HOOPERS ISLAND, Md.- Crabs are on their way out in Maryland. The signature Chesapeake dish has been hard to catch this year.
Aubrey Vincent at Lindy's Seafood says she thinks this year was worse than 2013.
"Last year there were more crabs available and I think the prices were a bit better. Last year was definitely a better year for the consumer. This year I think it was a little bit hard on everybody, I don't think anyone really made out ahead. Consumer, buyer, waterman. I think everyone just made it through, I don't think anyone did excellent this season," said Vincent.
And those struggles were certainly felt by those out on the water.
"It's just been a tough year. The prices have been good, and the quality of the crabs when you catch them has been good, but there just haven't been many of them," said Hoopers Island waterman Jamie Robinson.
But on the horizon, oysters! Power dredging season starts Monday. It's a relief to watermen, but this year, the hand tongers haven't seen many good signs.
"The oyster haven't grown at all this year. We're hoping that as soon as the first cold spell comes through, that they'll have a growth spurt," says Robinson.
"I don't think we're going to see it be as good as it was the past few years. There's guys who were out dredging and would be back by 8 to 8:30 in the morning, I don't think we're going to see that this year," says TL Morris Seafood manager Blake Whitten.
But that doesn't mean that they have given up hope that the oyster season could help recover some of the money lost during the crabbing season.
