Re: NANFA-- blue crab growth

David Smith (idleweed_at_tusco.net)
Fri, 13 Feb 2004 05:57:16 -0500

I used to fish commercially for blue crab between Goodland and Everglades
City, Florida. If I remember right the crabs were just as big from
freshwater as they were from salt or brackish water. It seemed like the
large ones (at least a foot across) from freshwater were always light as if
they had just shed and the ones further out were usually heavy with meat.
I had one of the heavy ones fall out of the trap and stick in my foot by
its point. Looked kind of comical because it was pointed straight up into
the air and was just waving it claws around. Hurt a little too : ) but I
never got an infection from it because (I think) my boots rubbed the point
clean. I live in Ohio now safe from blue crabs I think.
Dave Smith

----- Original Message -----
From: <Moontanman_at_aol.com>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Cc: <Moontanman_at_aol.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004 10:10 PM
Subject: NANFA-- blue crab growth

> Does anyone know how long it takes blue crabs to attain marketable size?
And
> has any studies been done on the difference in growth rates between blue
crabs
> in salt water and blue crabs trapped in freshwater impoundment's? I've
been
> looking for info on this but it doesn't seem to be a well researched
topic. I
> do know that blue crabs trapped in freshwater grow much bigger than blue
crabs
> in marine waters but I don't if the freshwater impounded blue crabs grow
> faster or slower than blue crabs in salt water.
>
> Moon

--
> /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
> / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
> / Association"
> / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
Association
> / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
> / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
> / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
> / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
> / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page,
http://www.nanfa.org
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org