Baltrum

When can you catch crabs in the New York area (long island - Jones Beach area)?

I live in Lindenhurst, Ny and I'm wondering when you can catch crab in the boating inlets. There is a place to dock a boat right behind my house and I really love crabs. Also, what's the best way to catch them? On vacation in the Outer Banks, NC.... we use string and fresh chicken and just scoop them out of the sound. Any help is greatly appreciated... THANKS!!!

Public Comments

1. Well I have seen people "crabbing" at the Bay Shore marina, using a string, fresh chicken and a crab cage. While I have seen people crabbing I have only seen a handful catch anything and what they catch are small. There is also a pier on the South Side of Captree where you will find plenty of people fishing and crabbing. You might not really catch much on Long Island but I am sure you can have fun trying. By the way, I love LIndenhurst, I grew up on the South Shore of Suffolk and loved it! Enjoy.
2. i've seen people crabbing at Fire island
3. I never had much luck crabbing in that area, but I have had extreme luck crabbing in LBI, NJ. One trip down there, I caught over 60 full sized crabs! Not wanting to waste them, I shared the wealth and had a crab themed party on the beach! If you can do it, go down for the weekend and have yourself a good time. It's less expensive this time of the year anyway.
4. Not sure when is best to catch them in New York because we've only done in back in the Islands (Jamaica) as we don't really trust the waters here. According to Wikipedia, the most popular crab-fishing months occur between October and January. At night, when we went swiming on Jamaica's beaches, they'd come up onto the shore and we'd whack them onto their backs with the closet thing we had before they got back in the water. ^_^ Here are "Tips for Catching Crabs" by Gary Anderson. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/39853/tips_for_catching_crabs_in_florida.html Happy hunting. ^_^
5. I used to go to Hecsher State State Park a little past Islip, Ny on the southern State. We got ton's of crabs there. we used crab pots with chicken parts that we weren't using when we went there to Picnic with our family. I also used to go to Orient Point at the forks. Its a little far out. The parks at the islip inlets are better. Crabs molt in September, so the best time used to be around July and August. They came in by the Millions.