Crabbing Tips

[lhcalvin]

I have not had much luck in the past couple of years. What is the best bait to use? Turkey? Salmon carcass? Also, any good tips on where to drop a pot or two?
Thanks!

[SomeSailor]

Salmon carcasses by far. Chicken / turkey parts a close second. Fresher the better. Crabs are predators first and scavengers last. Fresh bait (not that stinky stuff works better. Best bet for you is to run north up to Gedney Island (Hat Island) and crab the Northwest corner of the island (the Camano side). At the very edge of the 40-50 foot water you'll have good luck there.

Another good spot is the Steamboat Slough obstruction marker in front of Everett. Have never had any luck around Edmonds or even along the Mukilteo waterfront, but just north of there is really good.

Also, try to set your traps at the very last of an outgoing tide. The bigger crabs will move back in as the flood starts and be looking for mussels and such that didn't make it in the dry tide flats. If you can find a 40-50 foot shelf, in between the flats and a deep drop off, the crabs will congregate there during the slack low tides. They hide from predators and to avoid getting caught in the dry.

From the docks and ferry landings your can sometimes see them walking along the bottom headed in after the tide turns. Pretty interesting behavior.

[linedog]

I stop by the store and get a pack of chicken legs. Cheap and easy to stuff into a bait box or zip tie to the trap.

[SomeSailor]

I had a guy few years back that was crabbing alongside us and just KILLING the crabs. He was to the point of overflowing on all his pulls.

I pulled up alonside to watch and saw his bait had feathers! I asked him where he got that and he said "in the yard this morning". :)

He had a whole fresh chicken in each trap.