I love crabs! Boiled fresh crabs + beer = high. At the same time, I need quite a bit of beer, because. when you eat crabs, your hands practically do not reach the beer. Yes, and beer in large quantities will only kill the whole buzz from eating crabs. I have never understood people (mostly visitors) who look with disgust and disgust at crabs, mussels and other seafood. People themselves do not understand what they are losing because of their unreasonable disgust. All in all, we will talk today about crabs of the Black Sea.

Crabs of the Black Sea (in Crimea)
As far as I know, about 20 species of crabs live in the Black Sea. I am not a zoologist and I do not know all of them, not to mention the abstruse scientific names of crabs. Therefore, I base this article purely on personal experience.

Of all the Black Sea crabs, I single out only two types for myself - the mason and grass crab. By their names it is easy to guess about their habitats. Stonemasons are larger than grass crab, but, nevertheless, I like “grass” more both in taste and in the convenience of its “disassembly” - in the sense it is more convenient to eat grass crab. Although the mason crab has more meat, it has a very hard shell - it is not convenient to eat it without a hammer.

The rest of the crabs are of interest to me only as objects of the Black Sea fauna. The vast majority of them are too small to be boiled next to a bottle of cold beer. Although, sometimes I like to watch, diving in a mask and snorkel, for clumsy little purple crabs, which are enough among the stones. Or chase nimble sand crabs, deftly burrowing into the sand.

How to catch crabs.
Catching a crab is not at all difficult, you just need to know its habitats and some nuances. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to be able to dive in a mask, snorkel and fins. Now you will be convinced of it. So, consider the main ways of catching crabs:

1. We dive as a set.

This is a classic. We take a kit (mask, snorkel, fins) and go to the habitats of crabs - away from crowded beaches. Well, we begin to dive, looking under the rocks. It is near the stones that crabs most often hide. At the same time, grass crab, despite its name, is also most often found near stones. It's just that there is usually a lot of algae nearby. For the convenience of catching, I recommend putting on a pair of ordinary work gloves on your hand, after all, with their claws, crabs can damage unprotected skin to the point of blood. It is better to fold the catch into a net with a rim at the entrance - this is very convenient. The package is not the best option.

2. Catching crabs on a crab.

The simplest crab fishing is a metal rim on which a net is stretched (not stretched) with a rope tied to it. A fish, a piece of meat, a bone, etc. is tied to the net with wire. Crabs are cast from a pier or ship's side at a depth of several meters. You need to raise the crabs sharply, after waiting at least 20 minutes. By the way, they catch crayfish in the same way.

3. We just collect crabs.

So you can catch crabs in late spring and early summer. At this time, crabs approach the very shore, sometimes even crawling out onto land. The ideal time is early morning and evening. At the same time, there should be no wind, because because of the wave we will not see anything. Naturally, you can’t collect crabs so stupidly everywhere. But at the end of May, on Tarkhankut, I collected a couple of dozen crabs in an hour, wandering only knee-deep in water. In general, you need to know the places.

How to cook crabs.
Well, here everything is simple for me. I don't cook any gourmet crab dishes. I just throw the crabs into generously salted boiling water and cook for 10-15 minutes. That's the whole process. This is from mussels, it makes sense to cook certain dishes from rapana, and crab, as for me, should be eaten in a classic way - boiled and with cold beer.

Finally, a few recommendations:
- do not store crabs in the freezer (the meat dries out);
- in a cool, damp place, crabs live without water
about 3 days;
- when catching crabs, try to let the females go. There is still little meat in them, but in the future they will bring offspring;
- crabs suitable for food are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. So if you get caught hot, get ready for a hefty fine.
yourcrimea.org

Every person who finds himself on the seashore can engage in such an exciting activity as catching crabs. Their main habitat is rocky places. But the search for a crab on a sandy shore or the bottom of the sea may be fruitless.

How to catch crabs in the water?

To catch it, it is enough to go down into the sea to a depth of 1 meter. IN aquatic environment the crab does not hide from prying eyes and remains in sight. You also need to examine the bottom well, often these arthropods hide under stones.

Crab fishing is done with hands in special gloves, you only need to purchase necessary inventory- a mask with a tube and a net. You also need to take care of a special container where the catch will be added. Its lid must allow air to enter, otherwise the crabs may suffocate. The walls of the container must be smooth so that the crabs cannot get out.

Crab fishing on the shore

This method is quite simple. Fishing is done by looking for crab under large stones, but it is better to look for prey among small stones that can be lifted alone.

The favorite place of these arthropods are crevices in the rocks. You can fish them out with fish or shrimp bait. To do this, you need to take a stick and fasten the wire to it, on which the bait is strung. After that, the wire is thrown to the crab's shelter and when it clings to a piece of fish, you need to quickly pull it out.

How to take crab?

The crab has very tenacious claws that can cause quite noticeable pain. So he needs to be distracted. To do this, with one hand you need to move in front of the crab, and with the other - press its shell to the ground or bottom. Then his body is wrapped around his hand directly behind the claws so that the crab does not have the opportunity to pinch it.

You can use for catching crabs special durable gloves. Net fishing is the safest method, but remember that using nets or large nets is poaching.

You can also make a special device for catching crab. To do this, cut off from a large plastic bottle top part. Having found the prey, it is covered with this device and squeezed from the sides. The claws remain outside and do not pose a danger. Then it remains to shift the crab into a special container.

If you decide to fish for crabs, then fresh or spoiled fish with a smell is used as bait when fishing with a rod. You can use it separately, putting it in a special trap.

And clearly, about how these arthropods are caught, this video story will tell:

Israeli seas, reservoirs are rich in these crustaceans. However, not everyone knows where you can find this bait and how to hook it correctly.

In this article, you will learn not only about how to catch crabs, but also the secrets of planting on and a lot of interesting and useful information about these ancient inhabitants of flora and fauna.

1. General information

Crabs or crayfish have been known since the Jurassic period. Representatives of antiquity have a small head, a short belly and a wide shell. Two large claws are used for walking. The difference between females and males is the presence of the first 4 abdominal limbs, and the male invertebrates have only 2 of them. They move quickly and sideways.

1.1 Habitats

Seashore, freshwater near the coastline and dry land. Crabs hide among reefs, shells and rocks.

1.2 What do crabs eat

The diet consists of invertebrates and detritus.

1.3 When can you catch a crab

Morning or evening hours are the most productive for catching this bait, since at this time of the day the crabs are the most active.

2. How to catch crabs

Ways to catch crabs:

• impaling on a barbecue skewer;
• landing net;
• hands (if there is a good reaction);
• with the help of a rope (twine), to the end of which tie the bait and wait for the crab to grab it;
• Crab fishing in water at a depth of up to 1 m under rocks and in other reef areas;
• spinning (some types of crabs are caught, for example in Israel) or a 3 m telescopic rod, with a float, weight and.
• for catching crabs, a grate from an old fan is also suitable, on the center of which the bait is placed;
• homemade crabs.

You can find some types of traps (crab catchers) used by fishermen to catch crab at http://fishtv.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/rakolovka-otrikatya.jpg

A short video on how to use crabs

An interesting video on how to make a crab catcher yourself at home from a plastic bottle

The danger of a crab is in its claws, which can cause significant damage. In order to take it correctly, you need to move it with one hand in front of the prey, thereby distracting it, and with the other - firmly press the shell to the ground (or the seabed). Then, with your free hand, grab both claws to immobilize them.

Types of baits for crab:

• turkey leg;
• spoiled pieces of fish;
• pieces of fresh fish;
• shellfish ( , );
• fresh meat (for example, either).

You can find other unique ways of catching this bait at

3. Methods for hooking crabs

When equipping the rod with a sinker, meter (diameter up to 0.4 mm) and, use the shell of a small crab (without claws), which is hooked to these hooks at the back.

Torn off claws of a crustacean can be used as a by hanging them on.

You need to twist the legs of the crab by twisting and hook the hook in the twisted place on the meat, so the bait will sit securely on the hook.

Large fish are caught on pieces of crab meat. The hook must be passed through the holes left after the removal of the legs.

Crabs of not large sizes are planted whole.

A good bait is a crab without a shell. In Israel, such a crab is called "soft". It can be easily found among algae and stones.

4. What kind of fish can be caught with bait in the Mediterranean

The meat of this crustacean is successfully pecked at:

• flounder;
• sea ​​burbot;
• goby.

Small crab is used when catching gobies.

Types of gear used: float or bottom rod.

5. Ways to use crab for fishing as bait

As a rule, crab meat, tentacles or the whole crab is used, provided it is small in size. The bait is used both fresh and frozen. In a different form, the crab is not used.

6. How to save crab for fishing

• for the preservation of crab meat and its density, so that it is more reliable on the hook, it is salted in a jar;
• raw crustacean meat should be stored in a refrigerator or other cool place for no more than 4 days;
• live individuals are stored in a shady place in a container (box) with wet algae;
• for short-term storage, a bucket with sea water and a small amount of algal vegetation is suitable, where to place the bait and cover with a towel (rag) soaked in sea water. The bucket should be in a cool place;
• for long-term storage, the bait is frozen.

7. Useful tips for using crab as bait for sea fishing

• do not use boiled crab as bait, as its meat does not hold well on the hook and is quickly taken away by small fish;
• when catching bait, it is imperative to use protective gloves to prevent injury from tentacles;
• use only sharp hooks with a long shank (for small crabs), and large individuals are put on hooks with a short shank with a bent hook to the side;
• with a dense shell, the bait is cleaned, and with a soft one, they are put on a hook with a shell;
• in the absence of the possibility of purchase or self-production, you can use canned crabs with a rich aroma, but this bait does not differ in its strength;
• when storing crabs while fishing in a bucket, you should beware of seagulls, as these birds hunt them;
• shelf life of fresh crab - no more than 24 hours.

8. Where to get or buy crabs for fishing in Israel

If it is not possible to obtain this species bait, then you should use the services of online stores.

Before fishing, bait can be purchased at (buy from fishermen, for example, the port in Yafo and Akko)

On one of the most popular Israeli fishing forums, you can find a list of all Israeli fishing bait shops, http://www.israfish.com/WebFish/Shopping/IsraelShops.htm

In Mediterranean waters, one of the unique species of crab called "Scyllarides latus" or "cigal, cigalit", which means purple, is dying out. It is interesting because it does not have a shell, and the meat of this crustacean is very tasty and is a delicacy in Israeli restaurants.

In Israel, this kind is found.

The difference between a female crab and a male: in females, the abdomen is much wider than in males, because they bear future offspring there.

During maturation, the crab changes its shell to a more durable one. At the right time, the crustacean takes in water and swells, from such pressure the old shell bursts. For several days, the crab is in hiding and builds up new protection.

The type of crab as "marble" is called a spider, for the presence of hairs on its legs.

Not all crabs are able to bite, for example, sand crabs are absolutely harmless.

10. Useful materials about crab

http://forum.israfish.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=8646 - Israeli anglers' notes about crab on one of Israel's most popular fishing forums;

— Article about bait for sea ​​fishing;

— Article about interesting facts about crabs;

- An interesting article about the methods of catching crabs;

— Detailed description about where to catch crabs and how to do it;

Catching crabs is a very interesting and exciting activity. Every experienced fisherman or ordinary tourist can easily catch a crab if he has at least a small idea of ​​\u200b\u200bhow to do it and what methods are best used.

This article will describe the most famous and effective ways catching crabs, as well as some types of crabs that are allowed to be caught by any person who comes to the sea and decides to do this business.

How to catch crabs?

Before you start catching crabs, you first need to figure out where they live:

1. Crabs love deserted places. Basically, these are cracks in reefs that provide protection for crabs that have climbed there.
2. Another habitat for crabs is rocks. There they can hide in small minks from a noisy crowd of tourists.
3. Under water, the crab can hide under the bottom stone.
4. If the crab hid in the sand, then it will not be easy to catch him, and the more the tourist digs a hole where the crab hid, the less likely it will be to catch it.

Crab hunters practice many ways to catch them.

Here are some of them:

Catching crabs in the water

To catch it, you need to purchase equipment for underwater fishing. As a rule, this is a mask with a snorkel, fins and a cage.. And so that crabs can be collected for soup or frying, it is worth using a container with a mesh so that in it he can feel normal and not suffocate.

When a crab hides under a stone, it is best to catch it where you can lift the stone alone. And if he hides in a rock or in the crevices of reefs, the most The best way to lure him out is to tie a shrimp or a piece of fish to a pole or stick with a hook, and when the crab grabs the bait, you need to sharply pull out the stick with the clinging crab.

The easiest way

To prevent the crab from harming the hunter who decided to catch it, you can use the easiest way to catch improvised means. To do this, you can use the usual plastic bottle, in which you need to cut off the neck by 30 centimeters.

This neck should cover the crab, which is hiding under a stone. If the crab turned out to be small and got into the crab catcher, you should pinch the bottom in such a way as to block the exit of the arthropod.

How to catch more fish?

I have been active fishing for quite some time and have found many ways to improve the bite. And here are the most effective ones:

1. . Attracts fish in cold and warm water with the help of pheromones included in the composition and stimulates their appetite. It is a pity that Rosprirodnadzor wants to ban its sale.
2. More sensitive gear. Reviews and instructions for other types of gear you can find on the pages of my site.
3. Lures using pheromones.

You can get the rest of the secrets of successful fishing for free by reading my other materials on the site.

Catching crabs with a pot

In order to catch a crab in a pot, you must perform the following steps:

Equipment

Before going on a crab hunt, a tourist or an experienced angler must have with him:

1. net;
2. gloves for catching crabs, and those that he cannot bite through;
3. pot;
4. a container where you will have to put the caught arthropods.

The pot itself looks like a square wire trap. A bait is placed inside, which the crab cannot reach, as well as an entrance so that he can go in for the bait.

If the crab hunter is going to catch heavy prey, then you need to keep in mind that in this case the pot will need to be large and with compartments where the caught crabs will move. Accordingly, the pot will be heavy, so not every lover will be able to handle it.

But for an experienced hunter, this will be an exciting experience.

Bait

Frozen fish are commonly used as bait, as well as chicken necks and bull lips.

Permit to fish for crabs

Fishing for crabs is not allowed everywhere. Some places have licenses to ban crabs, and to avoid a fine, it's best to check with the coast guard about allowing arthropod trapping.

Place of fishing

As a rule, crabs like salty sea ​​water, are often in standing water, bays and on land. In such places, the most suitable method of catching crabs is with a pot.

Leave the pot overnight

Since crabs rarely appear during the day, the most best time to catch them after dusk. You need to mark your pot with a marker, attach it with a brick, and pick up the caught prey the next morning.

Harvesting

In the morning, you should evenly pull your pot out of the sea with caught crabs so that they cannot scatter. You need to get them out of the trap by the hind legs so that the crab cannot bite its offender. Then they should be placed in a container with ice.

Catching crabs with a trot

When using a crab trot it is important to know where and when to use it. It consists of a line that is attached to a buoy along with crab bait. The process is laborious, but it can catch a lot of prey.

1. Installation. It is best to do this in the morning. When the crabs are still active. You need to put it not at the very bottom, but a little higher.
2. Collection. To catch as much prey as possible, you will need a boat and two buoys with 5 lines. The line can move in connection with the waves, so you should hold it with an anchor weighing 5 kilograms. You need to collect crabs with a stick, which will need to be connected to the line, as well as a hook to pull the line from below. You need to pull out the prey smoothly.
3. line preparation. To do this, you need to tie the bait to the line using clamps and reins. As a bait, a shrimp or a piece of any fish is suitable.
4. Line drop. The process is not as simple as it seems at first. Using a boat, there is a chance to catch other lines that are prepared for crabbing. Therefore, you will need the help of a friend who will guide the boat while his accomplice lowers the line into the water.
5. Pull the line up. There will be a roller in the boat, which will need to be pulled at a 30 degree angle so that the line is taut. It is important that the shadow does not fall on the line, otherwise all the crabs will scatter.
6. Throw a line. Every morning it is worth repeating the same process with the line, namely: pull the bait to the surface, check if it is in place. And then lower the line under the water.
7. Equipment safety.

• store in the freezer;
• use a salt solution.

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Using the line throw method

This is a very simple method, and in order to apply it, you need to follow the basic rules:

• Collection of equipment. First you need to throw the line so that later you can get it. Fix the bait on the line and lower it to the bottom. Use net for fishing.
• Anchor lines from below. This is done so that the crab can cling to the bait, and then it will be known that he was caught.
• Line guidance. The caught crab must be handled carefully. To make him less nervous. It is important to pay attention to the flow.
• Catch. Caught marine animals should be placed in a portable refrigerator with ice to make the crab lethargic. It is best to take caught arthropods with special tongs.

The process of catching crabs on the beach is just as exciting as in the water.

To properly catch crabs on land, the main thing is to follow simple rules:

• 1 rule. Walk to the beach. On beaches, crabs like to hide under small rocks. You need to have a bucket with you, where the caught arthropods and a glove or tongs will then be placed.
• 2 rule. Search for suitable stones. As a rule, large crabs choose larger stones, and small crabs choose small stones.
• 3 rule. Survey of tidal waters. During high tide, crabs can be carried close to the shore, into small puddles. Where will they look for food.
• 4 rule. Bucket for crabs. The bucket must be filled with water to a third of its volume and put some coastal sand there. You can watch him burrow into the sand.

Retrieve from the depths by diving in a mask with a snorkel and fins

The most practiced way of catching crabs is diving into the depths in a mask with a pipe and fins. But before catching crabs. First you need to learn how to dive underwater. Since crabs do not like noisy beach places, you should look for them at a depth under the rocks.

The catch should be collected with a thick glove that the crab cannot bite into in a special cage - a prison for crabs. Everything will have to be done quickly, otherwise the catch will go away, because water is its usual habitat.

The crab should be made of a metal rim, on which a mesh or wire is stretched.. There should be a bait inside that the crab will not reach when it falls into the trap. As bait, you can take a piece of eel or shrimp.

This trap should be lowered into the water with a rope to a depth of several meters. After half an hour, if there are crabs in the place where the crab catcher was lowered, the catch will be guaranteed.

To accurately catch crabs, you need to go on a boat away from crowded places and look for pitfalls in the depths, where crabs usually live. And if there are arthropods in the evening, you can cook a good crab soup.

Catching crabs with your hands

This is best done near the shore near reefs or under large rocks where crabs can crawl. If there are no waves, then the crab can be caught easily. The best time for such fishing is either in the morning or at dusk.

There are two ways to catch crabs with bare hands:

• 1 way. If a tourist or a professional decides to catch crabs alone, you will need a folding knife. Having found the hiding place of the arthropod, you must first put a knife in its direction so that it grabs the blade, then you can safely throw it up or pull it out. You can also press down the crab shell with a knife, and then grab it sharply by the hind legs so that the claws do not hurt your hand.
• 2 way. You can do this with a partner or wife. While one throws a crab from the bottom with a knife, the other catches it with a net. By the evening you will have a good dinner.

Crab species

There are about 50 types of crabs, but not all of them are edible.

For example, in the territory Russian Federation The most suitable types of crabs for food are:

• stone crab(reaches sizes up to 10-12 centimeters, the color is brown, but more often depends on the color of the stones, the claws are powerful, but move slowly);
• grass crab(small size, weak claws, but runs fast, green shell, habitat: grass thickets, algae);
• king crab(has a length of up to 25 centimeters, the color is brownish-purple above, and white below, more like a hermit of the crab family).

It is the largest representative of the Black Sea coast. It lives among stones, rocks and reefs, looking for shelter there. Unlike other types of crabs, it is not a scavenger, but rather a predator.

With its powerful claws, it can crush the shell of a snail or split a small fish in half, so it will always find food without problems. It can be found both on the shore under the stones, and at a depth. It has tasty meat, therefore it is the main prey of crab hunters.

If an unlucky tourist decided to catch such a crab without special equipment with his bare hands and the crab grabbed his hand, all that remains is to tear off the crab's claw, otherwise he will keep his finger in a stranglehold.

grass crab

It is not as dangerous as the stone due to its weak claws. It is not found at great depths, because he has taken a liking to grassy areas. Moves sideways and at high speed.

In the hands of a person quickly becomes tame. It feeds on shrimp and small fish. It belongs to the scavengers, as it consumes the dead inhabitants of the marine fauna.

However, grass crab is the prey of mollusks, rapans, sharks, rays and other sea species that will happily taste its meat.

As a rule, crabs should be caught in the sea. They can live at a meter depth and only in those places where there are stones. When the tide begins to ebb, stones with crabs are shown to the eyes of a person, and then it becomes easier to catch them. If someone dares to catch crabs right in the sea, then you will need special equipment.

In the sea, a crab is less likely to hide than on land.

To catch a crab hiding in a rock cave or under a stone, follow these steps:

1. Find a long stick;
2. Attach wire to the stick;
3. Put a bait in the form of a piece of fish on the wire;
4. When the crab grabs the bait with its claws, it must be sharply pulled out and caught by the paws. So that powerful pincers do not hurt the hand.

In order to catch a crab at a depth of 5 meters, you need to have a mask with a snorkel and a thick glove with which you need to grab this marine animal. Or, when catching crabs at a depth, use a net and a container where the caught crabs will be collected.

Can you catch crabs?

Before you start catching crabs, you should definitely ask about the permission to catch them. For example, in some regions of the Russian Federation there are bans on catching crabs, especially during their spawning season.

In other places, you first need to get a license, and only then start hunting for crabs.

And catching some types of crabs is generally listed in the Red Book, so a ban on their hunting can be limited not only to a huge fine, but also to a prison term.

If the crab is incubating eggs, then it should be left alone, because the females are expecting new cubs, and they especially should not be touched.

1. Crab hunting requires a lot physical activity Therefore, such work is considered the work of youth.
2. When catching crabs, you need to have equipment, as well as special equipment with which you can get a good catch.
3. Properly setting traps will ensure not only a large catch, but also the profit that can be made from this activity.
4. If a tourist decides to hunt for crabs, then the safest way to hunt will be photo hunting.

Summing up, we can say that catching crabs is an interesting activity. Someone can hunt them for pleasure, and someone for profit. There are many ways to catch crabs, and each person can choose for himself the easiest and most effortless.

Those who want to fully immerse themselves in this activity will find even more amazing things in this hunt, especially night fishing.

But most importantly, you can cook a delicious lunch or dinner from crabs, which will become a symbol of a busy day.

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A good catch can be achieved (and we know this) thanks to good bait.

It can be prepared at home, you can buy it in fishing stores. But it is expensive in stores, and to prepare bait at home, you need to spend a lot of time, and, to be honest, homemade bait does not always work well.

Do you know that disappointment when you bought bait or cooked it at home, and caught three or four bass?

So maybe it's time to use a really working product, the effectiveness of which has been proven both scientifically and in practice on the rivers and ponds of Russia?

It gives the very result that we cannot achieve on our own, all the more, it is cheap, which distinguishes it from other means and there is no need to spend time on manufacturing - ordered, brought and go!

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Learn more about bait!

Whether you're looking for crabs on the beach for fun, or want to collect some crabs to eat, you're in luck! There are many different methods in catching crabs, which range from the simple (looking at the beach, or using your hand) to the more complex (throttle, or using a crab pot). To start catching crabs see step 1!

Steps

Catching crabs with a pot

1. Take the appropriate crab equipment. Crab anglers who use a crab pot should have a dive net for catching wandering crabs, thick crab gloves, a crab pot to help remove crabs from the net, and a container to store the caught crabs.

   • The crab pot is a large square trap that is made of wire (usually some sort of wire mesh). There is an entrance (so-called "throat") where the crabs enter the trap to get the bait, which is designed in such a way that they cannot access it. The crabs are then trapped in the pot and you must pull the pot back to the surface with your prey.
   • Depending on the area you are in, you need to figure out if you need a light pot or a heavier one. For example: Puget Sound, most areas have light crabs, but in a few areas, due to tidal currents and strong wave action, heavier pots will be required. If you're a sport angler, you generally don't want to use commercial crab pots that seem to weigh 75-150 pounds. (athletes use pots, typically 10 to 20 pounds).
   • The stick helps to remove the crabs from the net or pot. You can make your own by cutting a 5 inch piece of wood.
   • Use a bushel wooden basket as a storage container, but you can also use a cooler. You must ensure that you keep the crabs alive until there is time to eat them and store them in an appropriate container with ice. Put the ice in the container bag and place the crabs on it. After that, they are easier to handle when it's time to cook.

2. Take the right bait. There are tons various kinds baits used by professional and sport anglers. You'll have to experiment to see what works best for you, but chicken necks are popular because the crabs seem to love them.

   • You can use frozen fish as it tends to break apart faster than fresh fish and is more attractive to crabs.
   • Crabs will eat any raw meat, you can also try some other types, commercial crab anglers say: eel (this is one of the best commercial crab baits, but the price is high because it is a delicacy in Europe and Asia); bull lips (durable, inexpensive, and crabs seem to love it); Menhaden, a type of forage fish, decomposes very quickly when frozen, so if you leave the pots for a while, you can use fresh menhaden.

3. Be aware of restrictions in your area. Each area has different restrictions on how many crabs you can catch, what licenses you need, and the allowable size for the crabs you catch. Go to the nearest port and talk to the harbor captain, or the local department for fishing and hunting.

   • There are certain types of crabs that you should look out for when you catch and some you will have to throw away if you get them in your crab pot. Again, this will depend entirely on your area. For example: if you fish for crabs on the East Coast of the United States, you should fish for Blue Crabs. If you are catching green crabs or spider crab, you need to release it as these types of crabs are not edible.
   • There is also a rule laws in place protecting crabs with eggs, as they have to breed a population of crabs. If you catch a crab with an egg, make sure you release it.
   • Dispose of any dead crabs you catch. You don't know how long they've been dead, you don't want to eat them. Stick to keeping your crabs alive until it's time to put them in the pot.

4. Choose the right place. There are certain places where crabs are more numerous. Crabs are found in salt water, not fresh water, especially still water. This type of water can be found in bays, oceans, and still sea water.

   • Again, there is a difference depending on the different areas and different types of crabs. Depending on what you are trying to catch, you should put your pot in right place and at the correct depth. For example: a lot of people fish for crabs from piers, so crabs often surface around underwater structures.
   • The rule to remember is that crab pots should be set 20 to 150 feet in the water, below the lowest tide line (so the pot doesn't come out of the water when the tide goes out).

5. Leave the pot overnight. Leave the pots overnight because crabs are nocturnal and during this time they wander in search of food. Make sure you label your pot correctly so you can find it again and so no boats can take it.

   • You must anchor your buoy so that it stays more or less in the same place. Attach the anchor about 2 to 3 feet below the buoy that holds the line in the water so as not to be cut off by the boat's propeller. People usually use a brick or metal rod as an anchor.
   • The rules dictate that the buoy marker must be red or white and have its name and address and telephone number. Only one person's name should be on the buoy.

6. Take the crabs out of the pot. Once you've left the trap overnight, it's time to check the pots for crabs. Usually pull the trap evenly, this is important so that the crabs do not slip out.

   • Pull the crab out of the trap. Hold the crab properly once you have brought the trap to the surface of the water. Grab the crab by its hind legs so that it cannot pinch you.
   • Place live crabs in a container with ice. They will be there until you return to shore. It is better to eat crabs within 24 hours.