Crab tricks?

[smilesforu]

Ok any tricks to keep seals from stealing bait from your ring nets? It was wired down too!!

Next question After sitting with my nut cracker crunching the crab legs up I wondered if there is a easier way to get the goods out of the shell? I saw a guy on tv several years ago that whacked them in half then beat them on a stainless steel bowl. Anybody ever do this ?
Its worth the work but the must be a easier way!!
Tight Lines


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Marty M
Steelheader.net

Marty, guys on here say that to use turkey or chicken legs; effective for crab and the seals don't like it apparently.

[Pete]

On getting crab meat out of the shells ...
get rid of the nut cracker. Crab is finger food. Your fingers can tell the difference between a shell and meat much better than a nut cracker or other tool. I like to eat crab over the sink. I break the crusty in half down the middle, then break the body apart to separate the muscles associated with each leg. After a little practice you'll see that there are 3 muscles associated with each leg. You should be able to get each body clump out in tact. To clean the legs I break each segment in half by hand. If you pull the segments apart first the "tendon" in each segment will pull out of the muscle which otherwise would hold the meat in the shell. You can use the longest "finger" segment to dig the chunk of meat out of the leg. Clear as mud?

[PeterMac]

I second the turky or chicken part for bait. It works fantastic, I think equal or even better than fish, and will go completely unmolested by the seals. Also, unless your using your own fish heads / carcasses, you can get it cheaper that fish bait if you look for it on sale. Whenever I am at the store, and remember, I go to the section and see whats on sale - backs, necks, legs, whatever..... Also, when I am done crabbing, if there is enough left in the pot, slap it in a plastic bag and put it back in the freezer.

CRAB GOOOOOOOOD!!!!

PeterMac

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If you think old growth forests are beautiful, you should see the lumber they make!!

[Phish_on]

Crabbing seems like an excellent option during our lack of fresh water. Any hints for hunting steelhead in a bay ? Nehalem, for example ?

(Maybe just go after those giant bay halibut!)

[Pilar]

Yeah baby, what he said. Crab gooooood. Cooking technique is everything. Use saltwater. Boil it once and into the hot tub they go. Boil again and wait exactly 10 minutes. Pull em out and quench in cold saltwater. This makes the meat fall off the shell. Spice bags are good too. Two in a 5 gallon pot. You can get Old Bay brand at Albertsons. $1 apiece.

As the bays salt up crabbing improves big time. Try it at night to frustrate seals. Also avoid hovering near your pots, its a dinner bell for sea lions. They hear your boat, spot the bouy and follow the rope down to your new bait. They absolutely hate nutria and mink carcasses. These can be had at S. Beach Marina in Newport for pretty cheap.

Give some away when you score big, your friends will love you for it. They eat better fresh anyway. Keep them in the shell whole until eaten. You can keep them in the vegetable drawer a week this way.

Take a kid to the church of the bent rod.

The bend is your friend!