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Welcome to
Crab and Crabbing Online Tips, Cooking and Catching. A
complete Crab Catching and Crab cooking resource. |
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Crab Pots |
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Can be purchased or rigged of netting or
mesh over an iron frame which has one or two
“tunnels” (funnel shaped openings) for the
entry of crabs. A trigger device prevents
the crabs from escaping back through the
tunnels, though state regulations require an
escape hatch bound with a biodegradable cord
which will rot away and allow the crab to
escape if the pot is lost. Light weight pots
suitable for sport use can be satisfactory
in the Puget Sound area, but are not
adequate to oceans and coastal bays. The
pots are set in water depths of 20–150 feet
and marked by a line buoy, often a plastic
jug or styrofoam block, which must be
identified with the crabber's name and
address. Sport pots are generally baited
with herring, rockfish carcasses, salmon
heads, or clams. They are usually checked
daily, but may be left for several days. See
the official “Sport Fishing Rules” for
specific gear rules for crab pots. |
Ring Nets |
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A basket made of two iron hoops and
cotton or nylon mesh. The upper hoop is
larger in diameter than the lower one and
allows the net to lie flat when the device
is lowered to the bottom. Bait is tied to
the bottom, and the crab has easy access to
it while the net is flat. When the device is
hauled rapidly to the surface, it forms a
basket in which the crabs are temporarily
trapped. These nets must be tended quite
frequently as nothing keeps the crab in them
except its desire for the bait. These
devices are in declining use. |
Long-handled Dip Nets From Boats |
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Involves cruising slowly over sand flats
and eel-grass beds where crabs are found and
dipping them with a wire and frame scoop
attached to a long pole. This can be a
productive method at low tide during calm
weather. |
Wading with Short Handled Dip Nets |
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The crabber wades though lagoons or
shallow waters at low tide searching for
crabs. The wader usually tows a tub or gunny
sack to hold the catch so that both hands
will be free to use the net. |
Hook and Line |
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Not a common method of taking the
Dungeness Crab, except at the mouth of the
Dungeness River in early fall. Sometimes,
however, crabs take bait intended for fish
and are landed by the fisherman either
intentionally or because the crab becomes
tangled in the line. |
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"Crab Pots" by Scott Edwards copyright 2004
http://www.scottedwardsimages.com/crabpots.htm |
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