crabs in the ocean

[newbie]

I've been down to this area several times, and I'm down again for a weekend and looking at houses in Watercolor. I was down at the beach yesterday and noticed tons and tons of crabs in the ocean. A couple of people even said they got pinched. I've never seen this before. Is this an everyday thing or is the crab invasion unusual?

 

[lindatat]

When I was down there last week, I did a lot of walking on the beach. There were 3 occasions when the water receded and I found myself stepping on a live crab - scared the heck out of me each time. I have visited the area numerous times before and this was a new experience for me.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I rememeber when I first moved down here, and I was getting lightly pinched all the time, like, "hey, this is my territory, now move it, buddy!"

 

[seacrestkristi]

Is it okay to catch some and eat 'em?

 

[30A Skunkape]

I think this time of year there tends to be a spike in the number of crabs in the surf. Mind you these are not the blue crabs people eat, but a sandy colored or mottled variety...not sure what people call them. Most of the ones I saw were on the small side and did the best they could to get out of my way when approached. I did see some sort of eel cruising the surf last week (probably a little over a foot in length and dark);he swam right by my legs when I was about mid-calf deep and a wave pushed him into my leg. I didn't get shocked or bitten or anything, so all was well

 

[Kurt]

Most of them are females that are laying their eggs right now close to shore where there are fewer predators, so don't eat them. All of the male crabs are sleeping, or drinking beer, smoking cigs and watching baseball on the tube.

 

[Mango]

Most of them are females that are laying their eggs right now close to shore where there are fewer predators, so don't eat them. All of the male crabs are sleeping, or drinking beer, smoking cigs and watching baseball on the tube.

WE thought that might be what was going on. We saw it mainly in the early am. Figured the males had a hangover.
I wasn't sure if they were laying eggs or coming in shore close for these tiniest fish I ever saw. They looked like sparkles.

Skunky I saw eels too. Didn't bother anyone.

 

[audie]

mr audie got bit on the toe last week :rofl:

 

[Beemn]

The intertidal community is just beginning to recover from damage done by Walton county! After Ivan they scraped and scraped the beach for an entire winter and spring. Claiming that there was no beach critter community, and claiming that the scraping was protection, they ignored logical thought!

 

[lindatat]

mr audie got bit on the toe last week :rofl:

So he knows just what I'm talking about, huh?