Dungeness, king, stone and blue crabs are all edible species that you can catch using several different methods, which vary from the simple, with only bait, a string and a net, to the complex, requiring a boat and larger crab pots that sit on the bottom for long periods of time. With the right bait and location and a little patience, any technique can help you catch live crabs for supper.
Net Crab Fishing
In net fishing, you use a long-handled dip net and a boat that can move easily through shallow waters where crabs are easy to spot with the naked eye. As you run the boat slowly through the shallow water, another person watches at the bow on either side of the boat for a crab scurrying along the bottom. He then uses the net to simply scoop up the crab. Anglers wading in shallow waters use the same technique, though their nets have slightly shorter handles.
Bait Crab Fishing
With this method, you simply tie some bait, such as a piece of chicken on the bone or a fish head, to a long string, then drop it into water where crabs are likely to be and lets it soak for a while. After several minutes, slowly bring in the line. If a crab is feeding on the bait, it will grab hold of the bait to try to keep it in place. As the bait comes up with the crab attached, scoop up both crab and bait with a dip net. Place the crab in a bucket and return the bait to the water.
Ring Nets
Ring nets, also called basket traps, are simple cloth nets with two metal rings that hold out the sides of the net like a basket. This net is designed to lie flat on the bottom, with bait tied in the middle and a long line leading back to the angler. When a crab enters the trap to feed on the bait, you pull the line to bring the sides of the ring net up around the crab, trapping it.
Pyramid Traps
Consisting of a square wire mesh base with four wire mesh triangles attached to its edges, a pyramid trap lies at the bottom of the water, with the triangles folded outward so the trap is flat. Bait is tied to the center of the base. When a crab enters the trap, you pull the line, and the triangles fold upward, forming a closed pyramidal cage. You then retrieve the trap to get the crab.
Crab Pots
For crabs that inhabit deeper waters, such as Dungeness crabs, some anglers use large crab pots. These are box-shaped cages made of wooden and cloth netting or wire mesh. The pot has a funnel-shaped entrance, which allows crabs to easily enter the trap but not to escape. Place bait in the center of the pot, which is then sunk to the bottom and allowed to soak for a time. The pot attaches to a long line that connects to a buoy at the surface, both for identification purposes and to allow the owner to retrieve the pot later. A door in the side of the pot makes it easy to remove any captured crabs.
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