Bait: as fresh as you can get it. You will often hear that it needs to be old and rank, but fresh bait is superior. Clams seem to be tops. Fish carcasses tend to work very well, but in many harbors and bays the sea lions will tear up your gear trying to get to the bait. I have converted to chicken hindquarters because my local Winco usually has 10 lbs for about 5 bucks, and the pinnipeds leave chicken alone. We do VERY well with chicken. Be sure that you have put the bait into either a wire bait cage or plastic bait bag so it will last longer. If you just wire it into the trap it will be gone in under an hour because the crabs will tear off big chunks. If you use chicken, wash your hands before you eat that sandwich. While salmon is good, salmonella is bad!
Depth: I tend to hover around 16-30 feet. That's just personal choice 'cause I'm arthritic and don't like pulling 50 pounds of trap up from any deeper. Substrate is important. Dungeness generally prefer sandy bottoms, red rocks prefer rocky bottoms. Scour holes can be great.
My experience has been that swift currents do not equate with successful crabbing. I try to get off to the edges of faster water, into gentle flows. For courtesy, and probably legal, reasons, stay out of navigation channels.
I use a combination of rings and Danielson traps, which are the black wire cages sold everywhere. If I am only crabbing I think rings are more fun, since they have to be tended more frequently. If I am fishing too, then I go to traps. Haven't had to weight the traps so far, and haven't had one move yet. We have done some modifications though, reinforcing corners with zip ties and such. If you use rings, try to drop them so the bottom hoop is centered in the middle of the top hoop when it comes to rest on the bottom. If they overlap, the side netting will be over the bait and crabs will actually be on the outside of the ring. When you pull the ring, you will flip the crabs off. When pulling a ring, come in quickly, maintain a forward speed, and follow the rope until you are right over the ring, then pull FAST, hand over hand. Do not pause while pulling. Crabs can swim right out of the net while you are pulling. We continue to maintain forward headway while pulling so the water pressure keeps the crabs in the ring.
Incoming tide seems to be best for results. Stay away from bay entrances on outgoing tides. If your motor fails...
I let traps sit for 1-2 hours before pulling them. I pull rings at 15 minutes.
Watch your size limitations and genders. Watch your fingers and toes. If you have kids in the boat, keep a pair of cheap pliers at hand in case somebody gets a crab on a finger. Wear PFDs, there you are, hanging over the side trying to lift in 50-70 pounds of trap and crabs and a wake hits the other side of the boat, and.... :depressed: Have fun, it's a blast!
[ 08-06-2003, 09:22 AM: Message edited by: Old Coot ]