Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Chesapeake Bay

  1. 01-24-2009, 03:59 PM #1
    casapulla
    casapulla is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    123

    Default Chesapeake Bay

    Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs

    Maryland 's icon, the blue crab, has been fading away in Chesapeake Bay . Last year Maryland saw the lowest harvest (22 million pounds) since 1945. Just four decades ago the bay produced 96 million pounds. The population is down 70% since 1990, when they first did a formal count. There are only about 120 million crabs in the bay and they think they need 200 million for a sustainable population. Overfishing, pollution, invasive species and global warming get the blame.
    Last edited by casapulla; 01-24-2009 at 04:05 PM.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 01-25-2009, 08:54 AM #2
    Fish-on
    Fish-on is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    THE BIG TOWN..........Atco, N.J. U.S.A.
    Posts
    3,692

    Default

    You forgot to mention whores! Yes whores, I have seen commercial crabbers selling female crabs with red sacks exposed for $7 a bushel in Cape Charles in the late 90s.
    A WIFE AND A STEADY JOB HAS RUINED MANY A GOOD FISHERMEN.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 01-26-2009, 01:47 PM #3
    Skmag357
    Skmag357 is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    Wayne PA
    Posts
    3,951

    Default

    Also, think about the number of stripers in bay as well...there numbers have increased and they will eat anything


    Steve
    1989 Mako 250 with twin yamaha 150 hpdi
    1971 Mako 17 with mercury 125
    Docked in Cape May Marine
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 01-27-2009, 11:47 PM #4
    o'sprey
    o'sprey is offline
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Harleysville,PA
    Posts
    32

    Default

    You're right. The stripers will resort to eating anything. Especially when their favorite forage is being wiped out to make Omega Fish Oil. I fish the lower bay from May thru October & to watch those processing boats with the aerial spotting support chase down schools of bunker is both sad & infuriating.
    I passed out and I rallied, and I sprung a few leaks but, I got to stop wishing, got to go fishing down to rock bottom again with just a few friends, just a few friends.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 01-28-2009, 03:33 PM #5
    dixie noormiss
    dixie noormiss is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    bear, de
    Posts
    2,499

    Default

    I've opened the bellies of many a chessy caught striper, and can count on 1 hand the number of times I've seen crabs. Seen plenty of mantis shrimp, small flounder, perch, bunker, various baitfish, small stripers, etc. I think commercial overharvest, recreational poaching (taking more crabs than your'e allowed, seen this a bunch) and pollution are the big problem...
    The only thing worse than an illegal immigrant is the American that hires him....

    If guns cause crime, all of mine must be defective. - Ted Nugent
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 01-28-2009, 05:25 PM #6
    Elrod
    Elrod is offline
    Banned
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    townsend,de
    Posts
    305

    Default

    gotta leave the she crabs,meaning peelers gotta have em to maintain a good crab population.DNR should make the sassafras and north a no crab zone,delaware has plenty of crabs because once the salt line goes to pa no crab pressure just like a refuge.........just a thought but i didnt go to school for marine biology
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules