Along with the fishing pier, Downs Park has beaches, a playground, bathrooms, pavilions, and so much more. The best crabbing is being seen in the lower Eastern Shore this week. It can get crowded, and often is. MLS # MDAA451484 Can you imagine how many traps you could set? There are plenty of waterways up and down the Chesapeake Bay. There have been a few good days here and there but in general, it is much slower on the western side. The only difference is that it’s a 30 minute drive from Baltimore. In my opinion, it’s better to drive farther for a less-crowded river than deal with crazy fishermen all day. If you’re going crabbing, I would stay out of the busy waters of Baltimore. I mentioned this spot in my Annapolis post, but I want to showcase it here. This spot has been known to bring in lots of crabs. I would recommend that you bring chairs, a cooler with drinks, and sun screen. Fort Smallwood Park. I do most of my crabbing in Cecil & Kent county, but I've always wanted to move further south to the Annapolis area. Now it has been taken... If you go crabbing nearby, I wouldn’t do so any further inland than the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This section is for those who do not have access to a crabbing boat. What’s great about Cox Point Park is that you’re on a pier instead of the busy open water. I’ll start with Fort Smallwood Pier. So, I did a little research. It’s a popular fishing pier close enough to Baltimore that you can see its skyscrapers in the distance. Dirty water leads to unhealthy blue crabs. Crabbing has been decent on the Eastern Shore side of the bay. The 6-1/2-inch to 7-inch crabs that were light after a major shed a couple of weeks ago are now filling out and providing a welcomed addition to the smaller size range that has dominated catches. I cover each of these waterways in my post: 10 Amazing Spots To Go Crabbing In Annapolis Maryland. Although the park is still owned by Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County took over operations of the park in 2006 and swimming is no longer permitted at the park. First of all, pick a time that’s ideal for crabbing (check out my crabbing guide for more information). The Patapsco, Back, and Middle Rivers are unclean and constantly crowded with fishermen and crabbers. Maryland’s capital and all of its crabbing spots are just a quick drive south from Baltimore. It’s just too polluted. It’s a great spot to take the family for a nice day outdoors. Closed Tuesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eileen and I arrived by kayak and next year we are hoping more people from the head waters of the creek join us. The 2020 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey results were recently released and are available online. If the crabbing gets slow, you can make up for it with a nice paddle up and down the river. 410-887-6994, Stansbury Park (freshwater fishing) It’s a nice hour and a half drive from Baltimore. If you are passionate about the outdoors and love to fish or hunt, Anglers is the place for you. I’ll start things off with shoreline crabbing spots, specifically public piers that are perfect for crabbing. You'll find detailed 48-hour and 7-day extended forecasts, ski reports, marine forecasts and surf alerts, airport delay forecasts, fire danger outlooks, Doppler and satellite images, and thousands of maps. This spot’s nice because it doesn’t ever get too crowded, unless you decide to go on holidays in the summer. It can get crowded, so I suggest that you get there early in the day. Photo by Charlie Pjura He was the highest ranked Marylander who served in the American Revolutionary War. Western Area Park (freshwater fishing) 2355 Ridge Road Woodlawn 410-887-1357. Next, you need to pick a day that wouldn’t be crowded, so avoid holidays and weekends. We fished at Ft Smallwood, and at night even though the park was closed at night. about us Crab, fish or stroll along what was the original bridge across the Choptank River. This spot’s on the West side of The Bay. I'm from Maryland and love to go recreational crabbing. Fort Smallwood Park is a large public park bordering the south side of Baltimore Harbor. Happy crabbing! You’re far enough away from the pollution of the city to have to worry about that. If you want to go kayaking, hiking, or just be in a beautiful spot along The Bay, North Point may be for you. It’s about 40 minutes closer than Bill Burton Pier. I created Crabbinghub to teach others about the past time. There are a lot of picnic area. The pier is apart of Fort Smallwood Park, a small park on Rock Point with walking trails and pavilions. If you go crabbing here, I would do so on a strong incoming high tide. The last, most northern spot on this list is Cox Point Park. The park office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. A popular area is in the Wye River, further inland of the Eastern Bay. Say goodbye to murky river water and hello clean salty water which blue crabs love. To launch your boat, either use Mariner Point Park Boat Launch if you’re crabbing in the Gunpowder or Willoughby Beach if you’re crabbing in the Bush. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.”, link to 8 Of My Favorite Spots To Go Crabbing In Ocean City, Maryland, link to 10 Amazing Spots To Go Crabbing In Annapolis Maryland, How To Go Crabbing (Everything You Need to Know & More! What I like about Green Haven Wharf is its quiet and relaxing atmosphere. The pier is also great for crabbing. more. If you’re in Baltimore, you’re in a unique spot that’s not too far from several great bodies of water to go crabbing from. It’s a little further inland than Fort Smallwood, but it’s still a 30-minute drive from the center of Baltimore. Fort Smallwood Park in 2008 The older pier was destroyed in 2003 by Hurricane Isabel, and replaced with this smaller one for fishing and crabbing. It also has plenty of parking that’s close to the pier, so less walking! View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. Instead, they are within a 15 min to 1 hour drive. You want a spot that isn’t freshwater outflow, but instead saltwater influx. Fort Smallwood Park is open from 5:30 a.m. to Dusk. 410-222-6230. For more Maryland crabbing spots, check out my articles on the subject. Picnic areas available as well. Crabbing. To go crabbing from these locations, you’ll be using the classic hand line & dip net method. Because of this, all of the spots on this are not located in the city of Baltimore. I'm no expert, but I'm becoming a better crabber every single day. As we move our way down The Bay, we run into these three rivers. Blue crabs are a trademark to Baltimore and I’m gonna show you the closest piers and waterways for you to go catch them. It is a nice place and easy to get to. So, why wouldn’t this be on the list? https://www.mapquest.com/us/maryland/fort-smallwood-park-356283555 You’ll be sure to see plenty of boat traffic but still feel secluded in this nice crabbing spot. They are steadily improving more each year. There are plenty of places that offer incredible angling in Anne Arundel county. Fort Smallwood was a sea coast defense built in the late 1880's to the early part of the 1900's. Personally, I wouldn’t go crabbing in waters any closer to the city. AACO continues to revitalize the grounds. The Eastern Bay is a hotspot for crabbers from all over the Delmarva area. It is a very beautiful park. Fort Smallwood Park consists of approximately 90 acres at the tip of a peninsula in northeastern Anne Arundel County where Patapsco River and Rock Creek meet the Chesapeake Bay. GPS 39° 12'31.22" N 76° 31'58.15" W ( foot of pier ) This park was beautiful with visitors of all kinds enjoying family picnics, fishing, boating... At one time this park was not a nice place to go (run by Baltimore City). This means you have a pier that spans almost the entire length of the Choptank River. Prince Frederick, MD 20639 If you go crabbing here, I would go in the mornings and avoid the evenings. Another nice crabbing spot I found just outside of Baltimore is North Point State Park. They can’t take that away from me. Who says you’re limited to going crabbing from a pier? In the kind of e-mail I appreciate, reader April Sweitzer mentions her days spent crabbing from the long pier at Fort Smallwood Park in North County. Just outside of Baltimore is Hart Miller Island. Fort Smallwood Park: crabbing and fishing - See 47 traveler reviews, 20 candid photos, and great deals for Pasadena, MD, at Tripadvisor. I especially like this spot because later in the crabbing season (mid-July through October) it’s a nice taste of what it’s like to go crabbing South of the Bay Bridge. Fort Smallwood … With a wide selection, knowledgeable staff and great customer service, this is your go-to place for hunting and fishing in Annapolis, Maryland. I did some research by asking locals, fishermen, and people on the internet where they go crabbing. These two are very similar so I figured I would make them have the same section. 9500 Fort Smallwood Rd., Pasadena. Nice playground too, This gem of a park is located right on the water. To add to this post, I wanted to share a few public spots that I believe are worth the long drive from Baltimore. In fact, you’re on the Chesapeake Bay! Located within Fort Smallwood Park, the 380 foot Bill Burton Fishing Pier provides anglers with access to the Patapsco River.The pier is a popular location for saltwater fishing, crabbing, birdwatching, and other activities.Anglers fishing this pier catch striped bass, white perch, croaker, and other species. If you could bring some sort of wagon or rolling cooler, I would recommend it. I think that spot itself is already too close! This is a reasonable drive from Baltimore, but sometimes a better option for those who really want to bring home a nice catch. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to find the best spots to go crabbing in Ocean City, MD so I can catch a bushel while... 10 Amazing Spots To Go Crabbing In Annapolis Maryland. Most were catfish, and some white perch. That’s nothing! You’re situated next to Gov. It is well worth the trip to visit. Nice local waterfront park. 8 Of My Favorite Spots To Go Crabbing In Ocean City, Maryland. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. They have a swimming area, boat launch, canoe launch, some trails, fishing, crabbing and plenty of picnic area. However, I would still go crabbing here during an incoming high tide to get the cleaner water from the bay. This means you’re catching crabs that are from the cleaner bay than murky Baltimore water. There is a boat ramp, a beach area, kayak launch and a huge fishing pier. You’ll see plenty of commercial and recreational crabbers going after blue crabs. There are people who do, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Fishing and Crabbing Piers near Baltimore, MD. read more. MyForecast is a comprehensive resource for online weather forecasts and reports for over 58,000 locations worldwide. So, my family is planning a trip to Ocean City this summer. Next up is Green Haven Wharf. I tried my best to find quality spots as close to the city as possible. 580 Taylor Ave., Annapolis MD 21401. It’s a long fishing pier. Located on the northwestern side of the gorgeous Chesapeake Bay, this park is a crabbing destination. It can get crowded, so I suggest that you get there early in the day. Fort Smallwood Park Is Too Rich To Be Ignored The memory of all that — No, no! Recreational crabbing continues to move along at a steady pace as warmer water temperatures and time allow crabs to shed and gain in size. If you are to come here, I recommend bringing a few kayaks incase crabbing gets slow. Main thing you want to focus on is a transitioning tide in 15′ of water or less. —Ira Gershwin song Memories. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. So, let’s get started. All you need is the right spot. I hope I helped you find a spot to go crabbing. I would launch from there. I would set my traps as close to the mouth of the river as I could get. Fort Smallwood Park. Considering Anne Arundel County has more shoreline, 533 miles worth, of any county in the state fishing and crabbing opportunities abound. They are steadily improving more each year. ... canoe launch, some trails, fishing, crabbing and plenty of picnic area. Great for fishing. Places With Piers in Maryland to Go Crabbing & Fishing Bill Burton Fishing Pier. Annapolis Maritime Museum Pier 723 2nd Street Annapolis, MD 21403 410-295-0104 GPS 38° 58'08.21" N 76° 28'34.29" W ( Foot of pier ) Dale Smith of Pasadena unloads a pair of jet ski's into the water at the boat ramp at Fort Smallwood Park. Picnic tables, hiking trails and a bike path make it fun for the whole family. The island isn’t much, but the water around it is good for crabbing. People pull up bushels within hours, which is a nice change of pace from the slow crabbing here (north of The Bay Bridge). If you’re in the area, I recommend you check out Cox Point Park for your next crabbing trip. We also caught snapper blues, sometimes Spot & Croakers & some keeper size Rockfish depending on the time of year. A nice park to even just go set in a chair along the water. A great view of Baltimore Harbor and the Francis Scott Key Bridge, but I came to see the fort itself, and it is nice to see. Find 0 photos of the 8028 Fort Smallwood Rd home on Zillow. Fort Smallwood Park – Bill Burton Fishing Pier (Pasadena, Md) Severn River Fishing Pier (Jonas Green Park – Annapolis, Md) Sandy Point State Park Fishing Pier (Annapolis, Md) Triadelphia Recreational Area Fishing Pier (Brookeville, Md) Related Information. The pier is next to a nice park, has bathrooms, and kayak access. Anchoring the northern point of Pasadena and extending into Chesapeake Bay, Fort Smallwood Park (aacounty.org) has beach access, although swimming is not allowed. We’re making our way up The Bay! His house, called Smallwood's Retreat, has been restored and is open to visitors seasonally. plenty to do from laying on the beach to fishing. If I was going crabbing here, I would set my traps at the northern end of Hart Miller Island or along the coast of North Point State Park. All you need to do is get in the river! That’s a 2 hour drive for most people in Baltimore. Because Green Haven Wharf is more inland than other spots, this may lead to there being fewer crabs overall, but the fact that this is a less-popular spot should even it out. ), Maryland Crabbing Regulations Casually Explained (Updated for 2020), check out my crabbing guide for more information. As we move further south from Baltimore, we have Downs Park Public Pier. Thompkinsville, MD 20664 And if you thought the beach was special, wait until you see the boardwalk. August through October is usually the best time to go crabbing in The Gunpowder or Bush River. Rocky Point Park has a boat ramp very close to Hart Miller Island. Fort Smallwood Park: Fort Smallwood Park - See 47 traveler reviews, 20 candid photos, and great deals for Pasadena, MD, at Tripadvisor. Fort Armistead Closest intersection is: Fort Armistead Road & Fort Smallwood Road Baltimore, MD 21226 From the above intersection go 1.5 miles east on Fort Armistead Road into the pier area, next to the boat ramp. Be sure to check it out! Date of experience: October 2019. If you own or rent a fishing boat, you can go crabbing out on the open water! The Eastern Bay is a body of water south of Kent Island and the Bay Bridge. Solomons Boat Ramp and Fishing Pier 14195 Solomons Island S, Solomons. It’s also in a mostly-clean body of water, so don’t be anxious about crabbing here. If you go crabbing here, I would do so on a strong incoming high tide. Fort Smallwood Park – Bill Burton Fishing Pier (Pasadena, Md) Jonas Park Fishing Pier (Annapolis, Md) Crabbers have good luck at both segments of the pier. Thomas Johnson Bridge on a decently-sized fishing pier. The Southern Park fishing pier is about 65' in length. Call toll-free in *Maryland* at 1-877-620-8DNR (8367) Out of State: 410-260-8DNR (8367) The bridge was since divided to allow passage of boats, and today, it serves as one of the longest fishing piers in Maryland. To get a Maryland Recreational Fishing License, check out my article: Maryland Crabbing Regulations Casually Explained (Updated for 2020). It’s the perfect spot. Bill Burton Fishing Pier is the old Route 50 bridge into Cambridge turned into a fishing pier. Vetock says Mark is roughly 6 feet tall, weighing about 180-185 pounds and was last seen in a white t-shirt with a gray tank top underneath. 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