Crab Traps

[Matt J]

I'm sorry to hear your trap was molested, SWGB. But, how can you really tell? We throw traps in every now and then and drop them back down sometimes if they only have 2 crabs. Sure enough, one or both is always smart enough to get out

Do you use chicken? Any secrets you want to share for the not-so-productive crabbers out there?

Seriously, I hope you catch your crab thief!

I knew it was molested because it wasn't talking and having mood swings. Seriously though the trap was open and upside down. That's not the work of a crab.

I use chicken quarters from Publix. They are usually around $3-$3.50 for five and last a while. Remember to always return females (eggs or not) as the males can breed several times. Keeps the population good.

We had a white and blue trap float wash up under our dock in Tucker Bayou the other day if that helps....

We always put our trap in with some chicken in it, make sure to keep feeding the guys we catch and leave it out there until we have about 9-10, no problem!!! If we forget to feed them, they seem to take care of themselves using the survival of the fittest strategy.

No, they just emptied it and didn't even bother to put it back right. In 20 years of crabbing this is second time someone has ever messed with a trap. Once me and my grandfather pulled one up in the Big Bend area and a dead raccoon had been stuffed inside. This was in a "banjo" area that was proving very good for large crabs, but it was a clear sign that our traps were not welcome.

That is true that they will canabalize (sp?) each other so you do need to keep the bait full.

 

[30ashopper]

The bay, the gulf, and any of the dune lakes. Traps are a little more difficult in the gulf, but just about ever body of water around here has crabs in it. I wouldn't rush over to Prominence's harbor though.

Do you toss them in far from where you live or "just down the road"? For example, do folks set traps up around the 331 bridge and trust they'll be there when they check back?

 

[Simple Smile]

Sorry to hear about your traps... We've had good luck with blue crabs this yr around the bend from Hogtown. Is there a closed season for traps?

 

[Matt J]

Do you toss them in far from where you live or "just down the road"? For example, do folks set traps up around the 331 bridge and trust they'll be there when they check back?

You could, although it's a 50/50 shot. Mine go in off the dock out back. Just pulled out and cleaned two more this morning.

Sorry to hear about your traps... We've had good luck with blue crabs this yr around the bend from Hogtown. Is there a closed season for traps?

No, but there are a few rules to follow so you don't get in trouble.

- No more than 5 traps per person without a commercial liscense. Of course this means that if you have a family of four you can have 20 traps and each person "owns" 5.
- The trap must be marked with your identification. Name and phone number are most common. This applies to free floating traps not attached to a dock or boat.
- You can only pull/check the traps during daylight hours.
- There is no size limit, but common sense will tell you that less than 5 inches from point to point is just not worth the picking.
- You cannot take females bearing eggs. This is easy as the underside of the female will have a cluster of black on it. General rule of thumb is to throw back female crabs to keep the species healthy and growing.

This is a male crab, the female has much wider reporductive organs.

Here's a link to the different "undersides" of blue crabs.
http://skipjack.net/le_shore/crab/crab_ages.htm

 

[30ashopper]

This is a male crab, the female has much wider reporductive organs.

Here's a link to the different "undersides" of blue crabs.
http://skipjack.net/le_shore/crab/crab_ages.htm

I love mother nature, she has this funny habit of re-using well proven design.

 

[Franny]

Do you toss them in far from where you live or "just down the road"? For example, do folks set traps up around the 331 bridge and trust they'll be there when they check back?

I lost a crab trap by doing this very thing. It was pretty naive and dumb on my part!!:roll:

You could, although it's a 50/50 shot. Mine go in off the dock out back. Just pulled out and cleaned two more this morning.



No, but there are a few rules to follow so you don't get in trouble.

- No more than 5 traps per person without a commercial liscense. Of course this means that if you have a family of four you can have 20 traps and each person "owns" 5.
- The trap must be marked with your identification. Name and phone number are most common. This applies to free floating traps not attached to a dock or boat.
- You can only pull/check the traps during daylight hours.
- There is no size limit, but common sense will tell you that less than 5 inches from point to point is just not worth the picking.
- You cannot take females bearing eggs. This is easy as the underside of the female will have a cluster of black on it. General rule of thumb is to throw back female crabs to keep the species healthy and growing.

This is a male crab, the female has much wider reporductive organs.

Here's a link to the different "undersides" of blue crabs.
http://skipjack.net/le_shore/crab/crab_ages.htm

I had no idea you can only check the traps during day light hours. I think we have been in violation, just don't tell anyone.;-)

 

[Franny]

Another question swgb....the immature females are called she-crabs, as in she crab bisque???

 

[Matt J]

Another question swgb....the immature females are called she-crabs, as in she crab bisque???

Not really sure about she-crab soup. I know that it's not really an issue as long as it's blue crab meat. I've never noticed a difference between male and female crabs, so I'm not sure where the name came from.