hadback crabs

was just wondering if anyone ever uses small hardback crabs as bait. was thinking along the lines of smoothies, cod and wrasse. as all of these species adore peeler is there any reasons why they would turn their noses up at hardbacks. trying to get hardbacks on a hook however could be difficult!

Have found hard backs to be excellent for wrasse, it has a knack for picking off the bigger ones too.There easy enough to collect aswell.

Believe the're often found in the gut of cod etc but whenever anglers tried em the weren't much good, bit like pipefish in that respect. Not sure though.

Hooking Hardbacks.....snap both back legs off at the body.....point of hook in one socket and out the other, they cast reasonably well (not power casting)....they will stay alive and last for ages, their movements helps attract fish.

Tom.

thanks everybody for your help, think they'd work for smoothies as well?

id look at it like this, if your are fishing beside 10 ther guys, and they all have peeler, i wouldnt count my chances with hardbacks, softies work well for smuts.. but if you have the crab its worth a go, let us know how u get on man :D

thanks Mr.green, will do.

Hi,

A buddy of mine in Cork has used them under a float for bass on marks where he'd usually plug for 'em. More of an experiment... but using them as a sight bait like this has worked for him. Don't know how effective they'd be as a bottom bait, drawing fish from any range with the limited scent they produce might be difficult.

Liam

they are great sight baits for fish like wrasse on float gear or freelined. i hook them as rockhopper said, or if they are small enough and hooks strong enough in through the socket and out through the underside of the carapice flap.

have had wrasse to nearly 6lbs on them and we get ocassional pollock up to 8lbs on them too (on the drop mostly)

i have found fishing a treble hook stinger rig that we came up with doubled the hook up rates when using them for wrasse. aside from ballan wrasse and pollock have had coalies, cuckoo wrasse, and one bass on em

...i have found fishing a treble hook stinger rig that we came up with doubled the hook up rates when using them for wrasse...

What's a treble hook stinger rig look like then ??? Sounds interesting... I frequently use hardbacks for ballan and it's frustrating missing as many bites as I connect with.

A quick 'google' on the subject gave me some idea, but a picture would remove any doubt in my mind :)

iv seen lads round here using super glue to attach hard back crabs to there hooks for wrasse ,it does work well they say :o

super glue is water soluble though isnt it so they might not last too long

manxfisher if you look at the topic below you will see all about the stinger

http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... hp?t=12137

Now that's what I call a wrasse :) Well done !!!

Bronzed trebles here I come...