Speak to me of crab traps...

[johnniethek]

Hello one and all,

Even though crab season doesn't open in the San Juans until July 15, I'm already thinking about it -- and I need some collective wisdom from folks here.

I'd like to buy one or two crab traps to take with me when I head north this summer. But I don't know what kind to get. There seems to be a gazillion out there. What would you folks recommend? Ditto for the kind/amount of rope and float, as well as other things I should consider.

Keep in mind that I have a 21-footer that doesn't have lots of space. I found a collapsible crab trap called the Flex Fold Crab Trap (YouTube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lD3iOUT ... re=related) but I think it's about $160, which seems extraordinarily spendy to me.

Thanks, in advance, for all your suggestions and I look forward to hearing/reading your responses.

John

[dloop]

Here's some good info John. Don't spend $160

http://www.johnssportinggoods.com/2009%20July.pdf

dave

[tim&kim]

Hi John. We have been crabbing 24/7 for years in our local waters ( Georgia Strait, north of Vanvouver ) as well as the north coast ( Price Rupert, Douglas Channel area ).We have no "season here so we keep a commercial sized trap in the water year round, hauling it weekly to bet crab and to change bait.
Started crabbing with a "square blue" trap...couldn't catch a cold with one of those....got educated by the locals that the problem was with the square trap. We use round traps and do VERY well.
Further to the bait suggestions in the link that someone gave you, we also have a bait cup wired into the insode of our trap that we fill with prawn pellets ( commercial guys use these for bait ). The pellets combined with some type of fresh protein ( chicken/turkey/pork bones or any kind of fish carcass ) are magical for results.
Also, look for a sandy botton to set in . They also seem to like to hang out in areas where there is proximity to a fresh water out-flow.
My best advice....."grab-em from the back".....yikes they hurt when they get you !
Good Luck !

Tim and Kim Thompson
R25-"big attitude"
Gibsons, B.C.

[johnniethek]

Thanks for all the feedback!

I did NOT spend $150 on the flex fold crab trap but instead followed the advice and went to John's Sporting Goods and paid $39.95 for the foldable rectangle trap shown here. I also got 100 feet of leaded line, a float and a bait bag. Now all I need are some crabs -- and an open season in which to catch them!

http://www.johnssportinggoods.com/Crab%20Gear.htm

John

[dloop]

John, I'm probably going to pick up the same thing. Can't wait for the season to open.

[SlackwaterJack]

The Ranger 21 ('05) I bought at the end of last summer had been used for crabbing out of Monteray CA. In the first picture I saw of the boat, it was set up for crabbing with a couple of pots and a potwinch fitted to the stern rail. The guy I bought it from had removed the winch and sold it to a fellow crabber before he listed the boat so I know little of it's details. But It sure looked good.
Around these parts I won't be doing any crabbing but I am planning to take my share of the huge quantity of large crawfish in the river here. There is a commercial crawfisher here that runs about 60 traps pretty well year-round. A few of the locals say that when they want some for the table usually pull their traps after leaving them overnite and generally get in the range of 8-10 lbs per trap (explains why the smallmouth bass are so fat and happy around here). I'll have to try my luck this spring.

I did ask the commercial crawfisher (?) what he uses for bait...he said Purina Crawfish Chow. I thought he was just pullin my leg, but, I checked with the local farm supply place, and believe it or not ... they can order it !
I wonder if they make Crab Chow too?