Crab bait

Slow Roll · 01-22-2003, 07:22 PM

Ok Salty Dogs, here's the question.

Do herring work well for crab bait? No, not crab bait the guy, the little spiny buggers.

I seem to remember being told that they don't work very well, but others say that they do?

Any help would be appreciated. I have a bunch in the freezer from last years trip to Newport and would like to thin some out. That and the memories that came with them.

But we're not going there.

Let me know what your opinions are.

Thanks

Paul B.

Spoiled Daddy · 01-22-2003, 08:53 PM

Slow Roll,

I commonly use excess, soft, freezer burned, stepped on, crappy cut herring for crab bait. I simply keep a ziplock in the boat for all the body parts that come back into the boat and then put them in a mess bag in the bait freezer to use later as crab bait. They work well, but don't last too long, even when the mess bag is placed inside a bait box.

I have about 6-8 dozen left over in the freezer from last March that are gonna be crab bait when I finally get time to get the boat wet again.

Spoiled Daddy

thankful · 01-22-2003, 09:03 PM

They work real great! Especially when fresh and when sand shrimp isn't available when crab snaring out on the jetties......

crabbait · 01-22-2003, 09:06 PM

You talkin' to me????????

Re:Play · 01-22-2003, 09:17 PM

I second what Spoiled Daddy said. I will cut them up or grind them up and then put them in mesh bag or plastic bait holder with holes in it. I have used mackeral to do this as any oily fish will work.

If seals are a problem, chicken or turkey avoids them.

fish assassin · 01-23-2003, 04:47 AM

... Just as an after-thought ... When you carc them tuna, ALL waste
should be saved as crab bait. The carcasses and parts are really oily
and really do attract crab well.

-assAssin-

I love it ... I tried to write S C R A P S above and the tool
replaced C R A P S with stars!

Slow Roll · 01-23-2003, 03:52 PM

Thanks for the replys.

Looks like I will try one trap with some chunked up and whole herring and the other with the usual chicken or turkey.

I will report back when we return.

Paul B.

Fish_N_Russ · 01-25-2003, 08:41 PM

Sounds like I should be poking holes in tuna cans and using them in my crab rings..........oily fish huh? interesting

corrirod · 01-25-2003, 09:44 PM

Spoiled Daddy,

One thing you could do to make them last a little longer is to fill the ziplock bag with water and then freeze them. Then all you need to do is tear off the bag and stuff the "herring cube" in the bait box. Just an idea. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

Crashin' Bait · 01-25-2003, 11:09 PM

Don't forget "shad". Its a dynomite crab bait and kinda' looks like a herring.

Slow Roll · 01-27-2003, 06:33 PM

Alright,
Here's the report, better late than never I guess.
7 traps, 3 pulls each and 33 keepers in about 5 hours. A good lazy day on the water. Little mist, little rain and brauts and burgers on the barby.

Used a mixed cocktail for bait. Chicken, herring and some freezer burnt salmon. Worked pretty dang well. Herring seems to be like crab candy.

One thing that I thought was interesting. I rigged a new pot and put the bait cage on the roof of the trap. I didn't get any in that trap, not even little ones until I moved the bait cage to the bottom. The bait wasn't even touched. We dropped it within about 10 yards of where it was on the first pull and the next time it had bugs in it. Anyone seen this before?

Re:Play · 01-27-2003, 08:14 PM

Slow Roll--when we used to shrimp Hood Canal we usually found the new pots did not do well compared to the old ones. Some of the die hards dipped their pots each year or two, and that seemed to be ok. But the new ones with the shiny black plastic always took some time to "break in". The best shrimp pots were some of the oldest and they would outcatch the others about 3 to 1.

brshooter · 01-27-2003, 08:36 PM

Sure made for good eats during the Super Bowl didn't it Slow Roll. Lets do it again soon. I like this crabbing with 4 people in the boat. I just had to sit under the cover and drive the boat. Didn't have to pull a trap all day. Even had a couple of killer brats grilled up for me. Life is good.

Myles · 01-28-2003, 09:27 AM

Any one ever try cheap cat food? (or maybe your neighbor's cat!) [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]
Just kidding. I read that one of the cat food varieties was actually a shrimp bait before it became cat food. I'll try to remember to look it up and post it. I think I'll try cat food in one pot next time, just poke some holes in the can and put it in. I'll post results when I do.

myles

OceanBlue · 01-28-2003, 09:44 AM

I've actually been wondering what crabs WON'T eat? Anyone try something that netted absolutely zero results and are pretty sure that it was the bait, not the trap or location or timing that was responsible?

Inquiring minds wanna know...

skein · 01-28-2003, 10:04 AM

PM,

Cabezon feed on crabs and make LOUSY crab bait.

We've used cat food lots of time. Used to catch shrimp off the docks in Homer using just a flat screen and a can of cat food wired to the middle.

Skein

Threemuch · 01-28-2003, 10:18 AM

Sturgeon carc is lousy crab bait too.

Best rule for crab bait is that fresh is better than foul.

For herring use a bait cup. Always give em something they can get to (hanging or cage bait) and something they can't (cup bait).

KB

Troller · 01-28-2003, 10:47 AM

I crabbed in the hood canal quite a few days last year. Chicken , turkey, old trout, old salmon retrieved from the great depths of my deep freezer. They all worked good. If a had a preference I would say salmon heads. It is a natural bait, salmon seems to give off a good smell, With the heads they can pick at them a bit put only pull off small chucks or pieces. You can use it a few times over and over. After the first dip I use some of that smelly jelly crab bait and goop it on the bait box and salmon head its ready to go again. We pulled in one pot last year with 55 crabs in it. Only one keeper in that pot .

Re:Play · 01-31-2003, 09:43 AM

Cat food--it is the standard for shrimping on Hood Canal. Fish flavored works best. When we shrimped up there, every one used cat food, but the secret was what you mixed with it. Ground up herring, mackerel, herring oil, fish meal etc are all good possible additives. I have used the same mixes for crab and it works too, but chicken is a lot less messy and pretty effective.

Pitch Pocket · 01-31-2003, 10:27 AM

Slow roll, If you attach the bait box to the top of the cage, the crabs will just sit on top and pick at it. If you hang it from one edge of the cube so it is in the middle of trap, they'll have to go inside to get it.

Frozen herring block in a bait cage will quickly thaw and will be pulled through cage and you'll be fishing empty. I cut them up and use a bait jar.

Salmon heads split down the middle with a sharp hatchet work great. Takes half as many heads too.

I have caught many crab using sturgeon carcasses and heads. I always split the heads so maybe more oils are released. I don't think crabs shy away from any fresh or freshly frozen bait.

My opinion is that Mackerel is overall the best bait for crabs or shrimp. The oilier and stronger scented the fresh fish is, the better.

Fishing freak · 01-31-2003, 12:14 PM

Shad are actually the largest member of the herring family. They make great crab-bait and are fun to catch also!

Slow Roll · 01-31-2003, 11:53 PM

Looks like I will be finding myself some bait jars in the near future. Insert herring fill with water, freeze and you have bait pops!!

I think I will wait until the sportsman show before I buy anymore gear. They usually have some pretty good deals there so I will take advantage of that.

Paul B.

Fshklr · 02-02-2003, 07:46 PM

I spent many years out in the san juans and off the shores of oak harbor, and anancortes. prime Dungeness feeding and spawning grounds....Best bait for attracting, and durability and leaching out fat that they love so much is..Chicken Backs and Turkey Legs and Wings. Crabs cannot resist this and I'd put it against any Herring or Salmon carcass 10 to 1.