Reply To: Crab trap recommendation

[Darry & Leisa Major]

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO CATCH CRABS? … you ask.

Most “coastal” creatures below the water will feed almost all the time if there is something to eat, but they feed more during slack tides because it takes less energy to move when there is less current, so in general: the best time to catch crabs is during slack tide when they are feeding and moving more.
*some migration fish use the current to travel. (Tide being vertical movement of water & Current being horizontal)

DOES HIGH OR LOW TIDE MATTER? … you ask.

Great question! The answer is yes. High slack tide is best – because crabs like salty water, the incoming (flood) tide brings in fresh salty water as opposed to an outgoing tide – most crabs get excited by the fresh saline and start doing the “happy crab dance”, they move around more across the sea bed (dance floor) looking for food and … bing-bang-boom! … instead of reading the menu – they are on the menu. Also; there is more natural bait brought in during a flood tide, as well as flood tides allow shallow crabs to get to places they cannot go during a low-tide.

DO MIXED SEMIDIURNAL TIDES MAKE A DIFFERENCE? … you ask.

Absolutely. The best time is between a (high) “low-tide”, and a (low) “high-tide”. The smaller the difference between the high and the low tide, the less water exchange there is, less water exchange means less current, less current means more feeding action. (A mixed semidiurnal tidal cycle experiences two high and two low tides of different size every lunar day)

* these are personal opinons only, acutal results may vary as crabs are not guaranteed to comply.  

 

Other questions: for another day perhaps … 🙂

WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO SET THE TRAP? (Dungeness/Red)
HOW OFTEN SHOULD TO CHECK THE TRAP?
WHAT IS THE BEST BAIT TO USE AND HOW MUCH?
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP CRABS ALIVE?
HOW TO CLEAN A CRAB?
HOW TO COOK A CRAB?
WHAT WINE GOES BEST WITH CRAB 🙂

Darry
“Sail Safe, and Leave Only Wake”