[BlueChip]

The Blue Crab Year – The Search for Megalops
Report #1 – June 1st 2011

It’s been a disappointing spring for those of us following last year’s outstanding blue crab season. An estimated 20 to 40 million crabs were along our shores last year. With hundreds of thousands (if not millions) being caught by crabbers anticipation for this season grows. Many refer to last year as the best blue crab year in a century – I think they are correct. With the type of fishing gear employed I think everyone would agree that for every crab caught many more “got away” but will they return?

Blue crabs were observed leaving our estuaries in large numbers around December 15th. They seek deeper less turbulent areas as protection from approaching storms, and can hibernate for about a 60 day period without food emerging late February – hungry and in search of prey. Unfortunately our temperatures in February are still very cold and most starve or get consumed by predators. We just don’t see large numbers of adults along the shore in March- April and with the five to eight year life span multiple year classes would emerge at once enhancing populations in the spring – we just don’t see that. If that were true April not August would see the best fishery. We do see a hatch of resident megalops stage (fall) able to withstand a postponed maturation period and a hatch was reported the third week of March observed off the DEP docks – Old Lyme, CT. If the late fall megalops has survived our spring rains (which has been quite high this year) small crabs should be found in the shallow (warmest creeks) now and along shore in a few weeks. They will be small however, and living amongst shelly estuarine habitats. Several Shellfish Commissions noticed them last spring.

In May/June they should be an inch to two inches across and spotted over shellfish beds. A second possible source is an early megalops hatch from southern waters. The CT River flow has been exceptionally large this year and suspected saltwater wedge minimal. Small crabs are very suseptical to fresh water poisoning and I can’t imagine crabs surviving long in this freshwater runoff. I once saw thousands of dead blue crabs all about two inches across on the Old Saybrook side adjacent to the DEP Baldwin Bridge boat ramp. They were killed by a late spring fresh set a few years ago.

There is still so much we don’t know about the ecology of the blue crab in our area. I’m trying to be optimistic but I don’t think we can depend on last year’s super abundance to carry over to this year. Sorry but the ecology of our waters seems to restrict carrying capacity.

Since December 15th it has been six months for the adults, they just can’t go without food that long, the freshwater has been high in the rivers and creeks so I don’t think they came in. If anyone sees adult blue crabs within the next 30 days please let me know.

Reports from shellfishers or Municipal Shellfish Commissions are most valuable – I can be reached by email at tim.visel@new-haven.k12.ct.us.

Thank you for your assistance and interest in the Megalops study.

[Crest Daddy]

was going to email but can't remember my password at the moment. Been seeing a quite a few adult blue crabs on the outgoing tide in ash creek and mill river in fairfield. Haven't seen any juvies yet.