Freezing peeler crabs.

Message

#1 Post by **James Barry** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:31 pm

Was told the other day that you cant freeze fresh peeler as they will go tough and wont be any good for fishing!! when are you meant to freeze peeler if you want to keep them for a while if they are alive....

#2 Post by **m.b3** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:37 pm

freeze them preferably before they are ready to pop. u will see a hairline crack running down the side of their shell. u will catch plenty of fish on frozen crab. coalies can show preference. they will also take wrasse and red cod during summer, along with smouthound. allowing them to thaw out a little before they are to be used helps presentation. freeze in shell and simply peel as normal for use as bait.

#3 Post by **donal domeney** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:51 am

Best frozen just as they start to pop. As mb3 said watch for the crack showing on the gill cover. Always remove the brown gills before frezing.

#4 Post by **cortaz** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:16 am

james
the way i do em is peel em, then degill em.
put 3/4 peeled legs on hook (once through the thick end) push up to eye of hook (size 4/0) fold crab around hook shank, hook on 3/4 more legs
whip with tread starting at the eye, whip the legs for about 10 cm. along snool, then whip down to start of bend, take a few turns around the legs then whip to shank. it shoud look "alive"
i then rap em in tin foil, and freeze. with a snool of about 18 in.
i find this very handy, and fast.
the last time i did this i had 3 peelers, and got 2 bass

#5 Post by **m.b3** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:41 am

donal domeney wrote:Best frozen just as they start to pop. As mb3 said watch for the crack showing on the gill cover. Always remove the brown gills before frezing.

stopped taking out the gills for short term freezing and the bait has been pristine?

paulocallaghan · #6 Post by **paulocallaghan** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:39 am

i was always told to only freeze it as you would fish it ie no shell or lungs this is the way have always done it. but its good to know that when im too lazy to shell them after a late nighter i can just whip out the lungs and pop em in the feezer

#7 Post by **kieran** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:42 am

Hi

Yes, if you plan to use them quickly, there is not need to snip out the brown gills with a scissors. If you plan to store them for some time, bets to remove them as they do not freeze fully and slowly deteriorate...

FWIW...

#8 Post by **m.b3** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:53 pm

paulocallaghan wrote:i was always told to only freeze it as you would fish it ie no shell or lungs this is the way have always done it. but its good to know that when im too lazy to shell them after a late nighter i can just whip out the lungs and pop em in the feezer

shell protectrs from freezer burn. used to peel them before use- just too much hassle and lifes too short! if you needed them for a comp chances are you would have fresh anyway. if not u can peel have a dozen b4 u start so as to get ahead of yourself.

#9 Post by **Dave Jolly** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:11 pm

You can keep peelers in an old fridge for a week or so, make sure the temprature is around 4-5 degrees, this slows down the crabs metabolisim, and halts the peeling process, keep the crabs in a bucket with a damp newspaper on the bottom, and some weed in the bucket, and using a spray can, give em a couple of squirts of sea water each day to keep them moist, but if they are about to pop you have to use em or freeze em.
Before you are going to freeze a batch of peelers the first thing you need to do is put a metal sheet, or glass plate etc into the freezer for a few days.(the reason becomes apparent)
when the crab is about to pop, ie when the crack above the back legs is 2-3 mm thats the time to peel them.
Peel them completely, removing all the shell even the mouthparts, and espically the gills which are the brownish feathery things under each side of the carapace. if you dont take them out they will taint the flesh over a long period in the freezer.
once the crag has been fully peeled, give it a quick wash under a slow running cold tap, this will give you a slight ice glaze on the crab.
then you wrap it in a square of clingfilm, or tinfiol, making sure no air is trapped, then opening the freezer, you place the crab top down onto the frozen metal or glass plate/sheet, and close the freezer immediately, this will cause the crab to freeze within a few minutes.
repeat this for each crab, do not peel a batch and then put them into the freezer all at the same time. once they are frozen you can put them into bags of 6 or so.
If you follow this you will not be able to tell the difference bewteen fresh and frozen. the only difference will be in the yellow gunk in the crab, it becomes more watery when frozen, and will leak out faster than in the fresh one. this is why frozen crab will work better for species such as coalies, it releases a much bigger initial burst of scent than fresh, but it only gives it out for about half as long as the fresh will.
Dave

#10 Post by **James Barry** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:28 pm

Thanks very much for the replys lads!!

Rockhopper · #11 Post by **Rockhopper** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:36 pm

I would agree 100% with everything Dave Jolly has just told you, thats the way I was shown years ago and its never failed me.

There is times when frozen will outfish fresh every cast, why...dunno, but it can....and if the fish ar shaoling and speed comes into it, give me frozen everytime.

Get them while you can in the summer and you wont be short come the winter, is the way to do it.

Tom.

Sea Angling Ireland

Freezing peeler crabs.

Freezing peeler crabs.

gills on peelers