Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Dude on March 21, 2015, 07:48:04 PM

Title: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: Dude on March 21, 2015, 07:48:04 PM
What types of crab baits have members on here  used to catch them some delicious crab!  I personally have used Chicken and turkey legs and fish heads and they both seem to work pretty well.   
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: jettabambino on March 21, 2015, 08:16:18 PM
Save on sometimes has whole fryer chickens ... 3 picks for 6.99

That does the trick
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: Zackattack on March 21, 2015, 08:43:26 PM
Ya usually whatever chicken or turkey parts I can find cheap or have leftover..
Killer bait.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: RyanB on March 21, 2015, 09:10:06 PM
Seals love chicken so avoid using it if there are any seals nearby. 
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: Zackattack on March 21, 2015, 09:54:20 PM
Ya haha I use metal cages and its fine. But ya, the open style traps are brutal. Many times I've seen seals steal bait from open traps off the docks.. haha
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: scouterjames on March 22, 2015, 09:04:55 AM
Save-on has turkey necks cheap usually.... When we're out camping, I usually pour excess bacon grease on my bait - tried one trap with, one without and the one with tripled the take.... that was on commercial pellets a friend gave me....
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: BananasQ on March 22, 2015, 10:07:49 AM
Seals love chicken so avoid using it if there are any seals nearby.

i find the seals go for salmon heads or tails even harder - had them rip into traps and only take the fish and leave the chicken. I'm all for chicken backs and necks - economical and crabs love em. I've started using soaked pellets too with good results.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: canso on March 22, 2015, 11:14:59 AM
I've used freezer burnt beef and pork with little success.
Salmon, herring, anchovies seem to produce but,
Ling, halibut and chicken are better

Smashed Spot Prawn heads are best
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: firstlight on March 22, 2015, 03:48:28 PM
Best for me was Tuna guts but I just happened to come by them while looking for some bait on the way to the fishing grounds.
Ive had great days with Salmon parts/guts and also not so good days with same bait.
Same as with chicken.
Honestly if you put more effort in tide timing the bait is secondary.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: TimL on March 22, 2015, 04:14:45 PM
I agree that tide is the #1 determining factor for crabbing success. Chicken bones have worked for me on the past couple of crabbing trips. Very cost-effective as well: a bag of chicken bones from the local Asian supermarket costs about 2-3 bucks. Old shrimp, and bottom fish and salmon carcasses are effective too but unfortunately due to marauding seals in the area, I now refrain from using fish parts. I currently use the casting open ring traps from shore and one of my bait bags got torn open by a suspected seal on my last trip (I was using a fish & chicken bait combo).
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: ride604 on March 22, 2015, 05:24:49 PM
Fresh caught herring has worked well for me in the past, but not store bought for some reason.  Tried spot prawn heads with no luck, but didn't crush them like canso suggested.  Salmon frames and heads work so-so, chicken works well, and turkey necks are my favorite for casting traps.  Tried pork and beef too but didn't pick up anything.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: Funeral Of Hearts on March 22, 2015, 09:30:32 PM
Used to get expired bacon from my mom. My parents would buy bacon, not use it all (i know, a crime in itself) and it would be past its prime. Put that in my trap and the crabs loved it.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: RyanB on March 22, 2015, 11:59:29 PM
i find the seals go for salmon heads or tails even harder - had them rip into traps and only take the fish and leave the chicken. I'm all for chicken backs and necks - economical and crabs love em. I've started using soaked pellets too with good results.

Sure, seals are always an issue and of course they will eat any kind of fish.  I've used leftover squid in a crab trap and a seal stole the squid. 

Turkey and other non-chicken bird necks work well and the seals leave them alone.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: VA7DDP on March 24, 2015, 10:12:23 AM
Head to a Asian supermarket like Chong Lee or TnT they usually have chicken necks, backs etc. They work great for crabbing, don't waste your money on the crab/prawn pellets.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: BananasQ on March 24, 2015, 01:01:34 PM
Head to a Asian supermarket like Chong Lee or TnT they usually have chicken necks, backs etc. They work great for crabbing, don't waste your money on the crab/prawn pellets.

I've used pellets with the chicken to great success on my one outing this year. Next time I will keep the pellets out of one of the traps and see how it affects things.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: 243Pete on March 24, 2015, 08:06:32 PM
Pellets, salmon guts that have been left in a bucket for a day, those frozen bags of smelt at Superstore, chicken skins, bones and a cheap can of cat food with lots of holes poked into it.

Salmon guts for me have been the best, gives them something to chew on for quite some time.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: Wiseguy on March 24, 2015, 09:14:19 PM
I save the heads by freezing them from the Salmon I catch through the summer and fall months. They work really well in the area where we go crabbing. Fresh cooked crab over a fire on the beach with a ice cold frosty beer is one of lifes finer moments!     ;D
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: RyanB on March 24, 2015, 11:13:46 PM
Salmon guts for me have been the best, gives them something to chew on for quite some time.

Put some bait in the mesh bag, and zap-strap or use wire to tie some bait outside the mesh bag.  They will latch onto the outside bait and be less likely to get away as you pull the trap.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: VA7DDP on March 24, 2015, 11:13:55 PM
I also like to add herring to the mix; We buy it when the Annual Herring Sale is held by "Fisherman Helping Kids with Cancer". It's $10 for a 20lb Bag; sale usually occurs near the end of November.

https://www.facebook.com/fishermenhelpingkidswithcancer

The herring does attract more seals but we have never had an issue. We did however pull a dogfish out of our traps.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: Wiseguy on March 25, 2015, 08:46:48 PM
I thought everyone fished judging by the crowds on the Vedder during Salmon season, even this Steelhead season for that matter! Lol  :o
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: kanuckle head on March 25, 2015, 09:30:14 PM
Cheap canned sardines with holes punched in the can or canned cat food, the oilier the better. but a Salmon head or it's carcass pinned on the outside of the bait holder for the crustaceans to keep um occupied & stay'n put

Works for me
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: Dude on March 26, 2015, 10:17:04 AM
Cheap canned sardines with holes punched in the can or canned cat food, the oilier the better. but a Salmon head or it's carcass pinned on the outside of the bait holder for the crustaceans to keep um occupied & stay'n put

Works for me

I have heard about canned sardines before as well. I was going to try that out in my next trip out.  been trying to get out for last two weeks but the rain hasnt been helping much.  Hoping for better weather.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: bald_seagull on March 26, 2015, 04:41:59 PM
price mart sells 2 nasty leatherly looking undersized chickens in a bag for under 5$ which will do your traps and a buddies.
the guy at the king ed store will know what you mean if you go in and ask for the crab bait chickens

i just slice one right down the middle and use 3 zap straps to fix it firmly to the middle post
making sure its not up to high, which doesnt let your trap open

i seem to get more crab than the guys with the mesh bags because the crab can eat the bait
 quite easily
the only downside is if you zapstrap it too tightly the seal can get it off which result in a mangled trap
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: canso on April 05, 2015, 09:36:59 PM
Tried some old freezer burnt roe in small mesh bags, easly out fished the chicken. My new favorite bait.
Title: Re: Crab Baits you have used
Post by: Noahs Arc on April 05, 2015, 10:11:53 PM
Has anyone tried wild duck with any luck??