[twharrell]

Hello, everyone. My family just relocated to the Williamsburg area and I am eager to take my son out for some crabbing and maybe some surf/pier fishing for flounder. I have a few spots I want to try for flounder but am looking for a great place to catch crabs with my son. I get mixed reports of how far into the York and James Rivers (and their tributaries) crabs migrate. It seems the jimmies migrate into lower salinity areas over the summer. That being said, I get the impression the York is better. I have a few hand lines and couple ring nets, but can't seem to find anythe chicken necks, so will likely have to try with some cheap wings. Any info you guys and gals are willing to share is very much appreciated! Oh, and if you have some decent flounder spots you are also willing to share, I won't say no.

Todd

 

[Thrifty Angler]

I am not familiar with fishing in that area. About using chicken wings for crabbing....I would choose backs. Some folks use the drumstick with success as well. The only part of the wing I have used in the past is the very tip piece. Too pricey for me to give the other two parts to crabs. 99 cents per pound drumsticks should do it. What I do is buy the 10 pound bags of chicken leg quarters when they go on sale at Kroger or Farm Fresh @ 59 cents per pound. I cut off the drumsticks and thighs then freeze them for cooking at a later time. I bag the backs into individual flap type sandwich bags so they will freeze separately for easy thawing when I need them for crabbing. Sometimes I use a metal shish kabob skewer and put a hole thru each back prior to freezing. I use 50 pound mono filament fishing line and tie it thru each back. Makes it easy to just grab one and tie it into the crab basket/pot with less mess when out on the water.

 

[Fish'n Phil]

Todd,
I've seen chicken necks for cheap at Korean grocery store Grand Mart on Newtown Rd in Virginia Beach. Like Thrifty said a lot of people use chicken back...get mine at Kroger on College Drive in Suffolk. Vacuumed packed bunker is good and can be picked up at tackle stores. Last weekend I used chicken mullet combo for the crabs.

Lynnhaven Pier is a good place to catch crabs. $10 per person or three for $25. Don't go on a windy day. Weekdays are not as busy as weekends. Most people use the ring crab traps and throw them out. Once the water starts cooling down it will be harder to catch crabs.