When Are Maryland Blue Crabs in Season?

Maryland blue crabs are available for about four months of the year

"Maryland" and "crabs" are nearly synonymous for seafood lovers and for good reason: About one-third of the nation's blue crabs come from Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. These famous blue crabs are only in season from roughly June through October, so foodies and fishermen alike have just four months out of the year to indulge. Does this Spark an idea?

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Location
- Wye River is Maryland's best-known area for crabbing. Other popular crabbing spots include Chesapeake Beach, Point Lookout State Park and Crab Alley Bay.
Capture Methods
- For recreational crabbers, the bait hand line method is the easiest way to catch Maryland blue crabs during the crabbing season. Lower a baited line into the water and wait for a nibble, then slowly raise the line after you feel a bite. Another method, using a dip net, calls for good hand-eye coordination and lots of patience.
Predators
- Humans are not the only ones who love eating Maryland blue crabs, in or out of season. Oysters and other filter feeders nosh on blue crab larvae. Young blue crabs make a tasty meal for sharks, eels, catfish and striped bass. Birds will go for soft-shelled blue crabs that have molted recently.

Photo Credit crabs image by Bionic Media from Fotolia.com

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