Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: robj on May 21, 2010, 08:26:47 PM

Title: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: robj on May 21, 2010, 08:26:47 PM
Hello,

Want to try crabbing.  My wife says if I don't use my boat it has to go.  Anyone have any pointers as to where to go?  Never done it before but would like to try it.

Thanx and have a great day,

Rob.
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: Nutterbug on May 21, 2010, 08:28:58 PM
Forget crabbing from land without a boat, except in mid-winter.

All the legal size males have retreated into deeper waters.
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: doja on May 21, 2010, 08:44:41 PM
Hello,

Want to try crabbing.  My wife says if I don't use my boat it has to go.  Anyone have any pointers as to where to go?  Never done it before but would like to try it.

Thanx and have a great day,

Rob.

Kinda hard when no one knows where you live....  In any event it's kinda hard not to catch crabs as they are every where!
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: robj on May 21, 2010, 09:01:13 PM
Sorry guys, I live in Richmond.  And yes I do have a boat so going out to get them is not an issue.  Just don't know where to go.
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: doja on May 21, 2010, 09:13:41 PM
80' of water is deep enough to find'em. My rope is 100' and I don't like changing knots so I stick with about 80'~ deapth. Make sure to leave enough slack in line for incoming tide rise but not too much as it creates a hazard!

So in short go to the ocean and find 80' deep water. If you still don't have a good idea just look where other people are dropping them.
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: robj on May 21, 2010, 09:59:33 PM
Thanx guys.  What about around Tswassen?  Rather not go to Spanish Banks, a little far.  How long do you leave it?
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: doja on May 21, 2010, 10:55:12 PM
leave it for 1hr - 12hr... Depends on what you are doing. I usually drop and go fish and check back about 4-6 hrs later but some times it is pretty full when I check back.

I've heard story's about crabbing near the ferries and that is somewhere I would not go... Don't mean it's true but there are a million other spots around.

If you have a boat, I'm going to assume you have a motor... use it and go explore! that's what a boat is for...
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: gman on May 22, 2010, 09:30:37 PM
If you go ou the Fraser from Richmond you will see lots of crab traps out at mouth. Can get rought out there - not sure what your boat is like.

Also could try launching at Crescent Beach and going to the Mud Bay/Whiterock areas.

If you go out to any of the areas near VAncouver you will see lots of crab traps already there. Just try oin some ofhtese areas. You will get crabs, just a question of how many legal ones.
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: noxcape on May 22, 2010, 10:07:52 PM
can you catch crabs at white rock peer or in port moddy cant remember then name of the park there at this time of year the gf wants to go but i dont know much about it thanks for the info also guys
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: doja on May 23, 2010, 10:32:04 AM
can you catch crabs at white rock peer or in port moddy cant remember then name of the park there at this time of year the gf wants to go but i dont know much about it thanks for the info also guys

Pretty sure you can get them at white rock pier as it is out past the mud flats... And belcarra pier (port moody) is also another spot you can get'em.

But make sure you play by the rules as the local cops in belcarra like to catch crabbers not playing by the rules. He even has a caliper to check!!!
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: noxcape on May 23, 2010, 02:40:50 PM
dont mean to hijack this thread but what do i need for a fishing liscence and does everyone with us need one we are going to ahve only one trap
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: BwiBwi on May 23, 2010, 02:52:54 PM
Just basic tidal water fishing license would do.  Whoever's going to be taking care of the trap needs fishing license.
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: gcal on May 24, 2010, 11:47:55 AM
For Belcarra, the baits that work best are:

1) Chicken pieces, with the skin on.   The fats really attract the crabs.

2) Salmon heads and parts.   

Just watch out for the seals, they will steal your bait.    Also, there are large starfish that can envelop your bait.   I usually use a 15min soak time.

I use the cheap clamshell casting traps.  They work really well!  They cost around $15-20

http://chetcomarine.com/ProductImages/fishinggear/P1010009.JPG

       
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: k.c. on May 24, 2010, 11:52:47 AM
Try a can of miss miew cat food, and i know this sounds gross but in Indian arm the crabs like where the sewage pipes come out ;)
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: BwiBwi on May 24, 2010, 02:04:42 PM
and where is that?
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: k.c. on May 24, 2010, 02:39:39 PM
You can get there from Kates park in north wan or from deep cove
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: BwiBwi on May 24, 2010, 11:11:05 PM
Sorry I wasn't clear.  Where's the sewage pipe located?
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: liketofish on May 25, 2010, 04:40:39 PM
About the seals in Belcarra, they are like residents over there now. Just too much food/bait in the water daily so they don't want to hunt for foods some where else. Need to use a metal cage to hold your baits, otherwise it is more like a seal-feeding trip than a crabbing trip. LOL.  ;D
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: ssd0904 on May 26, 2010, 03:18:19 PM
Not many crabs but MANY crabbers. Like 30 people all around the deck throwing. And i saw likse 2 people catch 2 crab OUT ON A BOAT. So not many crabs in Belcarra, but with boat, i guess you can catch some. You only need license for who's taking care of the crab trap and handling and stuff.
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: vancook on May 26, 2010, 04:17:16 PM
Not many crabs but MANY crabbers. Like 30 people all around the deck throwing. And i saw likse 2 people catch 2 crab OUT ON A BOAT. So not many crabs in Belcarra, but with boat, i guess you can catch some. You only need license for who's taking care of the crab trap and handling and stuff.
Belcarra is a nightmare on the weekends. I won't go unless it's a weekday or very early tide so I can go early enough. If you have a boat there is good crabbing near the thermal pump station around the bend.

Also you can fish 2 traps per tidal licence
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: 243Pete on May 26, 2010, 05:14:11 PM
About the seals in Belcarra, they are like residents over there now. Just too much food/bait in the water daily so they don't want to hunt for foods some where else. Need to use a metal cage to hold your baits, otherwise it is more like a seal-feeding trip than a crabbing trip. LOL.  ;D

Last week when I was down at Jericho pier I watched two seals play around with the those folding crab traps, they'd randomly pick up a trap and move it somewhere or chew on the bait.

Question about crab fishing off of docks, would a large square trap be alright for crabbing off of a small dock like at Belcarra?
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: gcal on May 26, 2010, 05:32:02 PM
Many people at Belcarra do use those large square traps.   You can leave those traps to soak for a lot longer, since once the crabs get into the trap, they can't get out.   These traps also give you protection against the seals.

Last week when I was down at Jericho pier I watched two seals play around with the those folding crab traps, they'd randomly pick up a trap and move it somewhere or chew on the bait.

Question about crab fishing off of docks, would a large square trap be alright for crabbing off of a small dock like at Belcarra?
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: liketofish on May 26, 2010, 05:38:44 PM
Some people use the square traps too there. Better protection of the bait from the hungry seals. But you can't cast far out enough and the crabs get to the foldable ones first. So make your choice.  ;D
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: 243Pete on May 26, 2010, 05:57:15 PM
Some people use the square traps too there. Better protection of the bait from the hungry seals. But you can't cast far out enough and the crabs get to the foldable ones first. So make your choice.  ;D

Many people at Belcarra do use those large square traps.   You can leave those traps to soak for a lot longer, since once the crabs get into the trap, they can't get out.   These traps also give you protection against the seals.


Thank you!  ;D A friend has one of those folding ones but I'll buy the larger square trap and maybe float it out over deeper water. As for the seals I talked to buddy for a bit... guess I'll fab up some steel bait cages with protection. (metal points but not razor sharp ones) To help keep those pesky seals away.
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: andychan on May 27, 2010, 07:02:10 AM
anyone use catfood tins as bait?
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: Bill on May 27, 2010, 07:51:35 AM
anyone use catfood tins as bait?

I use canned tuna once in a while, once I start catching fish I switch to fish heads.
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: vancook on May 27, 2010, 10:20:48 AM
Some people use the square traps too there. Better protection of the bait from the hungry seals. But you can't cast far out enough and the crabs get to the foldable ones first. So make your choice.  ;D
You can't escape the seals there..if you see you line moving around pull it in to protect your gear. Unfortunately you just have to pay attention to your line.

The square traps work but not very well off the dock. You'll have better success taking it out on a boat to drop off further out
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: marmot on May 27, 2010, 12:31:34 PM
You can't escape the seals there..if you see you line moving around pull it in to protect your gear.

Just use chicken as bait, the seals leave it alone and the crabs still go for it.
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: kmishn on January 03, 2011, 01:43:24 AM
cats meow gross.

any other spots? what about up the sea to sky?
Title: Re: Crabbing anyone??
Post by: Rantalot on January 03, 2011, 09:20:38 AM
I just tie on a fish head or the body after filleting to some fishing line and chuck it out.When it starts walking away I just gentley pull it in ;DI have had double header crabs as well as a seal ;D