How to Crab
Crabbing, much like fishing, requires timing and patience from all those involved. It can also serve as a great bonding experience between family members. Follow these steps to learn the basics about crabbing in order to increase your spoils while also increasing the memories.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Choose a location known for crabs. Check with local wildlife or conservation organizations to learn about the best crabbing spots near you. A pier with minimum boat traffic normally serves as a good crabbing spot. Choose locations where lines and traps work easily.
-
2
Hang the crab lines made from kite string from the pier. Tie the bait, chicken neck, mackerel or tuna to the kite string on one end and attach the other end of the string to a wooden plank. Drop the bait directly into the water and wait patiently. You can also use a crab trap.
-
-
3
Pull in your line if you see it getting tugged. Pull the line up slowly and use a net to capture the crab. If you lose the crab in the water then put the bait back in the water and hope the crab bites again.
-
4
Set up about 3 to 4 crab traps for each person crabbing. Tie the bait in the middle of the bottom panel of the crab trap. Make sure the string holding the bait to the trap is long enough to allow you to rest the trap on the water's floor.
-
5
Check your crab traps about every ten minutes because you can't tell if you have a crab in the trap without pulling the trap out of the water. To pull the trap up, jerk hard on the line on the initial pull to cause the trap doors to close. Then pull the trap out of the water and put the trap on the pier. It opens when it hits the pier.
-
6
Grab the crab between the back fin and the corner of its shell so it can't pinch you. Measure the crab from point to ping on the shell. Check the legal limits before you go crabbing to know whether the crab fits. To save time measuring, create a measuring rod or piece of plastic prior to the crabbing trip.
-
7
Place the crabs in the bushel if they meet the legal measurements. Add water from the crabs' original water source to the bushel periodically.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The claws don't count when measuring the crab.
Find out if you need a license in your area prior to your crabbing trip.
