Blueclaw crabbing is red hot NY Newsday

There's little doubt summer heat and humidity can take a bite out of local fishing prospects, but blueclaw crabbing is a powerful exception to the rule. In fact, over the past two weeks, crabbing action has exploded across Long Island's south shore from Jamaica Bay all the way east past Shinnecock Canal.

• Crabbing in Jamaica Bay has been "fantastic" around the North Channel Bridge with blueclaws taken in box traps on outgoing tides. He attributed the great action to a mild winter, which improves survival rates for blueclaws as they hibernate in the mud from late November though early May.
• Crabbing has also been excellent around Bay Park, said Bob Greco at Long Island Outdoorsman in Rockville Centre. "Many people use chicken for bait," he noted, "but bunker is better because it releases a fish-oil slick crabs easily detect." Greco recommends trying for crabs early in the morning because that is when you'll have the least competition from other crabbers.
• Both the Jones Beach and Captree Piers have also been hot spots for blueclaws, reported Forrest Clock at Captree Bait and Tackle. "People are leaving Captree with more than a dozen crabs apiece," Clock said. "Some use drop lines, others toss traps and a few simply walk the docks using nets to scrape crabs off the pilings. Bunker and chicken are working equally well," he added.
• "Not only are the crabs plentiful this summer," John Montione at J&J Sports in Patchogue said, "they are big."
• Montione has seen blueclaws delight fishermen from Oakdale east to Union Avenue Dock in Center Moriches. "Sayville to Bellport is a crabber's Mecca right now," he said. "Try outgoing water at the Blue Point Avenue Dock or the South Ocean Avenue Dock in Patchogue, where everyone is welcome."
• Mantione also suggested using bunker for bait and crabbing along shadow lines where, he said, the biggest crabs lurk.
• On the East End, Ken Morse of Tight Lines Bait and Tackle in Sag Harbor believes crabbers should try Shinnecock Canal when the locks are closed, or hit Mecox Bay, Sag Pond, Georgica Pond and Bullhead Bay.
• Morse pulls on a pair of waders and patrols shoreline edges with a long-handled crab net after dark. He wears a headlamp to free his hands, and seeks out blueclaws at midtide because that is when they come closest to the beach.
• New York State law requires hard-shelled crabs to measure at least 4.5 inches across the shell from point to point. Softshells can be kept at three inches. Crabs carrying orange eggs on their underside must be released. Some municipalities require town shellfishing permits, residency, or both to crab.
• "There is a 50 crab limit in New York State," Morse said, "but no rules stating you must take home every one you catch."

TAKE NOTICE CONNECTICUT REGS:
Blue Crab Minimum shell width (Spike tip to spike tip)
5 inches - Hard shell 3 1/2 inches - Soft shell
Daily creel limit: None Season: May 1 - November 30