October 2017
8
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Clarke Holmes putting
baskets full of blue claws in
the “Crabman” pickup truck.
When asked, “Clarke
where are you taking
these beautiful blue
claws?” His reply was
“Ray, my brother has
a list of customers a
mile long, no problem
getting rid of them”!
The crabs are caught
in what is called
“overnighters” these
are large, 24’ x 24’
square wire nets with
two entrances and bait
in a center basket. The
traps are set on a long
main line and hauled
up to the boat one
after another, similar
to the way lobstermen
haul their traps.
The blue claw crabs
that are caught during
September
and
October are the finest
crabs you can catch
as they have had all
summer to grow into
their tremendous size.