'll show up.
Each winter as I watch the bay freeze up, I wonder if things will get cold enough for a bottom freeze in the rivers, the result of which would be a massive reduction of the following season's blue claw crab population. As I said in past articles, most folks think of crabbing as an August outing, and wait for those 'dog days' of summer before venturing out. In contrast, when Memorial Day comes around, so do the crabs. With simple tackle, some 20 lb test monofilament, a long-handled net and a pack of the cheapest chicken wings on the market, a day of family fun and a delicious meal can easily be enjoyed by all.
I've always favored the Forge River dock and the surrounding area, and a trip with 'wings in hand' this past Sunday proved that an icy bay had done nothing to slow these 'clawed critters' from emerging from the mud with an insatiable appetite. The larger males are usually the first, the dozen or so that I took were full of meat. Although limits on the size and number of crabs have become a thing of the past, it's still essential to keep a couple of simple rules in mind. Anything less than 4 or 5 inches across the shell (measured from point to point), just isn't worth taking. Females with sponges (egg clusters), should always be released and only take what you can use.
With my former friend and neighbor, and my 10 ft. Johnboat I have spent many hours scooping up crabs at the Forge. Our craft was outfitted with cushioned seats, strategically placed shower curtain hooks to hold the chicken-ladened lines and a small sign on the stern that read "Two Old Crabs"that was us. We always carried two buckets: one for the keepers and the other for throwbacks, which were released, unharmed, at the end of the day. Part of our fun was to taunt those who would take any size crab that they caught, hence the second pail. As we rowed back towards the dock, all eyes were on us and just before landing, the 'bucket of babies' were thrown overboard in full view of these spectators bringing muffled cries of surprise and shock. It was a cheap thrill for us, but got our point across that the crabs you keep should always be much bigger than the holes in your net! See you next week, Happy Memorial Day, and God Bless America!
