Peeler traps - that time of the year again

I finally put a dozen tyres on the shore yesterday, having promised myself to do it for ages. Going to stick another dozen out later nearer the weekend. Whether they will produce peelers only time will tell. If any forum members have any hands on experience of working peelers 'traps' or alternatives traps to the tyres then I'd be grateful for any advice.

And finally...has the peel started yet?

Cheers lads
Pete

Are you putting the tyres down in the north west. If so I would be interested to see how it pans out. I know you could get peelers from a tackle shop of the tesco car park and thougth they used to be gathered in mud/weed somewhere along the estuary below Hughes bridge in Sligo town. The peel starts and ends depending upon the temperature thats why peelers are available most of the year in Youghal estuary a combination of been further south and the large estuary (river water). The spring peel is well underway down here but I assume it would be at least a couple of weeks later up the north west. One thing I have to say is that apart from the estuaries like Sligo peeler is a waste of time from the beaches up there. However there are lots of edible crab peelers in the rocks in may/june and these are supposed to be great Bass baits, but I admit I havn't tried them. Its a good idea to put holes in the top side of your tyres otherwise on strong tides the trapped air can lift them, never to be seen again. Good luck

Careful putting out the tyres. The environmental bods might not understand that you are providing a safe habitat for crabs to moult and they might try to book you for dumping old tyres on a beach!.

E.L.

Yes Dr.Seafish its in the northwest I've put them out. I'll let you know how I get on with them, hopefully successfully. I've found that they (the peelers themselves) worked best for me when fishing onto sand from rocks, anywhere there was a little more depth. Haven't really tried them much from the shallow beaches, found that worms were more than adequate.

I've split them(tyres) into small groups and put them away from the roads so fingers crossed Essox I wont end up with the council or the wildlife people chasing me :wink: !

the peel has started on the antrim coast also from what i hear

Careful putting out the tyres. The environmental bods might not understand that you are providing a safe habitat for crabs to moult and they might try to book you for dumping old tyres on a beach!.

E.L.

:lol: , I could probably think of safer places to be if I was a molting crab!

What is the idea here do you freeze them? It is something that seems like a lot of hassle. Do you keep all crabs and wait until they pop the shell or are they all peeling at the one time? How long is it from when they molt until they have a new hard shell? I tried buying frozen velvet crabs but when thawed out there was nothing left to bait a hook, just a slim piece of crab leather... :(

Any advice appreciated

David

:lol: , I could probably think of safer places to be if I was a molting crab!

Maybe the crabs are 'tyred' of moulting in the usual places and wanted to change their little crabby 'treads' in a place that is a 'hub' of crab activity. :)

A thought: Would you really want to drive to this beach, what with so many peelers checking tyres? :lol:

Regards,

E.L.

:lol: , I could probably think of safer places to be if I was a molting crab!

Maybe the crabs are 'tyred' of moulting in the usual places and wanted to change their little crabby 'treads' in a place that is a 'hub' of crab activity. :)

A thought: Would you really want to drive to this beach, what with so many peelers checking tyres? :lol:

Regards,

E.L.

Wheel have to see if it works :oops: .......Sorry. I'll get my coat

Pete,

Have you checked to see what the water temp is where your traps are set? I'd be interested to know whattemp triggers the peel in the NW.

Having said that, I've never had any luck with peeler but that may have been due to the dire strait they were in. Always found mack on it's own or in a cocktail to be the better bait. Maybe all I need is good crab. Mind you, I can now get decent frozen ones, it'll be interesting to see if they're any better than my previous ones.

Tips for crab traps (tyres)
1. set them in MUD close to the weed line
2. make sure they are covered with at least 6-8ft. of water at full tide
3. set them so you can pick them on the weaker tides
4. sit them 3/4 ways into the mud
5. fix some stones with weed on them next to the tyres it help with new tyres
often new tyres take a while to produce but if there is crab in the weed near the tyres theres hope for them.
if they do produce set down the rule Cork style ""pick my tyres and I'll pick you"

"Just write on the tyres ""...from the car of the last eejit who messed with me traps...."""

are sections of drain pipe as effective as tyres as traps?

I don't know BigPhil but I have been thinking about this myself. They are easier on the eye for all those who would have a problem with tires if nothing else.

Sandman I haven't but I will check them today so will check the water temp. Would be interesting to see the temp trigger. Phil having talked to a few folk the pipes work as well, roof tiles are also supposed to be effective. Thanks lads for all the information, I'll let you know how the experiment goes or whether I end up in court :lol: !

Can you use remoulds and what is the minimum depth of thread. Also can you use crossply with radials on the same beach?........... suppose I better get my coat as well....

NEXT!!!! :lol:

It's like amateur night at the Empire here..... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Well, I was going to ask what pressure I should inflate them to ...

Yippe :D :D ! Checked them this morning and got six peelers! Five normal sized and one big fella. Water temp was 10.7. Didn't even have to break a sweat...nearly as good as catching fish :lol:

How do you check that they are peelers? I was told that the fact that they are in the tyre alone indicates they are, or are about to be peelers. However I did check some tyres last week, not my own but I didn't remove any crabs, and I couldn't tell either by back leg pulling :shock: or checking the shell that they were peelers.

Break of the last leg segment and if he or she is peeling you'll find a new but soft leg underneath.