How can you tell when the crabs are in the folding trap?

Question

They tell me when i'm crabbing to leave it for 10 min i don't understand why exactly 10 mins but i though could you know when the crabs are in the trap, the kind that has two circle metals, one on the inside and one on the outside. when you bring it up the outter one lefts first and the inside one becomes the base. That trap does anybody know when to tell if the crabs are in there?

Answer 1

I love blue crabbing and go just about every weekend. These basket style crab nets, don't have a method for "feeling" the knudging and pulling of crabs, so there is no time limit. Any suggestions for leaving it alone are to basically allow time for crabs in the area to find the bait, and also to settle silt which is stirred when tossing the basket it. Pull the baskets up whenever you feel like it, as a crab can and will break off a nice piece of chicken and go about his merry way. I know it's hard to sit still though!

Honestly I've lost a ton of crabs using the baskets, so I use it as an alternative when crabbing. I still do the ole hand over hand with the kite string, because I enjoy "feeling" for the crab action. I crab the intercoastal waters of Florida and this is a great method, both are actually.

Have fun, and happy crabbing!

Answer 2

Tie a piece of paper (waterproof) asking if there are any crabs there yet, and a pen (also waterproof), to a string and lower it down in the cage....then when the crabs are there they will let you know in a note to let them out. You pull the note back up every once in a while to see if they've answered.

Answer 3

yes buy the crab traps with bite indicators.when the bait is attacked a fpam ring rises to the surface from the box trap,or something like that.search and ytou will find them

Answer 4

Other than pulling the trap and taking a look, in shallow water you might be able to feel movement in the trap through the tag line.

Answer 5

I got a few from a toilet seat in the late 80's. its a real terrible time.