Crabbing Question

[togzilla]

I was thinking of taking my son crabbing tomorrow but I have not done this in about 12 years. I was thinking of going to either the Oceanic bridge, Red Bank area, or a pier by the Mantoloking bridge. Is the crabbing any good right now and is it necessary to be crabbing at the crack of dawn? Coming from Northern NJ so I don't think my son is going to want to leave at 4:30am to be crabbing at first light.
Any thoughts from you crabbers out there on the best places and if I really need to be there at first light. No boat so I will be just crabbing from a bridge or pier. Thanks.

[Boofish]

Ocean gate pier

[Fat fish stick]

I been fishing pretty tight to my marina in Keyport the past few days and the water has not been this clean in a while. 6ft of viability and I been seeing crabs swimming and hanging while fishing and when coming and and going out. And if coming from the north keyport might be good for ha right off parkway 117. Also the fishing been great too if u ever considered renting a boat nows the time in keyport

[HighHook94]

Better off renting a boat. But I do decent next to the Oceanic bridge from shore. But you must go at high tide or else there's no water. I usually crab 3 hours before and 2 hours after high tide. Usually average 15-20 keepers in that time frame from shore. But like I said, better off in a boat. Crabs were all over the place last night in Raritan bay. Ppl were scooping up bushels of them at low tide. Water was extremely clear for RB.

[togzilla]

Thanks for the replies