Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Crabby Catch on the Navesink

Crabbing in Fair Haven on the Navesink River postcard circa 1937

It’s that time. Time to get seriously crabby on the river.

Nothing fishy about it. It’s a rite a passage in Fair Haven. It has been since the dawn of time in the borough and surrounding area. Kids, even entire families, buckets and nets in hand, get down to the Navesink River and start netting the crabbiest of crabs.

From the dock or boat, a day of netting the little pinchers is the most prime of prime time alone, among friends, or with family. Of course, these days, crabbing comes with a slew of new rules at the dock that could turn anyone’s crabbing time into crabby time. Speaking of time … Can’t crab off the dock from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.. And don’t bring a cooler that’s too big or chair to make things a bit more comfy while waiting for those bites, among other things. Catch the drift?

This postcard got it right. The river belongs to all, dock or no dock catch. The memories? Already caught, rules or no rules.

Good catch? Always. Crabs or no crabs, leisure river time always cures what ails kid or adult angst. But, of course, at the end of the day, it’s even better when that bucket is full and some home-caught good eatin’ is what’s for dinner.

This postcard takes us back to 1937 when folks were encouraging all to come and share in the wealth of some good river time.

So, grab that bucket and net. Time to get crabby at the river.

Your favorite crabbing adventure as a kid?

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