When was the last time you went Trot Line Crabbing? If you happen to live on the Eastern shore of Maryland, chances are it wasn’t that long ago. Photographer Kent Miller, who is indeed based in these parts, just recently had a chance to document this fascinating (and probably to many unfamiliar) process of catching crab in the tidal waters of Chesapeake. He describes what he learned through the experience as such:
“A 2,000-foot line baited with chicken necks is stretched across the bottom of the river and anchored at each end. While sitting on the bottom, the scent of the bait attracts crabs to the line. The crabs eat the bait on the line without realizing that they are being pulled to the surface. This allows the waterman to scoop them out of the water with a small metal net, and then toss them into a plastic bin in his boat. The waterman measures each crab and sorts them into baskets based on size and sex. After returning with the catch, the crabs are placed in a pot for cooking. When they are done, the crabs are sprinkled with some old bay mix and served.”
Now who’s hungry for some crab? We know we sure are!
