Last Friday I went crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay with my older brother (Eric) and younger sister (Liz). The shocking part - not that I was bonding with my siblings on a Friday afternoon - but rather that I was crabbing. For some reason, people can't see me as the outdoorsy, get dirty type. Hello people, I used to play sports! Nothing like dirty, stinky shinguards. I also love hiking, but avoid getting dirty when I do so (yes that is possible aside from the sweat which is fine). Okay, confession, you will never catch me camping. Sorry, been there, done that as a kid, don't need to do it again. I can hike during the day, but I want to sleep inside, thank you very much.
The three of us set out around noon for our adventure. It took about an hour to get there - we had to go south since the crabs don't migrate up to where we are (making it an easier adventure) until later in the crabbing season. The area we went crabbing in, Kent Narrows, which is in Kent Island, is gorgeous. It is immediately after you cross the Bay Bridge. There were so many bars and restaurants on the water...I was very tempted to grab a drink and relax, especially since crabbing wears you down.
We got there, launched Eric's boat, and threw out the buoys and traps (you tie chicken necks in them). Then it becomes a process. You can only have 25 traps (these wire squares with an open top...they lay flat when they are on the bottom of the Bay). Liz and I took turns during each "run". During the run, the driver of the boat slows down, you reach over the side of the boat, grab the buoy, grab the rope that is attached to the trap, and throw the buoy...all while quickly pulling up the trap. If there is a crab in the trap, you have to bring the trap on the boat, and shake the crab in to a plastic basket. All the while trying not to fall off the boat or get bitten by a crab. Then you throw the trap and buoy back in the water and move to the next one.
Eric and Liz riddled me with constant criticism throughout my time pulling up the traps...e.g. "throw the buoy, throw it, why are you doing it that way?" Oh dear! My method worked and I should get a Rookie of the Year award. Eric and Liz are pros considering they go almost every weekend in the summer. My husband, Mark, will go with them too if the trip doesn't call for a 3 am wake up call to get a spot on the water.
At one point I pulled up a trap and said, "oh this one is heavy, that's good!!!" Ummm not so much. I pulled up the trap only to discover a horseshoe crab taking up the entire trap. Ewww and scary! I threw the trap at my sister who was much calmer. Then Liz and Eric laughed hysterically at me for a few minutes. Oh and before then, a few yards after we launched the boat, we saw a stingray jump out of the water. Between the horseshoe crab and stingray, I don't think I will ever go swimming in the Bay again.
Crabbing is a tough workout - it works your shoulders, back, and arms especially. Then add in your legs for stabilization (to prevent you from going overboard). Ouch! Oh and the bruises...the bruises...from your legs and knees hitting the side of the boat. We ended up with a bushel in a half in a few hours which is pretty decent considering it was just the three of us. No pictures since a camera is not too safe on the boat when you're crabbing.
No comments:
Post a Comment