National Fisherman

Blue Crab

The 2026 Chesapeake Bay winter blue crab dredge survey shows a 46 percent increase in the crab population from 2025. Photo by Larry Chowning

Larry_Chowning

Bay-wide blue crab survey shows 46 percent increase

Larry Chowning

The hull of the Miss Violet II is being fiberglassed and repowered with a new Cummins QSC 600 diesel engine to work in the Virginia blue crab pot fishery. Larry Chowning photo.

Larry_Chowning

The enduring pull of the wooden deadrise boat

Larry Chowning

Sparrows Point Container Terminal Project partners with Oyster Recovery Partnership to remove derelict fishing gear from Upper Chesapeake Bay. Photo courtesy of Oyster Recovery Partnership

Ghost gear sweep puts 40 watermen to work on the Chesapeake

NF Staff

Photo by Chris Hannant Photography / North Carolina Coastal Federation

NC fishermen launch 2026 lost gear cleanup

NF Staff

The action item to consider new management strategies under the Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3 has been taken off the table. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

NC fishermen challenge proposed blue crab cuts

Carli Stewart

Crab pots collected from North Carolina’s inland waters. Photo courtesy of N.C. Coastal Federation

NC lost gear recovery effort pulls more than 2000 pots

NF Staff

Photo courtesy of daybydayphotography/ Shutterstock

Worms could help save Chesapeake Bay’s blue crabs

Carli Stewart

This 1982 aluminum 42-footer was one of the first aluminum deadrise boats built on Chesapeake Bay in Deltaville, Va by Delta Marine. It is still working in Virginia's crab pot fishery today. Larry Chowning photo.

Larry_Chowning

Maryland’s aluminum deadrise pioneers

Larry Chowning

A blue crab caught along with oysters harvested using a power dredge in the waters north of Deal Island, Md. Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program photo.

With Chesapeake crab numbers down, researchers focus beyond fishing pressure

NF Staff

The 2022 Chesapeake Bay blue crab dredge survey showed an historic low for crabs in the bay. Results from the annual winter survey now show 2025 will have the second lowest population estimate. Larry Chowning photo.

Survey shows Chesapeake crab population second lowest since 1990

NF Staff

N.C. blue crabbers are left waiting and worrying as state regulators float new restrictions on the fishery. Photo by Brittany Mason / Shutterstock

Tensions rise over blue crab fishery plan

Carli Stewart