Rat Man
|
Crabbing: it's not really fishing but its close enough. My parents started us crabbing when we were literally still in diapers. Crabbing is something I can do very well. My record is 296 keepers in one day. Crabbing isn't as complex as fishing can be. For tackle all you really need is a weight, hand line, crab net, and a piece of bait. You can use traps too. There are pyramid traps and box traps. The pyramid traps work a little better but both are effective. You can also use a commercial crab pot but that requires a license. Crabs are basically scavengers and will eat anything. And it doesn't have to be fresh. My favorite bait is Moss Bunker, a very smelly, oily fish. You can use any fish but the more oily the better. A lot of people use chicken, which also works fine. You can use any meat. I've also used squid with success. And if your bait has gone bad, no problem. The stinkier the better. If you're using a hand line just let it out until your bait and weight sit on the bottom. Every so often gently lift the line to see if there's anything on it. You'll feel a little more resistance. If you feel extra weight on your line SLOWLY pull it up. When you get it near the surface you'll be able to see if a crab is hanging on. If there is one scoop him up with your crab net. Traps are even easier. Bait the trap, let it down to the bottom, and wait. Pull it up ever so often to check it. I usually use an equal number of traps and hand lines together. You can run a lot of traps and lines from one small boat... eight or ten if you wish. You don't necessarily need a boat to crab. You can do it just fine from the shore or a bridge. Many of the bridges near the seashore have walkways specifically for people to crab from. The most common mistake people make is moving around all day. Choose a good spot; one where the water isn't too deep or shallow, like six to ten feet. You want to be out of the main current but not far from it. Once you pick your spot stay there. Many people, especially novice crabbers, get bored after an hour or two of catching nothing and move to a new spot. Crabs find your bait by the scent trail it leaves. If you've been sitting in one spot for an hour you've been laying out a scent trail all of that time. Just wait. If there are crabs in the area they will find you. If you move then you'll have to start your scent trail all over again. Patience is what differentiates a successful crabber from a failure. Sometimes you have to wait hours for the tide to turn before you start catching. So wait. Moving accomplishes nothing and prevents the crabs from eventually finding you. In New Jersey we have Blue Claw Crabs. They're not as big as some species but nothing tastes better. Make sure you know your local regulations. That's about it. I could fill many volumes on fishing but crabbing is a simple affair. Use stinky bait, pick a good spot, stay there. If you've never done it before, if you ever get the opportunity I highly recommend it. It's a great day out
|