The Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program is conducting research on Blue Claw Crabs
Not only are these guys tasty, but you now have an opportunity to earn $5 and $20 rewards if you catch a crab with a pink or yellow metal tag and you report finds to the research program.
Crabbers can call (609) 896-7755 to report the tag number, Sex, Reproductive status, Date, Depth and Location, Ideally GPS coordinates are ideal for the study
as an alternitive you can visit the website for the NJbluecrabs to report your findings.
Crabbing in the Barnegat bay is one of my family's favorite past time, I cant get them to go fishing with me, but they enjoy crabbing! Now we have to see if we can catch one that is Tagged!
Have a great weekend, and CATCH SOME CRABS!
Rob
Robert Rauf
Good pictures. When I was on a boat in Chincoteague, Virginia - I think I remember learning that a single blue crab can release something like 2,000,000 eggs - a remarkable figure!
Hi Rob--
Hope you get the family out for some tasty fun this weekend!
Hey Rob, it's amazing I live 8 miles from the Bay and haven't been crabbing in years! Maybe it's time! Good post!
I liked your photos...do you get to eat the crab after you call the number? that seems like it would defeat th purpose of tracking.....LOL :) I love the colors on these....never saw blue on a crab.
Kathy, the photos dont really show How pretty the blue is, The crabs are usually very clean when you catch them and the blue (especially on the Males) is unbelievable, Mostly on the inside of the claws which is where the get their name. I guess they are more of an east coast crab. MD gets the most credit for them but I think there are just as many in NJ as in MD!
That sounds pretty funny to somebody in Missouri. All we could catch here is probably a bunch of frogs. It does sound like fun, though... :)