5.0(1 Reviews)5 HR Crabbing & Swimming Trip
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Learn expert crabbing techniques with Captain Dave in Ocean City's Back Bays.Swim in calm bay waters while crab traps soak during downtime.Familyfriendly 5hour trip accommodates up to 6 guests with takeaway limits.
Looking for a perfect family day on the water that combines the thrill of catching your own dinner with some laid-back bay swimming? Captain Dave's 5-hour crabbing and swimming adventure in Ocean City's Back Bays delivers exactly that. This isn't your typical fishing charter - it's a customer favorite that blends the excitement of working crab traps with the pure relaxation of swimming in calm bay waters. Captain Dave brings years of crabbing experience from the Eastern Shore and Ocean City waters, making this a top-rated choice for families wanting to learn real crabbing techniques while having a blast on the water.
Your 5-hour adventure starts in the scenic Back Bays of Ocean City, where Captain Dave will teach you his proven crabbing methods that he's perfected over years of working these waters. The Back Bays offer the perfect setting - protected from ocean swells but rich with the brackish water that blue crabs love. You'll learn how to properly bait and set traps, then comes the fun part - waiting for those traps to soak while you cool off with a swim in the calm bay waters. This trip accommodates up to 6 guests, making it ideal for families or small groups who want a more personal experience on the water. The beauty of crabbing is the relaxed pace - no need to constantly work lines or stay glued to fish finders. Instead, you get to enjoy the peaceful bay environment while anticipating what's waiting in those traps.
Captain Dave runs a hands-on operation where you'll learn the real deal about crabbing in Ocean City's productive Back Bay waters. He'll show you how to properly rig crab traps with fresh bait - usually chicken necks or fish heads that blue crabs can't resist. The technique involves setting traps in strategic spots where crabs move through the bay system, typically along channel edges and near structure. While your traps are soaking for 30-45 minutes, that's when the swimming comes in. The Back Bays stay relatively shallow and calm, perfect for a refreshing dip while you wait. Captain Dave knows exactly how long to let the traps work before checking them - too short and you miss the big ones, too long and smaller crabs might steal your bait. You'll learn to read the water conditions, understand tidal movements, and recognize the best crabbing spots that consistently produce. Make sure to bring a cooler because you can take home up to one bushel of your fresh-caught crabs.
"We had a fantastic time on the boat with Captain Dave! We booked a crabbing trip and asked if he could throw in a little fishing as well, and he was more than happy to oblige. We caught a few fish, though none were keepers, but we sure trapped a ton of delicious crabs! They made for a great meal that night. I would definitely recommend this outfit—professional, courteous, and a great time on the water." - Zubin
Blue crabs are the stars of Ocean City's Back Bay waters, and for good reason - these feisty crustaceans provide some of the best eating you'll find on the East Coast. Blue crabs in these waters typically range from 5 to 8 inches across the shell, with the bigger "jimmies" (males) and "sooks" (females) being the real prizes. What makes blue crabs so exciting to target is their aggressive feeding behavior - they'll latch onto bait with their powerful claws and often won't let go, making them relatively easy to trap when you know what you're doing. The best crabbing usually happens from late spring through early fall, with summer months producing the most consistent action. Blue crabs are ambush predators that love to hide in grass beds and along muddy bottoms, which is exactly what Ocean City's Back Bays offer in abundance. These waters stay at the perfect salinity level that blue crabs prefer, and the protected bay environment means they're not getting hammered by ocean currents and waves. When you pull up a trap full of snapping blue crabs, there's nothing quite like it - they're fighters right up until they hit the steamer pot, and the meat is incredibly sweet and tender when cooked fresh.
What really sets Ocean City blue crabs apart is the mix of bay and ocean influence in these waters. The crabs here feed on a diverse diet of small fish, clams, and other marine life, which gives their meat that distinctive sweet flavor that locals rave about. During peak season, it's not uncommon to pull up traps with 6-8 keeper crabs per trap, especially when Captain Dave puts you on his proven spots. Blue crabs are also incredibly active during tidal changes, which is when the real action happens. You'll learn to time your trap pulls with the tide movements, and Captain Dave will show you how to identify the prime male and female crabs that are legal to keep. The Maryland-style crabbing techniques that work so well in the Chesapeake Bay system translate perfectly to Ocean City's Back Bays, and Captain Dave has adapted these methods specifically for local conditions. Whether you're a first-timer or have some crabbing experience, working with blue crabs in these productive waters offers that perfect combination of skill and luck that keeps people coming back season after season.
Captain Dave's 5-hour crabbing and swimming trip offers something you won't find on most fishing charters - the perfect blend of productive crabbing and family-friendly fun that works for all ages. This isn't just about catching crabs (though you'll definitely do plenty of that), it's about learning real techniques from an experienced local captain while enjoying some of the most beautiful and peaceful waters around Ocean City. The fact that you can cool off with a swim while your traps are working makes this trip especially appealing during hot summer days. Plus, there's nothing quite like
Your floating home base for this Ocean City crabbing adventure is a beautifully restored 25-foot MayCraft center console that's built for serious bay fishing. Powered by a robust 350HP Suzuki engine hitting speeds up to 40 knots, she'll get you to the prime crabbing spots in the Back Bays quickly and smoothly. The spacious center console design comfortably seats up to 6 anglers, making it perfect for families wanting to learn Captain Dave's time-tested crabbing techniques. Modern fish finder technology helps locate the best underwater structure where crabs love to hang out, while GPS navigation keeps you on course through the winding bay channels. When visibility drops, onboard radar ensures safe passage. Between checking crab traps, the stable platform gives everyone room to relax and take a refreshing dip in the calm bay waters. An onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold and provides temporary storage for your freshly caught crabs until you transfer them to your cooler for the ride home.
5.0 out of 5.0We had a fantastic time on the boat with Captain Dave! We booked a crabbing trip and asked if he could throw in a little fishing ...
Easton