THE CHESAPEAKE EXPLORER
WYE RIVER CRABS
 

The Wye River is one of the most beautiful rivers in the Chesapeake Bay area. It is a popular crusing spot for many boaters

WYE LANDING SUNRISE

Located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland it is midway between the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Easton Maryland
The largest White Oak in the United States is nearby at Wye Mills
The boat launching ramp area is called wye landing.This landing has been on the map since the early 1700,s.The wye River is narrow but deep in the center . Ocean going ships could dock at the landing and haul cargos to Europe. Today it is  a popular crabbing location for recreational crabbers and commercial crabbers as well as a very pretty place to visit by water.

Commercial crabbers at sunrise

Crabs are captured by the recreational crabber by the "chicken neck method"

Tie a chicken neck on a string and let it sit...Pull it up slowly and feel if there is a crab on it.If so..keep going till you can net the crab! A cheap and effective way to catch some crabs! Remember to pull up s..l..o..w..l..y!

Many crabbers use wire traps baited with chicken necks

You put them down and attach a float then pull them up to see if you have a crab.
A jon boat is great for this type of crabbing or rent one of the rowboats from Wye Landing! They also have chicken necks and recreational crab gear for sale.

The prefered method of the commercial crabber on Wye River, is the trotline. Recreational crabbers use this technique also. In Talbot County Maryland it is the only way a commercial crabber may crab by law.
Recreational crabbers may run ( Yr 2000) up to a 1200 ft trotline with a recreational crabbing license 600 ft with out. Commercial crabbers trotlines may go over 2000 feet and more!  When setting out trotlines or crab traps look around to see if there are any trotline buoys that may indicate a trotline in the area.  Some times its hard to tell if the trotline is going where you are going to lay a line or put a trap. Stay 100 feet away from any trotline. Its the law in Maryland

The line is baited with chicken necks , bull lips or salted eel the crabs favorite!
Anchors are place at each end attached to floats.The line is placed on a hook on the boat and the crabs are netted as the boat travels up and down the line.

The Action can be fast!  Wire crab nets are perfered by trotliners
as crabs can hang up in the cloth nets.

After catching the crabs are sprinkled with spice and steamed.The wye landing will do this for you if you wish!

Some Crab Gear: #1 the professional wire net #2 the trotline in a catch basket #3 trotline float#4 trotline anchor filled with cement about 40 lbs#5 "Best Brand" gloves crabs cant bite thru them#6 the trotline holder made of pvc pipe#7 a plastic bin to hold the salted eel trotline I put mine in my deep freeze after each trip.The eel can last for many crab trips.

The Wye River is a great place to boat, crab or visit. The river circles a island which is a bird and wildlife refuge. Upon the river you will notice large homes on the one side and natural riverbanks on the other where the refuge is. There are many birds to see and you can visit the island by car. There are a few picnic tables on the island also.

The Wye River crabs are the largest in the Chesapeake bay area!

Thats it for now!
For Blue Crab Archives and laws visit this great web site..
There are so many links! ...enjoy! The best blue crab site on the web!
Thats because they are a Chesapeake Bay area site! All kinds of crab information and a area to post and check crabbing action!
Steves Excellent Blue Crab Site
 The Blue Crab Archives
Steve-Howard-Crabslayer-Cajenmiret-HawgScalder-Crabman-Crabber Joe-Linda P-Popeye-Big Al-Williecrab-"aye the" Mudfisher-   and.....
Darrell
"The Chesapeake Explorer"

WYE LANDING- WYE RIVER CRABS

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