Best way to beat the crabs ?!

Having fished some great looking venues this last few months, I am becoming more and more frustrated with crabs ravaging the baits.

I fished an estuary yesterday evening and the crabs had the hooks stripped within minutes of each cast :evil:

Its a shame to spend so much cash on bait and put in all that time to only be giving the crabs a free dinner, so was wondering what your top tips may be to give the fish a better chance of getting to the bait.

Is there a spray or liquid that the baits can be soaked in that will put off the crabs but leave the fish interested :idea: :?:

I know of floating beads but this may lead to additional problems if there is lots of weed around and had considered using some of the Berkley gulp baits, but what other methods may prove successful?



Any help gratefully received.

I read in some magazine years back that using a wire boom was a good way of keeping the crabs away, something to do with the wire having a small electrical charge that scared the bejaysus out of the little feckers, so tried it, it didn't work....

or else the crabs were wearing insulated suits :-)

Probably the only way to beat the crabs is use peeler crab as bait.

Youghal Bay is plagued with them - they can strip a hook bare in minutes no matter what bait you use and no matter how much bait elastic you use, apart from peeler - although they will eventually eat that too if you leave it out long enough.

Crabs are a lot more active during the summer than they are other times of the year, so try and avoid marks that hold a lot of them. (i.e estuaries). If you do want to fish estuaries then try to have some peeler crab with you, this will put the crabs off for a bit longer.

Some people like to cocoon their baits with squid which stands up to the onslaught a bit longer. Also try to avoid casting to the same spot the whole time. cast to a different spot eyery time. A rolling lead may also help.

Rockhunter has it in one - crabs will not touch crab as bait.

The other option is to use squid pockets - use the body of a squid, stuff it with another typically smelly bait like lug or mackerel and sow it shut or use a pennel (2 hook) rig to seal it over. They still attack it but it takes them a lot longer to get in and the pocket is very aerodynamic if you have to cast it a long distance. I use it for cod in the winter and for big bass in the estuaries, well, used to, not so much time for that now...

HTH

If you do want to fish estuaries then try to have some peeler crab with you, this will put the crabs off for a bit longer.

Remember robertstown creek...
carbs were attcaking other hardbacks that we had hooked and thrown back...not to mind our poor peelers..

crabs will not touch crab as bait.

I was told that by a few anglers but unfortunately I've proved that theory wrong, sorry.

Crabs will it seems eat peeler, but maybe they prefer other baits though ie meat/worms.

The idea of the squid pockets seems a good 'un though, defo give that a try.

Thanks for the help, and keep the tips coming, the more the better :wink:

If the crabs are eating your peeler crab bait dont leave the bait in the one spot for too long - retrieve a few meters then wait 4 or 5 minutes and retrieve a few more meters etc

I found that technique works well in Youghal - provided you dont need to use gripper weights.

I guess the same could work for other baits - I did try squid pockets myself in Youghal when I couldn't get any crab bait but the little feckers could still devour it in minutes - Once I hauled in a squid bait thinking I had a bite to find three crabs clinging to it :evil: :evil: :evil: But maybe if I kept the bait on the move it might have lasted a bit longer

Don't forget float fishing :D

Don't forget float fishing :D

Float fishing .. .definitely..... and spinning too.

Norm

Is there a spray or liquid that the baits can be soaked in that will put off the crabs but leave the fish interested :idea: :?:

Yes its availble in pharmacies just ask for crab powder :lol:

As for squid you can use smaller section and wrap the bait with them with lots of bait elastic. I use half a squid or a full squid to wrap my mackerel and sand eel baits in the crab infested waters of the shannon estuary for ray and doggies with good success. Crabs work in your favour with big baits that are tightly wound with squid and elastic as they are cutting it up spreading out the sent as they rip through it.

Adding floating beads or just a peace of cork has also helped me in the past with smaller baits for smaller fish but again the bait needs to be tied on well with elastic. As already said twitching the bait or allowing it to trot down tide also cuts down on crabs but this can only be done on clean ground.

Donagh

Yes its availble in pharmacies just ask for crab powder

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Last time I bought it, it came in cream form :oops: :oops: :oops:

wire brush and dettol works all the time or so i am told.lol