Where To Go Crabbing in Cecil County, MD
Welcome to Cecil County! It may be the northernmost part of the Chesapeake Bay, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do some crabbing! You need to know these two local tips:
- In Cecil County, crabs don’t run until later in the season. You will see the most crabs in the Sassafras, Elk, and Bohemia River from August to October.
- Another factor is rainfall. Because of the many rivers, creeks, and streams that feed this part of the bay, don’t go crabbing after heavy rainfall. The flush of fresh water drives crabs south, away from Cecil County waters.
If you follow these two rules of thumb, you will have a successful day crabbing! I know this terribly small crabbing season can be a pain for most. If you want to go crabbing earlier in the year, check out crabbing spots further south. Southern parts of the Chesapeake Bay have longer crabbing seasons than the north.
Public Crabbing Piers
Don’t think you need a boat to go crabbing in Maryland. There are plenty of public crabbing piers and shoreline crabbing spots for you to choose from. Here are a few of my favorites from the Cecil County Area.
Rogues Harbor
Located in Elk Neck State Park, Rogue Harbor has a dock and several piers that are perfect for crabbing. The spot is perfect for hand lines and dip nets. If you use the pier, you’re in a prime position to use collapsible traps as well.
According to Elk Neck’s website, fishing and crabbing are permitted from the dock when the convenience store is closed. So, plan your trip accordingly.
Charleston Wharf
Jump over the Elk Neck Peninsula and you find yourself in the Northeast River. Now we’re literally at the very top of the Chesapeake Bay. Right across the river from the NYERC Yacht Club where I did sailing lessons as a kid is Charleston Wharf.
There, you’ll find a small fishing pier at the end of a stretch of rock and land. It’s great for collapsible traps and ring nets. The water’s a bit deep, so you’ll need longer handlines and long handled dip nets.
Perryville Community Park
Take a hike even further West to Perryville, a small town on the edge of Cecil County and you’ll find Perryville Community Park. The peninsula stretching from Perry Point has walking trails, a baseball field, public beaches, and fishing pier.
This fishing pier is a bit high off of the water for hand lines and dip nets, but it’s ideal for ring nets and collapsible traps. Just keep in mind that the water is a bit rocky here, maybe box traps would be your best bet. Ring nets like to get caught on rocks.
Waterways
Cecil county is home to five bodies of water: Northeast River, The Elk River, The Bohemia River, The Sassafras River, and The Chesapeake Bay. Each one has their ups and downs to crabbing, but are very similar.
If you have a boat, this section is for you. Usually, you have much better luck going crabbing from a boat than from a fishing pier or shoreline. Just remember to stay out of shipping lanes! Especially when you’re crabbing this close to the C&D canal.
Northeast River
The Northeast River can be a great spot to go crabbing if you know what you’re doing.
I mentioned earlier that you should go crabbing in these rivers from Aug through October at least 4 days after heavy rain. Matching that with the rest of the basic crabbing knowledge I teach in my guide: How To Go Crabbing (Everything You Need to Know & More!) will help you catch blue crabs.
You’ll see the most crabbing action nearby Carpenter Point. There, you’re close enough to the mouth of the Bay that you should see crabs in both upcoming low and high tide.
For this river, I would launch at Charleston Public Boat Ramp.
Elk River
The Elk River gets a bad rep from fishermen who didn’t know when and where to go crabbing. Being this far north in the bay, you need to know how to play your cards right to catch a bushel of crabs.
It’s the same story with the Northeast River. Go crabbing during the set dates and correct circumstances and you’ll be fine.
If you decide to go crabbing in the Elk River, I wouldn’t go any further north than Hyland’s Point. It’s just north of where the Elk River meets the Bohemia River. I would do most of my crabbing along Elk Neck State Park
For this river, I would launch at Rogue’s Harbor or Chesapeake City Boat Ramp.
Bohemia River
I pass the Bohemia River everyday on my way to work. To say it’s beautiful is an understatement. In the summer, you see plenty of crab pots nearby the Bohemia River Bridge at Hack Point.
I would set my traps in front of the vinery across from Hack Point or West of Battery Point at Veazey Cove. That way, you’re out of boating lanes.
Setting traps beyond the 213 bridge isn’t a great idea. You’re getting too far into the river and there’s a lot of freshwater creeks feeding the water by this point.
For this river, I would launch at Hack’s Point Marina. Check out their website for more information.
Sassafras River
Next is the Sassafras River. I’m a bit partial to this spot because it’s where I spent my summers as a kid.
If you want to go crabbing here, you’ll have the most luck setting your traps between Ponds Bar and Ordinary Point. Any further inland, you’ll see more jet skis than crab pots.
What’s great about the Sassafras is how many coves it has. If you can find one close to the mouth of the Sassafras, you’re in business.
I would use Fredericktown Boat Ramp to access this body of water.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
Don’t think you’re limited to only Cecil County’s rivers. You have the whole bay to go crabbing!
Things to look out for this far north in the Bay is shipping lanes. You’re going to go crabbing in the same water where cargo ships travel from the C&D canal to Baltimore. Make sure that your traps are nowhere near their shipping lanes.
Another thing to look out for is the Aberdeen Proving Ground. Every so often, I see reports that their police ask crabbers to move away from the base when they perform tests. If you live by the area, you’ll know that bombs go off constantly in Aberdeen. So, don’t rely on crabbing to be available in those waters.
Your best bet is to set your traps along the Elk Neck State Park peninsula. That way, you’re out of shipping lanes and restricted waters.
I would use any of the previously-mentioned boat ramps to access this body of water.
