Crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay is incredibly popular among locals and visitors alike. And while capturing Crabs is very different from reeling in fish, anglers will feel that same jolt of excitement and adrenaline with every crustacean they catch.
All throughout Maryland and Virginia, the Blue Crab enjoys an almost cult-like status. Its sweet, delicious meat makes it true to its Latin name, Callinectes sapidus, which means “beautiful savory swimmer.” But these Crabs can carry a hefty price tag if you buy them at the store. And that just makes catching your own a smart move on top of being loads of fun!
In this article, I’ll run you through the three main techniques used for recreational crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay. Based on my decades of experience, you’ll learn about the basics of hand lining, snap trapping, and trot lining. Each one is a bit different, so let’s look at them one by one.
Crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay with Hand Lines
Crabbing with hand lines – sometimes also called “chicken necking” – is about as simple and straightforward as it gets. All you’ll need is a ball of string, a net, and some chicken necks or fish heads for bait.
Tie your bait onto the end of your string and drop it to the bottom – then wait. This works from a boat, pier, or dock. When a Crab gets on the bait and starts pulling, the line will stretch out at an angle, and you’ll know it’s time to slowly and smoothly pull in the string inch by inch until the bait is close enough to the surface that you can see it – along with the Crab that’s feeding so furiously it hasn’t noticed you’ve been reeling it in!
Make a quick scoop with the net, shake the captive Crab into your bucket, then redeploy the line and wait for another bite. Most crabbers will set out a half-dozen or more lines, and walk the dock while eyeballing them one after the next.
Crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay with Snap Traps
Snap traps are essentially wire mesh boxes with sides that fall flat when the trap sits on bottom. When you pull the line, the sides snap up and trap the Crabs inside. While set-and-forget Crab traps (usually called Crab pots) are illegal for recreational use in some areas of the Chesapeake Bay, these snap traps are allowed whenever Crabs are in season.
These mechanisms usually have a small cage or arms at the bottom to secure the bait. But you can also use string or a zip-tie to hold it in place. Once baited, lower the trap to the bottom and wait 10 or 15 minutes. Then grab the line and apply tension as quickly as possible with an abrupt tug to swing the trap’s hinged sides closed and steadily pull the trap up until you can see if any Crabs are inside.
You won’t know when a Crab has entered the trap, so check it regularly. Most crabbers using a boat will set a string of a dozen or two traps with a float on the end of each line, spaced 50 or so feet apart. Then they work their way from one end to the other, pulling each trap as they go. When snap trapping from a pier, people often set out a few traps, then try casting for Striped Bass or Flounder for a few minutes, and alternate between fishing and checking the traps.
Crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay with a Trot Line
Trot lining is, without a doubt, the most effective method to catch the biggest number of Crabs in the shortest amount of time, but it also takes skill, practice, a boat, and lots of gear.
Baiting the line is quite a chore, too. Most trot lines are 600 to 1200 feet long and have a bait every 5 feet, so you’ll be attaching hundreds of chicken necks. You’ll also need floats and anchors to set at either end of the trot line, and a “stick” (a U-shaped arm) rigged to hang out to the side of your boat.
After setting out the line, you’ll need to drive up to the float at one end, snag the line underneath it, and drop it into the U of the stick. Then motor slowly forward and as the boat creeps along, the line – and the Crabs clinging to baits – are pulled up from the bottom. As they become visible near the surface, you can scoop them with a net, one after the next.
Trot-lining has all sorts of fun hazards. You might drive over the line and tangle it in your propeller. The line can tangle on the net. And it can get snagged on the bottom. The process is complex enough that most crabbers working a trot line do so in pairs, with one person driving the boat while another does the scooping. It takes a lot of experience and know-how to do it properly and go home with a full bushel basket, so most people will book a Crab charter several times before trying to run a trot line on their own.
Ready for a Crab Feast?
Okay, you’ve got a basket full of claw-snapping succulence and you’re wondering what to do next? Here’s how to cook up a traditional Chesapeake Bay-style Crab feast.
- Add one can of beer, one can of apple cider vinegar, and one can of water to the steam pot (always steam, never boil).
- Put in Crabs six or eight at a time, pausing between batches to sprinkle them liberally with Crab season (J.O. Crab Seasoning is the gold standard for pre-prepped spice, or you can mix your own spice using Old Bay as a base).
- After loading the pot, cover it and steam for 20 minutes. As the Crabs steam, lay several layers of newspaper on a picnic table. When the Crabs are done, dump them in a big pile in the middle of the table and get cracking. When you’re ready, simply roll up the newspaper to clean up.
Crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay: A Fun-Filled Feat!
Now you know how to land your fill of Crab in the Chesapeake Bay (and cook them up), it’s time to get out on the water and try for yourself. Whether hand lining, snap trapping, or trot lining, you’re sure to have plenty of fun catching something delicious for dinner!
Have you ever been crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay? Maybe you have some extra tips or special honey holes to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
The post Chesapeake Bay Crabbing: A Local Angler’s Guide for 2025 appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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