• Check the tide. The best time to go crabbing is early morning or late afternoon on a moving tide.
• One of the best baits is a chicken neck. If it has been sitting out a while, so much the better. Crabs are attracted to smell.
• Add a small weight to your hand line to help the bait sink to the bottom.
• Be patient. It may take a while for crabs to smell and locate your bait.
• All nets are not created equal. Get one that is flat on top instead of curved and that has a long handle.
• When you feel the tug of a crab on your line, pull it up slowly, then scoop it with a net while it's still beneath the surface of the water.
• Keep only those crabs that measure at least 5 inches across (5 ¼ inches in Maryland). It's also illegal to keep egg-bearing females (you'll see the spongelike egg sac on the underbody).
• Keep your crabs cool and moist, preferably in a ventilated container covered by a wet towel (not in a bucket of water, because they'll suffocate as soon as the oxygen is used up).

This article is from the June 2002 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.