peeler crabs peeling stages

Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:15 am

hi lads i was out last week to see if i could come across any peeler crabs for the first time this year,,,previous attempts i came across no crabs at all..........i was happy to find out that the crabs were back in town,,,,,,,,got most of them in different sizes under rocks and weed and in rockpools,,,,,,,now they looked like peelers alright and when i broke off the last segment of there legs there was a white string type muscle,,,now i heard thats the way you test,,but when i took off the sheel there was no sign of a new one yet

so what do you reckon was it the vdery early stages
i got one then in a jelly type form with the old shell gone and new one on,,,,he defo was a peeler and he was abigger crab

just yer thoughts

thanks

Re: peeler crabs speeling stages

Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:28 am

When there is white sinuew in the leg it means there not ready what you are looking for is a soft leg growing under the removed segment,did you post recently about crab shells everywhere maybe youve missed the peel

Re: peeler crabs speeling stages

Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:46 am

White sinew is a cock crab and a long way from peeling.

Watch for the spring tide there is always a better pick then

Re: peeler crabs peeling stages

Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:13 pm

The white means they are still hardback, When it's a peeler it should have a new soft leg underneath the shell.

Re: peeler crabs speeling stages

Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:32 pm

husshunter wrote:When there is white sinuew in the leg it means there not ready what you are looking for is a soft leg growing under the removed segment,did you post recently about crab shells everywhere maybe youve missed the peel


ya the amout of shells was in a good quantity,,,,,but i think it was more from the frost to be honest,,,or maybe it was from the peeling stage,,,,,i might have a good again this afternoon

Re: peeler crabs peeling stages

Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:43 pm

was out this evening again and had a luck under a few rocks and got some crabs that were nearly dead,,,they had small movement and there was a brown trace forming around there shell,,,,is this a peeling stage......also out in the sandier ground under seaweed was about 5 crabs just buried in the sand,,,,,,,,

Re: peeler crabs peeling stages

Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:44 am

If a crab is peeling either break a leg segment like mentioned before or squeeze the shell above the legs gently and it will crack easily if neither of the ways of checking above work then leave them alone.

Re: peeler crabs peeling stages

Fri Apr 15, 2011 11:07 am

saving private brian wrote:was out this evening again and had a luck under a few rocks and got some crabs that were nearly dead,,,they had small movement and there was a brown trace forming around there shell,,,,is this a peeling stage......also out in the sandier ground under seaweed was about 5 crabs just buried in the sand,,,,,,,,

Just log on to planetseafishing.com..... go to tutorials, on page three you will find understanding peeler crab parts one and two.....along with a host of other tutorials on all things fishing...

Re: peeler crabs peeling stages

Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:26 pm

saving private brian wrote:got some crabs that were nearly dead,,,they had small movement and there was a brown trace forming around there shell,,,,is this a peeling stage......also out in the sandier ground under seaweed was about 5 crabs just buried in the sand,,,,,,,,

Peelers are very passive just before the moult - possibly high on hormones - and the cracking line just under the shell top is a sure sign, so you might be on to them. Also look out for an aggressive crab defending another one under it, the one underneath is often a peeler.

Re: peeler crabs peeling stages

Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:31 pm

Hugo wrote:
saving private brian wrote:got some crabs that were nearly dead,,,they had small movement and there was a brown trace forming around there shell,,,,is this a peeling stage......also out in the sandier ground under seaweed was about 5 crabs just buried in the sand,,,,,,,,

Peelers are very passive just before the moult - possibly high on hormones - and the cracking line just under the shell top is a sure sign, so you might be on to them. Also look out for an aggressive crab defending another one under it, the one underneath is often a peeler.


ya read that alright hugo,,,,,,,might be another month here before there ready for use so i will just keep an eye on the peeling stages,,,then i will know for the future