peeler crab lungs

[seanie35]

its widely considered better to remove the lungs of peeler crab before using them as bait. why is this and surely fish wouldnt be that fussy as to get the scent of a crab, move in to eat it and then suddenly stop........"theres lungs on it" . also heard the lungs can rot first when the crab is dead so better to remove before freezing so thats fair enough, anyone have any ideas on this

[corbyeire]

ive only heard of lads taking the lungs out when freezing them

[boycie89]

its only when freezing them ! they release a toxin into the water then the crab dies

[seanie35]

its only when freezing them ! they release a toxin into the water then the crab dies

that makes sense, know 2 auld timers who think it's a fishing sin not to remove them when fresh. Sure leave them at it

[Tom Maher]

Generally if there is anything wrong with the crab it will be in the lungs, thats why you remove them as a precaution. But thats all it is - a precaution

[anthony2carr]

Why are most frozen peelers sold whole with shell and lungs stil intact??

[Tom Maher]

If you freeze them while they are still alive and use them within a month or so it doesn't seem to make a difference whether the lungs are on or not - the last 2 comps i fished i used crab i froze in December they had lungs on, and i caught fish with them. If you freeze them any longer then the chances are that the lungs will rot. I have used crab that had the lungs taken out, after 6 months and caught fish on them.

[drseafish]

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe that if you gave a Bass in a tank a peeler which still had the lungs in everything will be swallowed except the lungs which will be spit out. This may be bullshit as I think it was in an article in Sea Dangler many moons ago . I suppose you could test this the next time your in an aquairium, as long as they didn't see you drop it over the side Anyway fresh peeler without the lungs will outfish peeler with the lungs in any day of the week. Its a golden rule. If your buying frozen peeler that still has the lungs in, its either that not common shore crab or the person freezing bait is just lazy.

[red]

i know this is a stupid question but where are the lungs and how do you take them out? anytime over the summer i had some left over i just put them straight in the freezer but they would have been used within a week or 10 days.

[seanie35]

I suppose you could test this the next time your in an aquairium, as long as they didn't see you drop it over the side

make sure the fake moustach and glasses are on tom or the experiment is invalid

[anthony2carr]

Let me see if this is correct.

If I we're to buy whole frozen peeler from shop, removed lungs immediately and re-froze. I could potentially add another 6-months to the life of the bait ?????

[Rockhopper]

Let me see if this is correct.

If I we're to buy whole frozen peeler from shop, removed lungs immediately and re-froze. I could potentially add another 6-months to the life of the bait ?????

NO! because the lungs should have been taken out before freezing the first time, the damage will have already been done, the lungs should be taken out either as soon as the crab dies or if its still alive, before freezing.

Leaving the lungs in even to freez them will damage the crab and make them go off!!

btw....I have used crab 12 to 18 months old (possibly longer) frozen the right way and caught fish on them.

Tom.

[Tom Maher]

Leaving the lungs on and freezing them is no good for keeping them long term - the lungs will rot. If you freeze crab with lungs on them and use them within a month or so, and as long as they were alive when you froze them - you will catch fish on them.
For keeping them longer you take the lungs out because they will rot. The longest I've frozen crab for is about 6 months - taken the lungs out vacuum packed them etc - and then used them because of lack of fresh bait.
Taking the lungs out of fresh crab to use them is a precaution in case there is something wrong with them.

As for Dr. Seafish and his experiments.
a)Go get an aquarium, b) fill it with sea water and c) catch a bass and we will see whether or not you experiment holds weight.
However i think c) might be the trickiest part for YOU

[seanie35]

As for Dr. Seafish and his experiments.
a)Go get an aquarium, b) fill it with sea water and c) catch a Bass and we will see whether or not you experiment holds weight.
However i think c) might be the trickiest part for YOU

[/quote] i unfortunatly agree with ya , a certain duck in youghal tells me of some big cod in shallow water ....is that true

[drseafish]

You guys must have never been to the aquariums in Dingle or Galway (one of the few known Bass spots in Connaught ). Big tanks full of lovely Bass. You could add to your species list at the same time

[seanie35]

You guys must have never been to the aquariums in Dingle or Galway (one of the few known Bass spots in Connaught ). Big tanks full of lovely Bass. You could add to your species list at the same time

I've seen the dingle aquarium, was great watching all those bass DANCING around in the fake waves

[Tom Maher]

You guys must have never been to the aquariums in Dingle or Galway (one of the few known Bass spots in Connaught ). Big tanks full of lovely Bass. You could add to your species list at the same time

The nearest you can get to a bass