Collecting peeler crabs

[Topwater]

Good post MrFish Aside from targeting those initial smooth hound I can't say I've ever felt at a disadvantage by not having crab here on the Fylde coast where worm baits rule. Squid, crab, razors etc and all the cocktail baits thereof may be great for smaller species hunting, match 'scratching' or "saving the blank" - whatever that mindset is all about? - I'll never know as I'm always trying to avoid the 'nuisance species' and trying to target bass and codling Each to their own though! Other areas are very different I know - cart and lug with squid strip has done me well for winter cod fishing in the Mersey for instance. I've fished in other areas where bluey is the bait of choice even though it comes from the Pacific. The Fylde coast is 99% clean sand with only relatively tiny outcrops of mixed to light rough ground and I think that explains why the better fish won't turn their noses up at a pennel loaded with lug - because it's what's expected to be on their dining table? It's a theory I have anyway.... only the fish know the real answers

 

[Topwater]

I will add that I still get plenty of oh-why?-ting, flat-rats and dog-shytes on my winter 6/0 pennels crammed with lug

 

[Mr Fish]

Good post MrFish Aside from targeting those initial smooth hound I can't say I've ever felt at a disadvantage by not having crab here on the Fylde coast where worm baits rule. Squid, crab, razors etc and all the cocktail baits thereof may be great for smaller species hunting, match 'scratching' or "saving the blank" - whatever that mindset is all about? - I'll never know as I'm always trying to avoid the 'nuisance species' and trying to target bass and codling Each to their own though! Other areas are very different I know - cart and lug with squid strip has done me well for winter cod fishing in the Mersey for instance. I've fished in other areas where bluey is the bait of choice even though it comes from the Pacific. The Fylde coast is 99% clean sand with only relatively tiny outcrops of mixed to light rough ground and I think that explains why the better fish won't turn their noses up at a pennel loaded with lug - because it's what's expected to be on their dining table? It's a theory I have anyway.... only the fish know the real answers

I think you’re right. I’ve noticed fish will feed more readily on what they’re expecting to find naturally and of course that varies from area to area.
For example, I keep persisting with razor because I think on the right night it might be a good bass bait (they do occur on some local beaches) but I’m yet to get a bite on it.
Bluey however, the bass love it: I think I’ve had about 80% of my bass on big half bluey baits since I began using it.

But yes, take the early hound run out of the equation and there’s less than a handful of situations where I’d feel that I needed crab for a successful trip.

 

[Topwater]

Funny isn't it. Trout are well known for incredibly selective feeding at times but show them maggots/worms/live minnows and they can be ridiculously easy to catch sometimes. Very few hard and fast rules in angling but I think we all find certain good generalisations for our waters and ways of fishing them

 

[Mr Fish]

Funny isn't it. Trout are well known for incredibly selective feeding at times but show them maggots/worms/live minnows and they can be ridiculously easy to catch sometimes. Very few hard and fast rules in angling but I think we all find certain good generalisations for our waters and ways of fishing them

And bread! Trout love bread ???

Apparently ?

 

[Dutchman]

Funny isn't it. Trout are well known for incredibly selective feeding at times but show them maggots/worms/live minnows and they can be ridiculously easy to catch sometimes. Very few hard and fast rules in angling but I think we all find certain good generalisations for our waters and ways of fishing them

I fly fished a 2 acre reservoir and on one bank it was brown coloured fly's to use another side was red fly's and another location was lime green fly's, seemed very odd on the same piece of water.

Same with bass where i fish, different location different bait, as well as different location different time of tide.

 

[Topwater]

You mean the mayfly sir? Hmm? Do you? Do you?

 

[Dutchman]

You mean the mayfly sir? Hmm? Do you? Do you?

May have been!

 

[Had1]

watch out things sometimes get nasty at well known areas where 'professional' crabbers put 'their traps' ... people have been known to put broken glass down to put others off feeling around down tyres etc ...
I can't be arsed with it this year all the local spots last year had people going out in waders before the tide had even dropped due to so many people trying at one time became a nightmare .

when they did that it just scares a lot of crab out because they still had depth to swim off

 

[Mr Fish]

watch out things sometimes get nasty at well known areas where 'professional' crabbers put 'their traps' ... people have been known to put broken glass down to put others off feeling around down tyres etc ...
I can't be arsed with it this year all the local spots last year had people going out in waders before the tide had even dropped due to so many people trying at one time became a nightmare .

when they did that it just scares a lot of crab out because they still had depth to swim off

Yes, there’s been more than one punch up in the estuary here over it.
one character was doing other people’s traps daily and then selling them on eBay.
Problem is, it’s not actually illegal - technically you own the trap but not the crab underneath it.

I steer well clear. Don’t live close enough to be worth the while and don’t have the time in any case. Plus life is too short for all that hassle.
Just paid £72 for 120 which will probably see me through to the end of the year.
Well worth paying to avoid the extra hassle imo.

 

[Dutchman]

Yes, there’s been more than one punch up in the estuary here over it.
one character was doing other people’s traps daily and then selling them on eBay.
Problem is, it’s not actually illegal - technically you own the trap but not the crab underneath it.

I steer well clear. Don’t live close enough to be worth the while and don’t have the time in any case. Plus life is too short for all that hassle.
Just paid £72 for 120 which will probably see me through to the end of the year.
Well worth paying to avoid the extra hassle imo.

I was under the impression that "traps" set are actually classed as litter, and that is why it is not illegal to pilfer someone's traps as it is illegal (litter/fly tipping) to actually lay "traps" (tyres/pipes etc) on the sea bed.

 

[Mr Fish]

I was under the impression that "traps" set are actually classed as litter, and that is why it is not illegal to pilfer someone's traps as it is illegal (litter/fly tipping) to actually lay "traps" (tyres/pipes etc) on the sea bed.

It depends entirely on the local bylaws.

Some have none, some have banned them, some operate a license scheme before you’re allowed to put traps down. Each local council will have differing restrictions.

As far as I’m aware there’s still no restrictions in my local estuary but other areas such as Exmouth have brought in more stringent measures. Probably because they’re more prolific/visible down there.

I know someone checked it with the police here and they said technically it would be theft if they stole your traps, but not if they took the crab underneath.
How accurate that is, I don’t know, but certainly here it’s still pretty much a free for all.
That said, there’s not so many traps that’s it’s become an issue for the authorities, but no doubt it will in time.

As I say, I steer well clear, can’t be bothered with it all.

 

[Dutchman]

It depends entirely on the local bylaws.

Some have none, some have banned them, some operate a license scheme before you’re allowed to put traps down. Each local council will have differing restrictions.

As far as I’m aware there’s still no restrictions in my local estuary but other areas such as Exmouth have brought in more stringent measures. Probably because they’re more prolific/visible down there.

I know someone checked it with the police here and they said technically it would be theft if they stole your traps, but not if they took the crab underneath.
How accurate that is, I don’t know, but certainly here it’s still pretty much a free for all.
That said, there’s not so many traps that’s it’s become an issue for the authorities, but no doubt it will in time.

As I say, I steer well clear, can’t be bothered with it all.

No i would not bother with traps, its easy enough where i find them to lift sea weed, and bothers no one.

 

[Mr Fish]

No i would not bother with traps, its easy enough where i find them to lift sea weed, and bothers no one.

Yep. It’s a lot of work too. They need checking and clearing regularly, plus you’ve got to tote them all out there in the first place.

Plus you could do all that and then someone else ‘raids’ your traps anyway.
Not worth the aggro

 

[Had1]

trouble is I never do very well on frozen even though I know they work for others ... which is why I usually end up getting a few for the hounds

 

[Mr Fish]

trouble is I never do very well on frozen even though I know they work for others ... which is why I usually end up getting a few for the hounds

I don’t have a problem with them as long as they’re reasonable quality.
Tbh I don’t find the hounds that discerning! Anything crab like usually does for them.

Fresh popped for bass or flounder at some estuary marks. Which isn’t to say frozen won’t work.

Mind you, I agree that fresh is always better if you can get them.

 

[CoarseanglerSteve]

Good post MrFish Aside from targeting those initial smooth hound I can't say I've ever felt at a disadvantage by not having crab here on the Fylde coast where worm baits rule. Squid, crab, razors etc and all the cocktail baits thereof may be great for smaller species hunting, match 'scratching' or "saving the blank" - whatever that mindset is all about? - I'll never know as I'm always trying to avoid the 'nuisance species' and trying to target bass and codling Each to their own though! Other areas are very different I know - cart and lug with squid strip has done me well for winter cod fishing in the Mersey for instance. I've fished in other areas where bluey is the bait of choice even though it comes from the Pacific. The Fylde coast is 99% clean sand with only relatively tiny outcrops of mixed to light rough ground and I think that explains why the better fish won't turn their noses up at a pennel loaded with lug - because it's what's expected to be on their dining table? It's a theory I have anyway.... only the fish know the real answers

As a Fylde Coast newbie myself (and novice sea angler) thats good to hear Topwater.

I was led to believe you need crab to target smoothounds, and whilst I am still in the "catch anything" mindset for now, I am keen to try and catch some better specimens - smoothes, rays etc. Fishing one rod with a bigger bait is my plan, and if I have a chance with squid/mackerel/bluey or any combination with or without lug, then that's a result!!

 

[Dutchman]

As a Fylde Coast newbie myself (and novice sea angler) thats good to hear Topwater.

I was led to believe you need crab to target smoothounds, and whilst I am still in the "catch anything" mindset for now, I am keen to try and catch some better specimens - smoothes, rays etc. Fishing one rod with a bigger bait is my plan, and if I have a chance with squid/mackerel/bluey or any combination with or without lug, then that's a result!!

Steve, a bloke i went out with in our club uses mackerel or a live "joey" mackerel for smoothhounds with good success.
Again may depend on areas what is best tu use.

 

[Valleyboy]

I wouldn't be without them this time of year fishing anywhere around Wales. Locally they are the only bait which some species will take, Not just shore cabs either, browns, swimmers and spiders, It is certainly worth putting the effort in to collect and fish them oer the next two months

 

[Valleyboy]

As a Fylde Coast newbie myself (and novice sea angler) thats good to hear Topwater.

I was led to believe you need crab to target smoothounds, and whilst I am still in the "catch anything" mindset for now, I am keen to try and catch some better specimens - smoothes, rays etc. Fishing one rod with a bigger bait is my plan, and if I have a chance with squid/mackerel/bluey or any combination with or without lug, then that's a result!!

the only other bait I would really use for hounds is shell on prawn