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Crab fishing tips

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11

More Crab Bait

The items mentioned below work excellent for crab bait.
I like to use the carcass from fish previously caught and filleted, I wrap and mark them, then freeze them until needed.

Topics: Bait, crab
6

Crab Bait

You can use just about any kind of meat as crab bait. Chicken is the most popular since it is easy to find at any grocery store. Squid is excellent but is harder to come by, grocery stores usually won't have squid. Some people even use canned catfood by punching a hole in the can.

The best bait I've found are big turkey legs. The turkey meat is much greasier than the chicken and I think the crab can smell it from further away. Keep some turkey legs frozen for your next crabbing trip, then take them out a day or two before you go out. This will let the turkey meat rot a little so its juices, greases and smells will release faster when you drop it in the water.

5

Catching Crab

Things to remember when setting crab traps.
- set your traps near fresh water.
- if using square wire traps, remove the bait cage and hang your bait in the center from the top of the trap ensuring the crab can reach it.
- set your traps 50-150 feet deep.
- check your traps every couple hours, they will only hold so much. Check your regulations for size and sex limits.
- Take a jug along with you for salt water, at least 4 liters. Try cooking your crab in ocean water, you will be surprised just how much better it tastes.
- If you think the area is holding some king or snow crab but you don't have a large ring trap. Take a spreader bar or coat hanger, securely attach it to any fishing line. Attach some squid to the spreader bar using wire or zip ties. Attach enough weight to take it to the bottom. Leave it on the bottom for up to 30 minutes then real it up at an even pace. If there are any king or snow crab in the area they will clamp on to the squid and won't let go... A poor mans crab trap...lol

Topics: seafood, tips, crab