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Community Corner

Crab Fishing Clinic 'Catches' On at Corey Beach

The Town of Brookhaven and I Fish NY team up to teach crab fishing techniques.

Last Thursday, for the fourth consecutive year, the Town of Brookhaven coordinated a crab fishing clinic with I Fish NY at . 

In addition to fishing techniques, the clinic focused on crab biology and stewardship. About 50 participants from all over Long Island, including many young children, had a blast using boned chicken on a string to lure crabs to the surface. 

Ann TeNyenhuis, 25, an environmental scientist with I Fish NY said the clinic received an "overwhelming response" this year.

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"We got 100 phone calls in the last three days to register," said TeNyenhuis, "but we filled up in the first week of advertising in May."

The I Fish NY Program is a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) initiative that introduces residents to the sport of fishing.

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If funding is available next year, TeNyenhuis said they plan on holding two clinics instead of one.

The crabs that were keepers were allowed to be taken home, and those that were not were thrown back into the water.  A suitable catch had to be at least four and a half inches across from point to point, and if a female had eggs showing it couldn't be kept, in order to keep the population healthy.

Roger Hirschkind, 49, of Medford, brought his son Matthew, 8, to learn about the art of how to catch a crab. 

"I think we just like being out together," the father said.

While the pair hadn't caught anything yet, they remained unfazed.  Hirschkind said catching a crab takes "a lot of luck — and patience."

Joe Dovi from Lake Grove, a seasoned fisherman, had already caught three crabs that day.  He brought his two daughters Juliana, 10, and Samantha, 6, to share in his passion for the sport.

"We love to fish and do things outside. I figured it was a good chance to learn something. We do crabbing on our own," said Dovi, who has been crabbing for about four years.  He said this is one of the best areas for crabbing.  "We usually get a good dozen an hour ... The girls love to fish; they'd love to catch more."

Plainview resident Joy Levine came to the clinic with five of her six children, and was ecstatic when she made her first catch.

"We finally caught a crab,' she said. "It was very, very exciting. I have to tell you."

She and her family enjoyed the last I Fish outing so much that they decided the ride out would be worth it.

"The kids were so excited to come back to do another event.  I didn't know Corey Beach existed.  It's beautiful," Levine said. "It exposed us to things we wouldn't otherwise know about, not only fishing. It made us explore other areas of Long Island we wouldn't have explored."

 

 

 

 

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