Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

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Shared by Allie Clement, Visitor Services Intern, as Guest Blogger.

When you live in or near Virginia Beach there are endless amount of summer activities to can participate in, but Virginia States Parks offers some unique outdoor programs for children and adults of all ages. 

Recently, I went to the crabbing program at First Landing State Park. We met at the Bay Campstore, bought supplies and then headed down with the Park Rangers to the water. 

You can see the distinct olive drab shell and the bright blue claws that give the blue crab its name. First Landing State Park, Virginia offers crabbing programs all summer long

Male Blue crabs are easy to identify (although the females are a little bit different)

Crabbing was fun and I learned so much in the process  

  • The most common crab species at First Landing State Park is the blue crab. They are called “blue” crab because they have blue claws
  • They are one of the most recognizable species in the Chesapeake Bay area
  • The crabs can reach up to 9” inches across and have distinct differences between the males and females. While, both have bright blue claws, the female, a sook, has red tips on theirs and on their belly has “the Capital” and the male, a jimmie, has “the Washington Monument” (see image below)

Rangers are on the beach to help teach  visitors how to use crab lines. First Landing State Park, Virginia offers crabbing programs all summer long

During this visit there were Virginia State Park rangers are on the beach to help teach visitors how to use crab lines

  • In the summer months when it is warm outside, the crabs live in shallow waters by bay grass beds, but hibernate deep down in the trenches during the cold months
  • However, males can be found in fresher waters of the Bay and females in saltier water
  • They feed on anything they can find including; oysters, dead fish, clams and other similar spices 

The bottom shell of a male crab looks like an image of the Washington Monument. First Landing State Park, Virginia offers crabbing programs all summer long

The bottom shell of a male crab looks like an image of the Washington Monument

  • Their predators are birds, such as blue herons, turtles and different types of fish
  • Blue crabs are one of the most important commercial and recreational catches in the Chesapeake Bay
  • Lastly, a fun fact is their scientific name "callinectes sapidus" comes from the Greek word “Beautiful” and “swimmer”

Attending the evening crabbing program means you'll get some great shots of the sunset over the Chesapeake Bay.  First Landing's beach faces north so you can get some great photos! First Landing State Park, Virginia offers crabbing programs all summer long

Attending the evening crabbing program means you'll get some great shots of the sunset over the Chesapeake Bay  

First Landing State Park offers crabbing programs all summer long 

Click here for a calendar of programs and events. First Landing State Park has a campground, cabins, two visitor center museums, 20 miles of trails, and 1.5 miles of Chesapeake Bay shoreline. The park is a great place for a local day trip or an extended stay for out of towners. You can make a reservation by calling the Virginia State Parks Customer Service Center at 1-800-933-PARK.

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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

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