| If the fish aren't biting or you want a | | | | either hold them from behind or hold them |
| change from fishing then why not try | | | | just below their pincers (holding from behind |
| crabbing? Crabs are delicious, easy to cook | | | | is the easiest). |
| and great fun to catch. Below are 9 crabbing | | | | |
| tips to help you catch some delicious crabs. | | | | 6) On the car trip home, pick up some ice to |
| | | | make an ice slurry. Crabs will keep best in |
| 1) Target areas where crabs are located. | | | | an ice slurry. It is also the preferred |
| Estuaries, rIvers, inlets and bays are all | | | | ethical way to treat crabs as they go into a |
| prime places to hunt for crabs. | | | | paralized numb state from the ice. When |
| | | | cooking remove immediately from the ice |
| 2) Choose which method you are going to | | | | slurry and place gently into the boiling |
| employ to catch the crabs. Using drop nets | | | | water. Make sure the water is boiling rapidly |
| works well but is best from a boat. It can | | | | otherwise the crab will take longer to die. |
| work from a jetty or pier but is less | | | | Place the crab gently into the water to avoid |
| reliable this way. Using scoop nets on the | | | | boiling water splashing up onto your body. |
| water edge is fun but the crabs you get will | | | | |
| often be undersized. Diving for crabs is both | | | | 7) If you plan on using drop nets you should |
| fun and exhilarating but requires a bit of | | | | always get the best nets you can find. There |
| skill and patience. | | | | are basically two sorts. The cheaper versions |
| | | | are made entirely of string netting. The |
| 3) As with fishing you need to choose the | | | | better versions have a chicken wire base. The |
| right time of day to go crabbing. Crabs feed | | | | chicken wire nets are only slightly more |
| first thing in the morning or in the evening | | | | expensive but get far less tangles, are a lot |
| at sunset. Crabbing in the middle of the day | | | | easier to use and are more sturdy. Also |
| is likely to produce no results. | | | | remember with drop nets to retrieve the rope |
| | | | rapidly. If you go slow the crabs are likely |
| 4) Carry the right equipment to catch crabs | | | | to jump out. |
| with. If you are using drop nets you will | | | | |
| need long lengths of rope attached to each | | | | 8) If scooping crabs, try to approach with |
| net. You will also need bait, bait hooks and | | | | the scoop from the sides. Crabs will often |
| sinkers attached to the nets. If you are | | | | evade you by swimming either to their left or |
| scooping crabs, you need a scoop, a good pair | | | | their right. So pick a side and approach with |
| of water shoes, a container with rope | | | | the scoop from there. If you try to scoop |
| attached that can float to place your crabs | | | | from front to back or from back to front they |
| in and a towel to cover the crabs you have | | | | will get away nine times out of ten. |
| caught. If diving for crabs you will need a | | | | |
| wetsuit, snorkel and mask, and a thick glove. | | | | 9) If diving from crabs try to approach from |
| With all methods of crabbing you will also | | | | behind. If you can, try to surprise them as |
| need to carry a sizing guide (usually a small | | | | if you approach from the front you are sure |
| metal bar) so you can measure the crabs to | | | | to get pinched! |
| ensure legal sizes are taken. | | | | |
| | | | Crabbing is a great alternative to fishing |
| 5) Crabs will always try to pinch you so | | | | and is a lot of fun. Crabs also taste great |
| always be on guard. Thick clothing is good | | | | and can be quite a challenge to catch. So why |
| but is not always practical. The best way to | | | | not use these tips and start catching some |
| avoid getting pinched is to stay vigilant. | | | | crabs today? |
| Try to pick crabs up from behind. You can | | | | |