If you’re from the New Jersey area then you know how delicious Blue Crab is that’s found all along Bays, tidal Creeks, and Rivers in the Jersey shore communities. They are abundant and easy to catch as long as you go at the right time and are using the right bait and equipment. They’re fun to catch-their great to eat it’s that time again. When is the New Jersey Blue Crab Season?
- Season-Mar. 15th-Nov.30
- Best Time-4:30-8:30 am
- Gear- bait line with a 6 oz sinker & an 8/0 hook connected to a 15-20 ft. cord or
- Use a Crab Pot (a cubical wire trap) with 2 or 4 entrance funnels
- Bait- bunker, chicken necks
- Location- small boat, piers, docks,
- Size over 4.5 in.
- License-2-$10.00Limit-1 Bushel
Of all the marine life and shellfish on the New Jersey coast, the Blue Crab is the most sought-after. If you tasted them then you know why. This Blue Crab I laid out on my bulkhead in the lead picture was mine and considered a nice size.
Introduction:
Bring the Kids and take an adventure along the Jersey shore during the exciting New Jersey crabbing season. From April to December, enthusiasts flock to the coastline, eager to capture the delectable blue crabs abundant in these waters. With its peak spanning from May to September, this season offers ample opportunities for crabbers of all skill levels to indulge in the thrill of the catch. Whether you’re a seasoned crabber or a novice eager to learn, the Jersey crabbing season promises unforgettable experiences and mouthwatering feasts. So, grab your gear, set sail, and prepare to reel in the bounty of the sea during this cherished coastal tradition.
New Jersey Blue Crab Season
Of the wide variety of marine animals on the Atlantic Coast, none is more well-known by people, young and old, than the blue crab. The crab’s abundance, beautiful coloration, pugnacious temperament and delicious flavor make it a favorite of recreational crabbers in New Jersey.
Crabbing is a family sport that can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of age or sex and when compared to other forms of recreation, it is relatively inexpensive. In addition to its recreational value, the blue crab also supports an important commercial fishery.
If you ask a Scientist, the Blue Crab is a Callinectes sapidus (kal i nek’ tes sap’ i dus). The literal translation of this Latin name is the beautiful calli-swimmer (nectes) that is savory-(sapidus). The Blue Crab certainly lives up to its name with brilliant blends of olive-green, blue, and red, the ability to dart swiftly through the water, and a body of delicate white meat.
Blue crabs require both inshore brackish waters and high salinity ocean waters to complete their life cycle. They range from Massachusetts to Texas, and occasionally north to Nova Scotia and south to Uruguay.
On the Jersey Shore, they are a staple and very popular. Large males, called Jimmies by fishermen, have brilliant blue claws and legs. The mature females, or “sooks,” have bright orange tips on their claws. A Peeler Crab A crab that is about to molt (lose its exoskeleton). Fishermen catch peeler crabs, hold them until they molt, and then refrigerate them for sale as soft-shell crabs
Males can reach 8-10 inches across the shell from point to point. Blue crabs have five pairs of legs. They can walk as well as swim. Three pairs of thin walking legs propel blue crabs sideways, as they clear a path with their sharp lateral spines.
Blue crabs swim by sculling the oar-like fifth pair of legs, the swimming legs. These paddles usually rotate at 20 to 40 revolutions per minute, but they quickly disappear into a blur as the animal darts away.
Crabs have large, powerful claws that are used for gathering food and defense, digging along with sexual displays. Blue crabs can inflict severe injury if not handled properly.
Male Blue Claw Crab on the Left-Female Blue Claw Crab on the Right. It’s very important to know in New Jersey!
Crabbing Bait and Equipment
A big part of Jersey shore recreational activities revolves around the Blue Crab, especially in the Bay areas of Jersey where these guys are abundant and part of the seafood menu and fishing that literally happens in residents’ backyards.
It’s not needed to travel far out into the Bays to find a huge amount. They wash up in the tides right up to your Bulkheads, Bridges, and Docks. Small boats with low Horse Power putter up into shallow waters can bring in large hauls enough for the family’s vacation dinner that night.
You can use baited lines or traps that are all sold locally in Bait & Tackle Shops. The kids can fish from the side of a bank or a small Crab Boat that is available to rent for a day and half-day. The most common baits are bunker and chicken necks, but any fresh fish will work well. Other recreational crabbing gear includes drop nets and dip nets.
Drop nets and collapsible traps, usually baited with herring, can be fished from docks and bridges
Most people that are fishing will save the scraps left over from a fish and use that for bait. Blue Crabs is not that particular. Crabbers typically bait their pots with oily fish to attract the crabs that detect the odor being released. Blue crabs can follow a current upstream by crisscrossing the stream bed.
An inexpensive bait line can be made by tying a 6 oz. sinker and a large (8/0) hook to one end of 15 to 20 feet of cord. A short stick is tied to the other end and used to link the crab pot, which is a cubical wire trap with two or four entrance funnels. Secure the bait line on the bank or pier/bulkhead.
When a crab is felt tugging on the bait, retrieve the line slowly and steadily until the feeding crab is close enough to be scooped up with a long-handled dip net. Don’t lift the crab out of the water with the line.
The Crab Pot has two chambers: a lower chamber with entrance funnels and the baitwell, and an upper chamber separated by a wire partition with two holes. Blue crabs react to confinement by swimming upward, moving them into the upper chamber, thereby reducing their chances of escape.
A favorite way from where I’m from is to use a Crab Pot with Chicken Necks and tie the cage off on your pier or bulkhead and just let it sit for a while. Crabbers use multiple Bait Lines and Crab Pots. You can find all your crabbing gear right here KUFA 2-Pack Vinyl Coated Crab Trap with Crabbing Accessory Kit–(S70+CAM3) X2
Or how about the Crabbing Boat like this guy- SunDolphin American 12 Jon Fishing Boat (Beige/Green, 12-Feet)
When waters are calmer then a crabber can wade the shallow waters and use a scoop to collect Crabs from the marsh areas and round bulkheads and pilings. In any event, keep the crabs that are caught wet and out of direct sunlight. Here are some other tips for your NJ Blue Crab experience:
- Don’t keep Crabs in a bucket of water they will use all the dissolved oxygen in the water and die.
- store them in a bushel basket with a lid and keep them in a cool place.
- Keep out of the sun
- Should a crab get a hold of a finger, it is usually best not to pull it off. First, try letting it hang; many times the crab will release and drop. If the crab will not release, use the free hand to immobilize the other claw and slowly bend the offending claw backward until the crab releases it.
- Don’t use plastic bags, they will kill the Crabs
- Ice them in a cooler in order to transport them.
- Before cooking, rinse crabs in freshwater, making sure they are all alive. If a crab’s legs and claws hang limp and show no signs of movement it is probably dead and should be discarded.
- Do not rinse the picked meat for this will remove much of its delicate flavor.
Jersey Blue Crab Fishing Regulations
New Jersey Crab season runs from March 15 to November 30th in all New Jersey waterways. The best time to go Crabbing is between 4:30 am to 8:30 am when the Crabs are most active. The best time of the season to harvest large, heavy crabs is normally from October to December.
Mature females are typically near the ocean, but large males are mostly in the rivers and creeks. Males and females are easily identifiable which is important because of State regulations.
Throwback any female crabs or any hard-shell blue crabs less than 4.5 inches long from point to point. Your iPhone is approximately 4.5 inches long. Female crabs have a V-shaped apron on their belly while males have a T-shaped apron on their underbelly along with blue claws.
Updated 2023 New Jersey Crab Season Rules and Regulations
Since January 1, 1998, all commercial-style crab pots must be constructed to include a biodegradable panel designed to create an opening to allow crabs and other organisms to escape if the pot is lost or abandoned.
Also, effective January 1, 1998, all commercial-style crab pots set in any man-made lagoon or any water body less than 150 feet wide must include a turtle excluder device inside all pot entrance funnels. Specific information may be obtained upon application for a license, or by contacting the Bureau of Marine Fisheries at 609-748-2020.
Crabbing Spots and Boat Rental in NJ
Just a few places to catch Blue-Claw Crabs in New Jersey. Having lived in Little Egg Harbor I’ve found the best places to catch crab are right off the side of the road where there is no fee and no boat rental. The best way to find the back-bay best spots for crab is to look where other people are crabbing.
The Blue Crab on the feature picture of this post is a crab I caught on the dock at the back of my home on Mystic Island in Little Egg Harbor. They are all over the backwater in New Jersey so you don’t have to go far. Bait your trap and let the tide do the work!
- Bass River Bridge Area
- Barnegat Bay in Seaside Heights (Dock Outfitters has a nice fishing pier with a food concession stand)
- Windward Beach in Brick
- Good Luck Point in Bayville
- Somers Point (Patcong Creek, Great Egg Harbor River, Great Egg Harbor Bay, Mays Landing Road), Egg Harbor Township in Atlantic County
- Great Bay Blvd on Seven Bridges Road in Little Egg Harbor
- Rt 539 & Green Street, Tuckerton (at the end of the road)
- Grassy Sound Marina Wildwood (charges a small admission fee)
- Creek Boat Rentals in Dividing Creek has crab boat rentals
NJ Recreational Crabbing
According to New Jersey Statistics, more than 19 million crabs are caught in any given year. NJ residents account for 77 % of the Crab’s participation with other states like Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware. Crabs can be caught all year, but become inactive, and therefore more difficult to catch in winter when water temperature falls below 50-55 degrees.
Around 47% of Crabbing is done by Boat and over 53% is done from shore and piers. The average catch per trip is 15.5 Crabs per resident. The peak recreational season for Crabbing is done in July-August in the summer. The average size of a Blue Crab from New Jersey is 5.2 inches but the big guys come out from October- to December when the water is still warm.
If you use a crab trap where the doors remain open and only close when you lift the strap you do not need a crabbing license in New Jersey. If you use a recreational hand line you also do not need a license.
Traps that don’t need to be monitored are officially considered Crab Pots and can sit unattended in the water for hours. Crabs are able to enter the crab pot but once they are in they cannot get out. You need a crabbing license to use a crab pot in New Jersey. That’s the difference. You can purchase one for NJ cheap online at the NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife.
What Should I Do With Undersized or Female Crabs
When you encounter undersized or female crabs while crabbing in New Jersey, it’s important to handle them responsibly to support the sustainability of crab populations. Here’s what you should do:
- Undersized Crabs: If you catch crabs that are smaller than the legal size limit specified by local regulations, it’s crucial to release them back into the water unharmed. Undersized crabs need time to grow and reproduce before they can be harvested sustainably. Handle them gently and return them to their habitat to continue their growth and contribute to future generations of crabs.
- Female Crabs: Female crabs play a vital role in maintaining crab populations by producing eggs. It’s essential to identify female crabs and handle them carefully. In particular, look for female crabs with a broad, rounded abdomen, which indicates that they are carrying eggs (known as sponge crabs). These crabs should be released back into the water to allow them to spawn and contribute to the next generation of crabs.
By releasing undersized and female crabs responsibly, you help ensure the sustainability of crab populations and support the long-term health of New Jersey’s marine ecosystems. This practice helps maintain a healthy balance within the crab population and ensures that future generations can continue to enjoy the tradition of crabbing along the Jersey shore.
Can I Eat the Crabs I Catch in New Jersey
Yes, you can eat the crabs you catch in New Jersey! Blue crabs caught in New Jersey waters are safe to eat, provided they are cooked properly. Many people enjoy steaming or boiling them and serving them with melted butter and Old Bay seasoning. However, it’s essential to follow any local regulations regarding catch limits and size restrictions to ensure sustainable crab populations for future generations. Additionally, be sure to handle and cook the crabs safely to avoid any foodborne illnesses. Enjoy your Jersey crab feast!
How to Shell a Blue Crab
Shelling a blue crab, also known as picking a crab, is a skill that takes a bit of practice but is quite rewarding once you get the hang of it. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to shell a blue crab:
- Start with a Cooked Crab: Make sure your blue crab is fully cooked before attempting to shell it. You can steam, boil, or grill the crab until it turns bright red and the meat is cooked through.
- Remove the Legs and Claws: Begin by twisting off the legs and claws of the crab. You can do this by holding the body of the crab in one hand and gently twisting and pulling the legs and claws with your other hand.
- Detach the Apron: Turn the crab upside down, and you’ll see a triangular-shaped flap called the apron. Lift this flap and pull it away from the body to remove it.
- Separate the Top Shell: With your thumbs, pry apart the top shell (also known as the carapace) from the body of the crab. It should come off relatively easily. Set the top shell aside.
- Clean Out the Gills and Innards: Once the top shell is removed, you’ll see the gills (also known as “dead man’s fingers”) and other innards inside the crab. Use your fingers or a small spoon to scoop out and discard these parts. The gills are not edible and should be removed.
- Break the Body in Half: Hold the body of the crab in both hands and gently break it in half along the center line. This will expose the meat inside.
- Crack the Sections: Using a crab mallet or the back of a heavy knife, carefully crack open the sections of the crab body to access the meat. Be gentle to avoid crushing the delicate meat inside.
- Extract the Meat: Use your fingers or a seafood pick to extract the meat from the various sections of the crab, including the body, legs, and claws. Blue crab meat is sweet and delicate, so take your time to savor it.
- Enjoy: Once you’ve extracted all the meat, you’re ready to enjoy your freshly shelled blue crab! Serve it with melted butter, lemon wedges, and your favorite seafood seasoning for a delicious meal.
Shelling a blue crab can be a messy but enjoyable experience. With a bit of practice, you’ll become more efficient at picking the meat and be able to enjoy this delicacy with ease.
References:
Best of New Jersey-The Best Crabbing Spots in New Jersey
FAQ’s
- When is Jersey crabbing season? The Jersey crabbing season typically runs from April to December, with the peak months being May through September.
- What types of crabs can you catch in New Jersey? The most common crab species caught in New Jersey waters is the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), prized for its sweet, tender meat.
- Where can I go crabbing in New Jersey? There are numerous locations along the Jersey shore where you can go crabbing, including beaches, piers, docks, and estuaries. Some popular spots include Barnegat Bay, Great Bay, and the Delaware Bayshore.
- What equipment do I need for crabbing? Basic equipment for crabbing includes crab traps or pots, bait (such as chicken necks or fish heads), a crabbing net or scoop, gloves, and a container to hold your catch.
- Are there any regulations I need to follow while crabbing in New Jersey? Yes, there are regulations regarding crabbing seasons, catch limits, and gear restrictions in New Jersey. It’s important to check the current regulations set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to ensure compliance.
- How many crabs can I keep? The catch limits for crabs in New Jersey vary depending on factors such as the location and time of year. It’s crucial to adhere to the specific regulations for the area where you’re crabbing.