Catching Crabs
Catching Crabs For Fun And Profit
Many youngsters first experienced catching crabs when searching for them in tidal pools. Some times the little crabs could be seen scurrying along the bottom, other times they would be found hiding under rocks or pebbles. Catching them involved little danger, except maybe for the crab, as they tended to be about thumbnail in size and were incapable of giving a large pinch. It was always fun to put a few in a jar of salt water to keep as "pets" although it was not always understood why they would die rather quickly when that was the case.
Eventually, a lesson was learned when trying to pick up a crab that might have a shell 2 or 3 inches wide, and getting a sharp and somewhat painful pinch as a reward. It then became obvious if one were to try catching crabs large enough to eat, a certain amount of caution and a certain amount of technique was necessary.
Catching crabs, or "crabbing" as it is usually called, is a great outdoor and family experience. The only requirements, besides there being crabs available and within reach, is that there needs to be a facility handy for cooking them right after the catch, or some means of keeping them alive until it's time for the cooking pot, not always an easy task. When a crab dies, the flesh starts to spoil almost immediately, and once that happens it can become dangerous to eat.
Family Crabbing - Family crabbing usually involves catching crabs in shallow coastal waters, shallow enough to wade in, but still 2 or 3 feet deep, if one expects to find any crabs. It's generally safe to wade, even barefoot, where crabs are present, as they aren't particularly aggressive creatures, but still could nip if you get too close.
Crabs can either be scooped up with a net, an approached favored by many, or picked up by hand, a good way to catch them if you know what you're doing. Crabs can swim and crawl fairly fast, and if you're trying to pick them up by hand you usually need to be somewhat quick, Sometimes the crab is quicker, and you get a painful pinch for your efforts. An eating-sized crab can pinch hard enough to draw blood, plus there is always a risk of infection. If attempting to harvest them by hand, it’s a good idea to have a stick or rake with which to hold the crab down, gently, while you pick it up from behind its legs. Do that, and the claws can't reach your fingers.
Pier Fishing - Crabs can also be caught from a pier, usually a good location, as crabs, like fish, tend to gather under and around piers. This method usually involves a fishing pole, a "wad” of bait, large enough for a crab to hang onto, and a long-handled net. Once a crab grabs the bait, it is lifted slowly through the water, and scooped up just before it breaks the surface, at which point it will usually let go.
Crab Traps - Another method of catching crabs is by using a crab trap. A crab trap is an enclosure, usually having a steel frame and a heavy steel mesh. Some have a single chamber, others have two, but the design is such that it is easier for a crab to enter than to leave. Bait is placed in the trap, and it is lowered into the water. A crab trap needs to be in deep enough water so it won't be exposed during low tides. Crap traps are typically checked daily, with the day's catch being harvested, and additional bait added. Crab bait can consist of most any type of meat. Poultry seems to work best, although poultry is not a crab's usual fare. But being a scavenger, a crab will seek anything that smells good. Some build their own crab traps, others purchase them. A commercial crab trap can cost in the neighborhood of $100. Many states have regulations requiring that traps be designed in such a way that juvenile crabs, under 4" or so in size, can easily escape. In general, juvenile crabs need to be released, and at times female crabs need to be released as well.