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Dec 30th, 2023
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 Crabbing
#2662539
09/21/08 09:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73
the4x4hoss
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73 |
I am headed down to Quintana Beach for some camping and fishing Oct 10. One of my roomates said we should try and catch some crab but I can't seem to find any info on how to go about it. Can anyone enlighten me?
"born to fish, forced to work"
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: the4x4hoss]
#2663465
09/22/08 08:38 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 99
SlickWillie
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 99 |
We crab a lot, so I made up a line (just like a freshwater trot line) with 9 drops on it with a pole on each end. No hooks, just loops in the line. Just hang a chicken leg on each of the drops. Or, if you want, just take about 20' of line, tie chicken leg on the end, and throw it out. You can tell when they tug on the leg. Just ease 'em in and net 'em. I just boiled a couple dozen Saturday.
Will 
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: SlickWillie]
#2665554
09/22/08 08:58 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73
the4x4hoss
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73 |
Cool, thanks for the info. How do the crab pots work?
"born to fish, forced to work"
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: the4x4hoss]
#2667156
09/23/08 01:27 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 99
SlickWillie
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 99 |
They work good if you are in a place where there are lots of crabs. I've had two out on the pier here in Aransas Bay for a few days. 1 blue crab and 3 stone crabs. Not many here. However, in Aransas Pass, we would sometimes catch a dozen a day in 3 pots. I have put them out wading, but that's a job. Much better with a boat or pier. Fresh hardheads make good bait for the pots. Ladyfish and pin perch are good too. Beware though, you can be issued a ticket for putting game fish remains in a crab pot. I spoke with a game warden in AP, and he told me while he wouldn't write a ticket, some will, as it is illegal.
Will
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: SlickWillie]
#2674935
09/25/08 08:18 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73
the4x4hoss
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73 |
One of my buddies is talking about buying a couple of pots when we get down there and we are taking the cast net so we will probably bait them with mullet.
"born to fish, forced to work"
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: the4x4hoss]
#2675150
09/25/08 09:16 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,182
throwback
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,182 |
the key with crab pots is patience. i always found chicken necks work best and won't be pulled off so easily.
At least my boat and truck are paid for, woo hoo!
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: throwback]
#2680598
09/28/08 09:06 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 99
SlickWillie
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 99 |
Maybe you're talking about the drop nets? Crab pots have a mesh bait box; bait is not going to fall off. I just baited up my two pots yesterday. Used chicken hind quarters. We went out on Aransas Channel crabbing and had chicken left over. BTW, crabbing wasn't much out on the channel. We usually catch 2 or 3 dozen, but only 4 crabs, and they were small.
Will
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: SlickWillie]
#2687331
09/30/08 01:56 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,271
Kyle46N
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,271 |
Put your crab traps/pots around rocky oyster encrusted areas. Crab populations are usually larger in these areas and more concentrated.
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: Kyle46N]
#2696659
10/02/08 10:36 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73
the4x4hoss
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Outdoorsman
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73 |
How would I go about finding these rocky oyster areas?
"born to fish, forced to work"
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: the4x4hoss]
#2711567
10/07/08 11:22 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,271
Kyle46N
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,271 |
Usually you can find oyster rakes/bars around sea walls, rocky rip rap, docks, and alot of times you will just see big oyster rakes. It would just be a matter of gettinng out and finding them. I don't have any specific areas, because I'm talking about how we used to do it in GA and FL. But blue crabs will follow the smae patterns anywhere on the gulf.
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: Kyle46N]
#2716034
10/09/08 11:24 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 712
PvilleAngler
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 712 |
There aren't nearly as many crabs now as they used to be. As a kid in the late 50's and early 60s we could go almost anywhere on the coast, drop out a dozen chicken necks on crab line weighted with spark plugs and net 50-100 huge crabs in a day. Compared to those days crabs are almost extinct now. And I think I know why.
A couple years ago I was boating up in the shallows in the north west side of Copano Bay and I could not believe how many crab traps were set out there. There were thousands of the things, set every 100 feet or so. The surface of the water was checker boarded with crab trap floats as far as I could see.
There are way too many commercial crabbers who take way to many crabs.
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: PvilleAngler]
#2719089
10/10/08 12:12 AM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73
the4x4hoss
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 73 |
Perhaps I shouldn't try my hand at crabbing since there is so much pressure on them.
"born to fish, forced to work"
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: the4x4hoss]
#2719681
10/10/08 10:09 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 712
PvilleAngler
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 712 |
Perhaps I shouldn't try my hand at crabbing since there is so much pressure on them. Go crabbing!!! You cannot possibly catch enough to make a difference. You are not the problem. The worst thing that could happen is you don't catch enough to make a meal. Also, crabs are very active when the water is warm. As it cools off they slow down. When the water temperature gets very cold they become dormant. The best crabbing is in July-Sept, the worst is Feb.
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: PvilleAngler]
#2720073
10/10/08 11:57 AM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,818
KrazyFish
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,818 |
WOW, I learn something new today.
Thank you for the education,
-=Stop teasing me or I'll put a hook in your upper lip=- -= FEAR NO FISH=- 
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Re: Crabbing
[Re: PvilleAngler]
#2723043
10/11/08 10:39 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 99
SlickWillie
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 99 |
There aren't nearly as many crabs now as they used to be. As a kid in the late 50's and early 60s we could go almost anywhere on the coast, drop out a dozen chicken necks on crab line weighted with spark plugs and net 50-100 huge crabs in a day. Compared to those days crabs are almost extinct now. And I think I know why.
A couple years ago I was boating up in the shallows in the north west side of Copano Bay and I could not believe how many crab traps were set out there. There were thousands of the things, set every 100 feet or so. The surface of the water was checker boarded with crab trap floats as far as I could see.
There are way too many commercial crabbers who take way to many crabs. Yep, I would agree with that. Seems a commercial license is good for 200 traps. I have seen those in Copano too. But, our state sure likes the money those licenses bring in. We have been catching crabs all year since living here. They go to deeper water as it cools. I have been told if the water gets to around 50 degrees, they burrow in the sand. We went over around Bayside the other day and caught 26 nice big blue crabs. Man, were they tasty.
Will
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