Fishing is Definately a Sport

Football and crabcakes...that's what Maryland does!  I'd experienced the first before (Redskins football), but had yet to experience the fishing part of that boast...so this weekend I set out to rectify that situation by fishing off the pier on the Chesapeake Bay.  Luckily for me, it was one of the prettiest September days you will ever see.  Sun was out, the squid were ready to be eaten by some fishies, and the crabs were biting. 

Pier fishing is definitely different than fishing in the ocean off of a boat, the only other way I'd ever fished.  You have to be careful about not tangling up your lines with other people fishing off the pier, as on a nice day you really cram yourselves onto that thing.  Me?  I just let the bf handle the casting...and the putting of the gross squids/blood worms on the hook...and the touching of the fish.  Ha that's what boys are for right?

My favorite part of the experience though?  CRABBING!!! Ha it was soooo much fun.  You tie these chicken livers up in the middle of the little nets, then you slowly lower down the net (always keeping tension) and then you wait.  Every 20 minutes or so you go over to your net, and quickly pull it up.  When the net breaks the water, and you see those little blue buggers sitting in the middle of the net, the excitement is enough to make you dance!  Or at least, it made me jump up and down.

Be careful though as those crabs do not mess around.  They come out of the water struggling for their lives.  Snapping their claws, and running around, they are anything but happy to be part of your fishing party.  One time mine escaped, but again boy to the rescue!  Stepping on the crab seemed to quickly settle it down.  I, unfortunately, was unable to step on it myself as I was wearing sandals.  Lesson learned...sneakers or bust while on the pier.  It's a dangerous world there above the water ;)