How do you catch crabs?

I always heard that getting rid of them was the problem.

1. Get raw chicken legs.
2. Tie about 15' of troline/decoy string to said leg.
3. Anchor other end of string to dock, tree, or whatever is available to make sure they don't drag it in.
4. Throw chicken leg into bayou, ditch, off side of boat, etc.
5. Throw multiple lines out, maybe 4/person.
6. Start checking lines.
7. Find tight/heavy line and slowly hand over hand ease it to you. They'll hold on.
8. When in range use dip net to scoop them up.
9. Drink beer.
10. Have crab boil.

ETA: If you don't catch a crab in 10 minutes, you are in a bad spot. Move.

It's a very simple process.

Hand line would be the easiest.

Leg quarters are the cheapest bait you can use. I use tie wraps to tie the bait to my string. It holds better. Throw out a piece of leg quarter, pull it it real slow, and scoop them with a net. Make sure you keep the net under water while you pulling them in, it spooks them less

quote:

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Make sure you keep the net under water while you pulling them in, it spooks them less

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Whoa. Advanced crabbing.

But seriously, good tip. I'm amazed at people that go crabbing that haven't figured that out. Go ahead and get your net in the water and just lift the crab, bait and everything straight up once it's hovering over it in the water. Don't stab at them with the net like an 7 year old.

If you'll just be crabbing off the side of the road or a pier I'd get a roll of twine, cut long pieces depending on how far/how deep you'll be putting your bait, and tie shower curtain hangers on each end. The curtain hanger lets you clip the bait on instead of having to tie it on, we usually use turkey necks. Get yourself a long handled net, slowly pull the bait up off the bottom and you can feel if there's any weight(crabs) on the end. When it gets near the surface scoop up those delicious bastards quickly.


ETA: These shower hangers.

ETA2: We have all our lines tied to 2x2 wooden garden stakes, we can stick the in the mud to keep from having to tie off to shite and cut them when we're ready to leave. And for Christ-sake please don't leave your string behind like the rest of the people do.

price lake road in rockefeller...

twince chicken parts and a scoop net..

and a hamper to put them in

We used to run string between 2 aluminum tent poles and drop chicken quarters and fish heads of that string kinda like a trot line right along the beach in Grand Isle. You can do a couple set ups like this and just check them periodically while surf fishing or hanging out drinking cold ones.

Net goes in the water first just like the previous poster said.

Come on over to grand isle. Place called Artie's. Sure shot of catching crabs.

I always use chicken quarters/turkey necks for crabs, and melt for crawfish. that's just what my father always used growing up, so I just follow suit.

Pinky finger but no pun intended