Crabbing with Crab Pots

Materials:

Crab pots ($15-$40 depending on style)

Crab tongs

Bait (3-4 packs of chicken necks or other to fill chamber)

Thick, long *rope
*this rope will be significantly thicker than the very thin rope that you use with “hand line method” and even the double ring trap method.

Getting started

Go to your crabbing location. Best locations will be docks and bridges over waterways, creeks, etc. Open the closed chamber in rising up into the middle of the pot. Fill the chamber with bait. Close the chamber. Attach a sturdy rope to the top of the pot. Make sure your name is attached somewhere (some states require this legally to use a crab pot).

Drop your pot into the water, and tie off the rope to a secure location. Check it within the hour. If there are crabs, open the box on the top. Use the tongs to remove the crabs. Remember, toss back the “too small” crabs (contact your DNR for the size requirements in your state) so that they can grow and mature to full size. Keep the full size crabs. Place the good crabs in the cooler or bucket.