Printer Friendly Version - It’s a Snappy Blue Crab Season

Bill Cummings of Westbrook is no stranger to black sea bass fishing as he seeks out and catches Long Island Sound humpbacks in 150-foot-plus depths. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Calling all crabbers! The 2019 season is hot as the blue crab bite continues to draw crowds. From large jimmies down to the sooks and softies, the tidal rivers and estuaries are teeming with crabs. Spring and early summer saw some fantastic crabbing, especially with large males dominating the scene. As the waters warmed and molting became more prevalent, crabs in various stages of development began to appear.

A jimmie is an adult male crab (often quite large) that has shells loaded with meat. Its blue-tipped claws are a dead giveaway. If that skips notice, then its aggressive nature will not. However, female crabs have their claw tips colored in red, almost looking like painted nails.

An adolescent female blue crab is known to watermen as a she-crab or, as we commonly refer to them, a sally. Sooks, on the other hand, are adult females. When carrying fertilized eggs, they are often called sponge crabs and are illegal to harvest. It takes about two weeks for those eggs to be released into the lower tidal waters to hatch.

Blue crabbing is as much a family event as it is an individual one. Walking the banks or slipping by them in a small boat, scooping as you go, can be quite productive at low and incoming tides. Tossing baited hand lines and carefully bringing your catch to the net is another method, while using baited legal traps is also popular. Afterwards, some crabbers enjoy the boil and the Old Bay method piled high on newspaper with corn on the cob and a brew. Others delight in making crab sauce, while others pick away and create delicious crab cakes and sandwiches. Whatever your pleasure, if you enjoy catching and eating blue crabs, then hit up one of those estuaries for some of these feisty critters.

Long Island Sound inshore water temperatures have been averaging 74 degrees, coupled with rather mild sea conditions. The few bursts of thundershowers followed by some gusty winds, typical of August, did not upset the fishing, even though the heat did alter a few cycles. All in all, the Sound has not seen the last of fish entering as their seasonal runs progresses.

Schools of Atlantic menhaden are thicker than the previous week and, depending on the day, more bluefish could be seen on the surface. Fish less than 10 pounds made up most of the catches by fishers chunking or trolling. Top water action has still been spotty, but that could change in an instant. From The Race to Six Mile and Faulkner’s and a bit farther west have been where most of the catches centered.

Snapper blue casters do not have to wait any longer. The action has started, but just how intense remains to be seen. Poppers, lures, and shiners are all being put to use on light gear and grandad’s old bamboo poles. Catch any daytime incoming tide, pick your spot along a beach, harbor, or bay, and chances are good you will be into a school of them.

Inshore striped bass catches slowed due to the warm water in the estuaries and lower tidal rivers. Reefs and shoals have only seen moderate catches with live eels, baits, jigs, and spoons. Then again, it is August, so don’t let that fool you. There have been some good catches of hefty fish at night. Releasing striped bass that are caught in warm water usually have a high kill rate when released. Therefore, it is best to fish the deeper, cooler water during the cooler parts of the day. However, those same tidal rivers are producing quality blue crabs.

We have seen limited bonito action in the eastern part of the Sound with anticipation of a decent albie run. There has been talk of chub mackerel appearing (good in omega-3 fatty acids, by the way) and, that being said, do not be surprised if a few Spanish mackerel are caught, even though it has been a while. As in previous weeks, catches of weakfish continue to surprise fishers, especially during early and late daytime hours when using soft natural baits.

Fluke catches continue to vary from doormat size to barely a keeper. Throwbacks still outnumber keepers and the larger fish are being caught in the deep. Squid remains the key bait, although they are starting to stalk the snapper schools as they head inshore. Check out Six Mile, Long Sand Shoal, and the Waves. Good black sea bass can be found in deep water. While their summer hay day is waning, there are still plenty of smaller fish to make for a fun day.

Porgy (scup) fever has not let up as catches of mixed sizes are being caught. Squid, clams, and sea worms are good baits to use on rigs or single hooks. If there is a rock pile or reef around, you most likely will be in porgy territory. A few good blackfish are being caught inshore along rock piles, making the effort worth it, while other bottom fish like sand sharks, sea robins, northern kingfish, and oyster toadfish are scattered throughout the Sound for easy catching.

Inland fishing, in spite of the warm and low water, has been offering some good catches. River trout continues to be challenging, however, large and small mouth catches have been attainable. Pickerel have eased a bit, but channel cats are biting, sunfish are hot, and suspended black crappie have woken up. There has been bowfin action in the upper Connecticut River, while yellow perch in lakes and ponds are taking worms and lures. Check out the trout parks for a variety of relaxed fishing.

At the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission summer meeting held in Arlington, Virginia, the Atlantic Striped Bass Board approved Addendum VI for public comment. The addendum will revise coastwide recreational and commercial regulations to address overfishing. Additional action to consider area-specific management, goals and objectives, and other technical issues including biomass rebuilding was postponed until May 2020.

The last of Captain Morgan’s Day On The Flats fly fishing clinics for 2019 is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14. Meet and work one-on-one with three certified, highly skilled, and experienced instructors on Long Island Sound to enhance your fly fishing adventures. Space is limited. Call 203-245-8665 or stop in the shop to register. The cost of $225 includes lunch and beverage.

Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and international fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.

For all things fishy including fly fishing, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

Jim Luce of Madison was into a mix of striped bass and bluefish when he hooked this chopper while fishing with Captain Mike in Long Island Sound. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

From our kitchen to yours, this year is turning out to be a good one for blue crabbing, starting from the catch to the boil then the pick and finally the sauce. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan