How to Catch Saltwater Red Crabs
Red crabs, also called rock crabs or red rock crabs, are close relatives of the Dungeness crabs. As their name suggests, they are dark red on top with a yellowish white hue on the underside. Red crabs have a fan-shaped hard shell with knobby edges, four pairs of walking legs and one pair of powerful, black-tipped claws. These crustaceans make good table fare and are abundant in the northwest bay and coastal waters.
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Instructions
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Use a ring net or a crap pot with bait cages to catch red crabs from piers and docks. Ring nets are made up of two steel rings held together by nylon net. The bait cage is positioned inside the bottom net. The smaller, bottom net traps the crabs once you start pulling the hoop net out of the water. Tie the top ring with a braided nylon rope; the length of the rope should be twice as long as the depth of your crabbing spot. For example, if you plan on crabbing in 20-foot deep water, use 40-foot rope.
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Drop baits in the trap like cuts of chicken, turkey, beef liver or cat food. Red crabs are attracted by odor. The stronger the smell, the more enticing your bait will be.
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Pull the rope to check the ring nets every 15 to 30 minutes. Adjust the time depending on how fast the red crabs are coming to your baits. Use gloves to protect your hands from the crab's claws when transferring from the trap to the catch container.
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Search for red crabs in semi-protected estuaries, bays and rocky areas near headlands and outcrops. Red rock crabs prefer waters with kelp beds, gravel or rocky bottoms because they do not have gills to thrive in sandy or muddy bottoms. Target depths of about 250 feet when pursuing deep sea red crabs.
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Tips & Warnings
Watch the tides. The best time to catch red crabs is during or just before low or high tides occur.
References
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