hard backed crabs

i know use can use small ones for bait, but would the meat from a large one be as good as a peeler, provided you could secure it the the hook?

id say it probably would, but you dont see much meat inside em!!!!

Crabs produce extra scent when they are peeling - the fish are attracted to this. I am sure fish do eat hard crabs - the guts of the cod I have caught this year confirm that - but they may be harder to find or less desirable than peelers - wrasse excepted.
:D

they most certainly work for different species, their is nit much meat
as said already, but remove all the inards, use the lungs everything,
use plenty of bait elastic , a good sized hardback will make 2or3 good
baits, work great for flouder and all the flatfish family, and bass as well
not for blasting out of site, strictly close in due to fragilty of the bait.

all the best .

sound, will give it a go next time i haul in a decent size one