Blue Crabbing

So here's what you use.  A simple net with 2 hoops. 

You tie raw chicken parts into the middle of the net as bait.  You simply lower the apparatus into the water.  When it hits the bottom, the whole thing flattens out making the bait available to predators, like for instance crabs.  You let it sit on the bottom for maybe 5 minutes and then you pull it up to see if you can go home for supper yet.  The weigh helps keep the net shaped properly to keep the crabs in on the way up. 

I've make a couple of modifications to the basic apparatus.  The support strings have been replaced with 45 pound fishing line, in case I get a real monster, not really, just to make it more durable.  Instead of tying the bait to the bottom, I use a large clasp to reduce the need to handle raw chicken parts that have been sitting in the blazing sun.

You don't need a license unless you're crabbing from a boat.  The total cost of one of these rigs, modifications included is about $7.00.  They sell more expensive metal ones, but I've already lost 2 getting stuck on the bottom or wrapped around piers, so I'll stick with the cheap ones that get lost at exactly the same rate.

I'm no expert yet, but it's already pretty clear that they move with the tides so are most active when the tide is in transition and flowing.  At high tide they come up into the grasses and at low tide they retreat back into deeper water.  They're not very smart animals, so if they manage to escape the net on the first try don't worry, they have no way to avoid coming right back to the bait.  Not only that, they have a hard time eating it so they sit there a long time.

These crabs are petty small compared to the Dungeness crab that we're used to seeing.  You can keep a 5 inch crab.  You need about 4 per person to make a decent meal and then you better still have lots of side dishes.  The meat is incredible sweet though, well worth the effort.

The first one that I got taught me all the respect that I need.  While small, these guys have incredibly sharp claws and are very fast.  You can see that the crab was able to cut right through my finger nail.  I immediately went out and bought the crab handling tongs that I didn't understand the need for the other day.

Here is a male crab (Jimmy).  You can tell the difference by the shape of the "apron" on the bottom of the shell.  The females have a much broader one.

Here is a female crab.  A local favorite is she crab soup which is made with female crabs which don't taste different than males, but they use the roe as well which apparently adds flavor. 

Notice the red tipped claws. This is another sign of a female.  It's called finger nail polish.

These puffer fish also like the bait, sometimes they get trapped in the net too.  When they think they're in trouble they puff themselves up like this.  This guys knows he's in deep doodoo.

I stepped on this guy to see what would happen.  He held my entire weight.

This shot for perspective

Time for supper

I haven't figured out how to make the audio work reliably yet.

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