How to Catch Blue Crabs in Shallow Water
Blue crabs are native to the Atlantic Ocean and can be found from Texas to Massachusetts, along the coastline. They are known to have the sweetest meat of all seafood, so are considered a delicacy. They are fished for by commercial fishermen, but also by recreational fishermen. They are relatively easy to catch, but there are a few tips that will make it easier.
Instructions
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Catching Blue Crab
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Catching blue crab is best done during October through December. Once the water temperature falls below about 50 degrees Fahrenheit the crabs become inactive so it will be very unlikely to catch any. As the temperature increases the activity of the crabs increases dramatically, so simply taking the temperature of the water can tell you quite a bit about how your luck will be.
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Location, as it is with real estate, is key. Crabs are known to like both high-salinity ocean waters and inshore brackish waters. Males tend to be found more in the brackish water while females are more likely to be found in the ocean. They tend to be found in shallow water but areas that are still submerged during low tide.
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Fishing for crab can be done with either crab pots or crab nets. Both have similar traits. They are made of thin wire mesh and built with different chambers. They are baited with either chicken or fish parts which attract the crabs. When the crab crawls in the pot or net to get the bait, it can't find its way out. Crab pots are usually dropped into the water and tied to a float. You should check the pots once or twice per day. Using nets is a little closer to traditional fishing, as you usually throw the net into the water and hold onto a line. After five or ten minutes you pull up the net very quickly to check and see if anything crawled in.
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Dislodge the crabs from the pot or net by shaking them into a tub or bucket of water, to keep them fresh and alive. Crabs have very strong pincers, so be careful when picking them up as they will take a "bite" out of you when given the chance.
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Catching blue crabs can also be as easy as just walking along the shore and finding them in shallow water. The ideal time to find them this way is during low tide when the areas they like to hide in become very shallow. They are much more agile in the water than out so it is a good idea to use a dip net to catch them--using you hands could prove to be difficult, less efficient and painful.
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Check state and local fishing regulations before setting out for blue crab. There are restrictions on how many you can catch, size of crab, how many pots you can fish, and in some cases what time of year you can fish for them. Breaking these rules can carry a stiff penalty.
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References
- Photo Credit crab image by Vaclav Janousek from Fotolia.com
