stupid crabs

[surf monkey]

Last time I went surf fishing I couldn't keep bait on b'c the damn crabs kept stealing it. Was using squid and shrimp on a pomp rig. Anybody have a different rig suggestion?

[HellRhaY]

pulley rig

[Woodchuck]

...just a different spot to fish. True, fish should be around to eat the crabs, if there are fish around. I have found that if one hole/spot has a ton of crabs it is time to move a little or a lot. At least cast in a different spot.

Same with skates and dogfish... sometimes. We were fishing a large hole in Buxton, with two other groups of folks. One group, on the south end of the hole kept catching skate after skate and cursing them. I’d watch and they would cast in the same spot every time! They were casting to the inside of the outer bar. I had been fishing the middle and closer to shore catching little mullet and bluefish. I casted out to the bar and guess what I caught! As the tide turned they did move around but seemed to stay in a particular area. Same with the mullet, they would move around in the hole with the tide and you would have to cast around to find them. The skates I casted around to NOT find them. This might not always be true, I am sure that somethimes when skates or dogfish move in the take over an area also.

Another time fishing south point on Cape Lookout, I would cast out and let the current take my rig around the point. In one area I would catch sand perch, further on in the drift mullet (tiny ones too) and at the end of the drift, in a nice looking deep hole, crabs. I could cast to a specific area and get a short drift through a school of actual fish and reel in before hitting the crabs. And… as the tide moved so did the areas that held fish. Except the crabs, they were in that hole all day!! I did finally catch some nice slot puppies NEAR to the hole, but not in it the next day.

[Fish'n Phil]

Some rigs have floats near the hook to keep the bait off the bottom. Also by keeping your bait moving you can hopefully feel the crab grab it but yank it away before your bait is stolen. Lastly wrapping your squid around the hook a few times may prevent it from getting stolen as easily. Good luck!

[wolfva]

You could just switch to crabbing instead of fishing <G>.

[HellRhaY]

You could just switch to crabbing instead of fishing <G>.

:D :D :D

[surf monkey]

Actually thought about it...how would one go about surf crabbing?

[John Purser]

Actually thought about it...how would one go about surf crabbing?

Somewhere (now that's helpful...) I ran across a web site where they advertised little crab pots that you cast out. I think they were aiming at the Dungeness on the west coast but I don't see why they wouldn't work for blues back east. I mean, if you're just losing bait that day anyway...

[redneckfisherman]

i belive i saw something like that in a pretty recent post... maybe on another fishing forum...

[dirtyhandslopez]

Get the tiddler crabs and hook/tie 'em whole and alive and then throw 'em back out. Something should be there eating crabs I reckon.

[AL_N_VB]

how stupid are the crabs? Smart enough to get fed:D

The crabs are essential to the food chain. They got to eat too. When the crabs are thick - go Fish Bites or tos lures in the crab color. If there are crabs...there are predators chewin on em.

Or throw a crab trap out. catch a few legal keepers fer the steam and Old bay bath;)

Only time a crab gets me upset is when they chew off my Gulp! grubs tails.....

Other than that, Crabs...and not the one's NJ gets from the truck stop are good.

[wolfva]

You can get small crabpots; most good tackleshops probably have them. Or, you can use a crab basket; that's basicly a small metal hoop with a larger metal hoop over it connected by a net; toss it in with some chicken or other bait tied at the bottom then haul up your bounty. Or, if you wanna use your pole just reel it in reeeeeealy slow.

[HellRhaY]

the net thing only works if you are elevated.

[BubbaBlue]

Castable crab traps.

http://sportycrabtrap.com/index.htm

http://www.crabhawk.com/

IMHO, too expensive and too much work.
.

[redneckfisherman]

yep thats what i seen

[surf monkey]

Anybody familiar with the rules and regs of crabbing in Florida (panama city beach in particular.) I really think next time I get down there I'm just going to get a small pot and a long rope and walk it out there, if the water's as shallow as it was last time. What should I do with them after I catch them? Throw them in a 5gal bucket full of sea water. Or if used for bait what parts should be used?

Last time I'd reel them in and as soon as the crab hit the beach it would let go and swim away. They were probably 5-6 inches across.

[F I LetsGoFishin]

The last time I was out fishing in daylight we were just scooping up crabs with a sandflea rake.
It was on the out going tide and it was like they were on a march. we got4 dozen nice sized ones in 3 hours. Makes for some fun good eating and stocks the freezer with minnow trap bait.

The only rules that I am aware of are that you are limited to 5 traps and I believe 10 gallons of crabs but double check me on that at myfwc.com

[BubbaBlue]

What should I do with them after I catch them? Throw them in a 5gal bucket full of sea water. If you put them in water, they won't last long unless you're changing the water frequently. They are big O2 users and will deplete it from the water quickly.

They don't need water. Just put them in something airy, like a milk crate, cover them with a wet towel, and keep them in the shade as much as possible. As long as they stay cool and moist, they will stay alive for days.

Or if used for bait what parts should be used?The easiest ones to use for bait are what we call "peelers". The ones that are just about ready to shed their shells. You can tell a peeler by looking at it's flipper. You can see the new shell in it.

As far as a non-peeler hard crab? It's harder but you can try cutting the crab into quarters after removing it's top shell and try that.

If you're going to cast it from shore, you can help keep it on your hook by tying it on with elastic thread you can get at any fabric store.
.