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Started By
Message
Holding pen for blue crabs
Posted on 5/25/24 at 6:57 pm
Posted on 5/25/24 at 6:57 pm
Anyone keep crabs alive at their dock for a week or two? I have plenty of room for one, but I don't want it so big and heavy that it is a chore to use. Any idea on size or construction methods? I was thinking just keeping it under the dock so it would be shaded too.
6
Posted on 5/25/24 at 7:47 pm to armsdealer
No but you know you need to feed them right?
I bought crabs from a lady that lived by the pier and had a rented boat stall with a 4x4x8 wood framed cage with that green coated chicken wire. She was pretty busy because all of her crabs were full but she had a cheat code. The shrimpers would give her all of the baitfish to feed them. It was hooked to two pulleys and then tied off so you can net your own crabs.
I bought crabs from a lady that lived by the pier and had a rented boat stall with a 4x4x8 wood framed cage with that green coated chicken wire. She was pretty busy because all of her crabs were full but she had a cheat code. The shrimpers would give her all of the baitfish to feed them. It was hooked to two pulleys and then tied off so you can net your own crabs.
Posted on 5/25/24 at 9:15 pm to armsdealer
My Dad built one years ago using plastic bread racks and zip ties. Then used two large pvc pipes with each end capped off as floats at the top. He would keep it tied to his dock and throw a dead hardhead catfish in there every so often for them to eat until he had enough to cook.
Posted on 5/25/24 at 9:50 pm to Canon951
Crabs are like the pigs of the ocean. They eat all the nasty trash but taste delicious
This post was edited on 5/25/24 at 9:51 pm
Posted on 5/26/24 at 6:49 am to CalcasieuTiger
You have to feed them. They will start eating themselves if you don’t.
Posted on 5/26/24 at 6:57 am to armsdealer
My friend's dad had a camp in Happy Jack, and he built a keeper pen. It was made of treated wood and chicken wire. It was large, so he had pulleys and a winch involved. Mr. Claude was a shrimper and was able to feed by catch to the crabs. He also threw fish carcasses into the pen. It is essential that they have food or they will eat each other.
Posted on 5/26/24 at 7:00 am to armsdealer
Neighbor growing up had one. 50 gallon drum with holes drilled in the bottom half attached to pulley on a metal arm that would swivel.
Posted on 5/26/24 at 8:20 am to bearhc
No problem feeding them bycatch or fish carcasses.
Sounds like anything that will hold a crab without it getting out will be suitable. I guess I shouldn't overthink this, and if I lose a few, its not a big deal.
Sounds like anything that will hold a crab without it getting out will be suitable. I guess I shouldn't overthink this, and if I lose a few, its not a big deal.
Posted on 5/26/24 at 8:29 am to armsdealer
I have one. Make sure that you put it in an area where there is moving water or they all die. I tucked it away in a corner where there wasn't and I lost 53 crabs.
Posted on 5/26/24 at 8:56 pm to bearhc
We have been to the same camp!
Posted on 5/27/24 at 10:30 am to bearhc
quote:
My friend's dad had a camp in Happy Jack, and he built a keeper pen. It was made of treated wood and chicken wire. It was large, so he had pulleys and a winch involved. Mr. Claude was a shrimper and was able to feed by catch to the crabs. He also threw fish carcasses into the pen. It is essential that they have food or they will eat each other.
If you knew Mr Claude we likely have met. He was my Great Uncle. Spent many a days at the camp in the 70's and 80's.
My Dad helped him build that keeper, it was made out of cypress. They were drinking beer one day and he mentioned it and my dad was like hell yeah we can build that and off they went.
Cypress is ideal because its rot resistant but it must be kept in the water at all times so it will sink,and stay sunk.
Posted on 5/27/24 at 11:45 am to stogie5150
Claude and Margaret were pretty much a second set in grandparents to me as my grandparents lived across the street from them. Claude’s kids are considered my aunts and uncles and their kids my cousins. I have spent of weeks at that camp as a kid, trawling, fishing, skiing and loading that keeper full of crabs. It probably was the same keeper that was there when Katrina and Rita destroyed the camp!
Posted on 5/27/24 at 4:27 pm to stogie5150
quote:
If you knew Mr Claude we likely have met. He was my Great Uncle. Spent many a days at the camp in the 70's and 80's.
My Dad helped him build that keeper, it was made out of cypress. They were drinking beer one day and he mentioned it and my dad was like hell yeah we can build that and off they went.
Cypress is ideal because its rot resistant but it must be kept in the water at all times so it will sink,and stay sunk.
The Mr. Claude that I am referring to had a son named Sam who was a good friend of mine. Mr. Claude had been a member of the OSS in WWII and a wound cost him a finger. He was from Bridge City but spent a good part of the year at his camp in Happy Jack.
Posted on 5/27/24 at 9:41 pm to armsdealer
A wire cage about double the size of a regular crab trap is all you need.
Moving water, keep them fed and in the shade and they will live a long time.
Moving water, keep them fed and in the shade and they will live a long time.
Posted on 5/28/24 at 5:39 am to CHEDBALLZ
So how long does it take to noticeably fatten up a crab. Say an airplane to one worth eating or that to one full up. Just curious if it’s worth the trouble
Posted on 5/28/24 at 7:07 am to CHEDBALLZ
Surprised no one has mentioned need for “pen inside pen” type design to prevent sheepshead from nipping the legs thru the wire cage
Posted on 5/28/24 at 11:09 am to SwampCollie
That's true, especially if you have it floating, they will come up under it and eat all the legs off.
Posted on 5/28/24 at 12:30 pm to armsdealer
Pretty much sheepshead proof.
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[/URL][/img]Posted on 5/28/24 at 2:07 pm to bearhc
quote:
The Mr. Claude that I am referring to had a son named Sam who was a good friend of mine. Mr. Claude had been a member of the OSS in WWII and a wound cost him a finger. He was from Bridge City but spent a good part of the year at his camp in Happy Jack.
Yep, we've met. Small world. I am a little older than Sammy's kids, but just a couple years. Miss them all. Miss the camp. A time gone that cant be recovered. My Paw Paw was one of Mr Claude's Brothers.
Posted on 5/28/24 at 3:48 pm to stogie5150
quote:
Yep, we've met. Small world. I am a little older than Sammy's kids, but just a couple years. Miss them all. Miss the camp. A time gone that cant be recovered. My Paw Paw was one of Mr Claude's Brothers.
Small world Stogie. I know Ty and Wendy as well. Mr. Claude, Sam, and I made some shrimping and fishing trips in his sports Lafitte from Jefferson Fiberglass. I miss Sam, but we were able to make one last fishing trip before he passed away.
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