Looking for a spot to crab from shore when we come down to visit our son. My wife loves to crab. Anyone willing to share a spot (PM me if you want to keep it on the down low) would be greatly appreciated and, I promise we would only use it a couple of times.
I’ve been trying to post this for 2 weeks. It finally let me do it. Jeez.
We do pretty good on the IOP side of Breech Inlet. Low Tide is best. Sometimes you don’t even need bait, just a long handled net. And, the bridge offers shade, on the hot days.
Good luck!
Robinette’s Bend Forward
There’s a bunch of them. It really depends on where you’re staying. Low tide crabbing around rocks is usually a good place. That was always a lot of fun as a kid. We did it all over Folly, but anywhere there’s a little bit of structure like that in saltwater, you’ll find them. These days, I drown bait in the pot off the dock. There is a size limit, so make sure the people you are with know to only keep the bigger ones. 5" minimum and I only keep the jimmies. The females are legal to keep as long as there are no eggs.
If you get a stone crab, you can keep one claw, but that’s only if he has two. Just make sure any crabs going back in the water have at least one claw. And be careful, these guys are strong. Also, anyone in the act of crabbing is “fishing” so they’ll need a fishing license if stopped by SCDNR.
Chicken neck on a string with a weight and a dip net. That’s all you need!
“Another poon dream splintered on the rocks of reality.” --Peepod 07-25-2017
Not being confrontational, but I think you can use up to three “lines” while crabbing, without a saltwater license? And, I think there’s a 2 1/2" minimum on harvesting Stone Crab claws? All of the Stone Crabs we caught last trip were full of roe.
Robinette’s Bend Forward
A salt water license is cheap enough, and, Lord knows, the SCDNR can use the money.
Robinette’s Bend Forward
Male crabs have more meat than females. Female crabs like very salty water near the ocean. Male crabs like less salty water further inland . Areas adjacent to boat ramps work well but you cant interfere with boaters . I seem to do best 2 hours either side of low tide. I like to use drop nets. I prefer the ones that look like braided steel wire baskets because when you lift them the crabs legs stick through and they cant escape. I much prefer using fish heads .ask any seafood store for bait I see many using chicken necks but fish heads will always outfish chicken Follow the size law 5" from point to point
I can’t help with the charleston area, but Tuten’s Landing off Hwy 462 near Coosawhatchie has a good 4 hour window on low tide . Banks are easily walked and also a couple of deeper holes to free cast into for shrimp. Been a long time but the Wife and I would take our kids there and never had a disappointment of no crabs. Really not a bad drive up from Charleston… 17 to Point South and a tiny stretch of I95 or stay on 17 straight to 462 in coosawhatchie. I prefer the string or wire mesh baskets and a Turkey neck or thigh.
Wish y’all the best of luck!
Thanks all for your input.
I didn’t realize that. From SCDNR website directly:
“A Saltwater Fishing License is required when harvesting marine resources, including finfish, oysters, clams, shrimp, and crab. A saltwater recreational fishing license is required unless fishing on a licensed public fishing pier; fishing on a licensed charter vessel while under hire; using 3 or fewer drop nets, 3 or fewer fold-up traps, or 3 or fewer handlines with no hooks and single bait per line (chicken necking); or shrimp baiting (which requires a shrimp baiting license).”
But if you read the above, the first sentence by itself contradicts the second sentence. I think I understand what its trying to say as a whole, but you can see how a LEO could interpret this as simply, “A Saltwater Fishing License is required when harvesting marine resources, including finfish, oysters, clams, shrimp, and crab.”
I guess it depends on what SCDNR LEO you get.
“Another poon dream splintered on the rocks of reality.” --Peepod 07-25-2017
I had always thought you had to have a fishing license if you fished, crabbed, etc. Definitely seems to contradict itself. Written by an attorney no doubt. No doubt seems subject to interpretation. I’ll call a friend of mine at DNR.
If it is required for crabbing, then it would result in piers and people taking charters needing to purchase a license too since they are also on the “unless” list in the wording… If you take this wording literally, then how about children under 16?
Here are the eRegs which are linked to the SCDNR website:
https://www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/fishing/general-information
RBF