How to Do a Crab Dredge

Nothing makes your mouth water like the mention of crab. Coastal-dwellers know that there is nothing like fresh crab to satisfy your appetite. There are many ways to catch a crab. Some people use bait, traps, crab pots or trot lines to catch crabs. During the winter when the crabs burrow themselves beneath the sand, using a crab dredge is the best way to have a successful crabbing trip.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Motor boat
• Wench
• Heavy cable
• Crab dredge
• Minimum of two people

1. Connect the crab dredge to a wench with a heavy cable. Have an assistant help you lift the dredge into the water.

2. Turn on the wench to lower the dredge into the water. Let the wench run until the dredge has hit the ocean floor and there is enough slack to tow the dredge behind the boat while it scrapes the ocean floor.

3. Switch the boat engine on and start driving forward. Keep the speed relatively slow, about one and a half knots.

4. Tow the crab dredge behind the boat for about 20 minutes. Turn the wench on and pull the dredge back onto the boat. Open the dredge and remove the crabs.

5. Put the dredge back in the water. Adjust the amount of time you tow the dredge before pulling it back in the boat based on the number of crabs you catch. Increase or decrease your time in increments of 10 minutes.

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