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