Fall Creek Exploring

Jode, I grew up on the Chesapeake doing similar things. I remember seagrass in the rivers so thick people cut it with sythes to be able to get their boats into the dock or so we could swim. I loved walking thru the grass with a dip net catching soft shells and dipping hard shells off of pilings. I might have been known to chicken neck and trotline a bit too. But then I did marry the daughter of a lobsterman and then move the coastal Oregon and Washington and so I learned to love lobster and Dungeness crab. I love them all. But there is nothing like spending the afternoon eating blue crab and drinking beer.

That big Jimmy is a monster. Don't know if I've ever seen one that large before.
 
Jon anytime your out this Way will make a trip of it! Your gonna miss the case of oysters I am bringing to the show!
 
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Brad, sounds like a dream! I have friends tell me if I wasn't from jersey I'd make an OK Marylander! LOL! I have a few west coast friends that keep asking me to come out for Dungeness, one of these days I will.

That big jimmy was over 9-1/8" point to point and his,claws spanned 21".Our DNR shellfish biologist said it is the largest verified crab ever recorded in jersey waters. I know a couple Maryland guys who have caught bigger, but they are usually handicapped, missing a claw or two.
 
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Well besides crabs, you'd have to learn to like razor clams, Puget sound oysters, salmon and black brant that eat eelgrass.
 
I think I cold do that! My neighbor was in Washington state during the Korean war. North of Seattle. He tells me stories of big Salmon, wild deep forests and said if it wasn't for his wife missing home he would of never came back east.
 
Well besides crabs, you'd have to learn to like razor clams, Puget sound oysters, salmon and black brant that eat eelgrass.
Click to expand...

And the brant must be worlds apart from Atlantic Brant that eat Cabbage!
 
Awesome story and photos, I actually read it on the Blue Crab forums from your partners perspective I believe.

I've been gathering information on crabbing lately for two reasons. First I love crabs, and second it seems like a great way to scout for duck season. Picked up some traps and hand lines a few weeks ago. First outing was a bust, but that trip was more about scouting for ducks then it was about crabbing. I've only hunted Jersey marshes with a guide so right now I'm more interested in learning about waterways and operating safely. Maybe I'll try again this weekend.

Thanks for sharing!
 
Jode~

What wonderful photos - of such a special place. Now I will simply have to make it down to Tuckerton next year - and bring my Sneakbox to cruise some of those rivers.

All the best,

SJS
 
Hey Jode. Looks like a nice day. Those are some big heavy duty box traps. Commercial or homemade?


Jersey gets a bad rap for a lot of reasons. Without getting into politics most people have only seen NJ while passing thru on the Turnpike or parkway. (U from Jersey..... I'm from Jersey. What exit? )


Because there's no easy, direct way to get to south jersey missed out on the urban sprawl that consumed most of Jersey,
it's beautiful down there. You wouldn't know you were in Jersey. Hope it can stay that way.


The book Beautiful Swimmers was available a couple years ago. Google... Tidewater Publishers. I haven't read it in years. Lester Lee and the chicken neckers Worth a reread this winter.


Phil
 
Phil, I have a mix of both, some bought , some made..........they all work pretty much the same.

Steve you would love it, it a waterman's Paradise!
 
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