Pass Crabs 101

[SkyJay]

Not really a current event post, but
when the flush commences the local
fish adjust and pattern to feed on what
Mother provides.
I've been preaching on here for years
about the value as forage, and effectivness
of the Pass Crabs as bait at the Skyway.
I've caught a literal ton of fish on them out
there and nothing beats free bait besides
free beer. 😉
Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper, Snook,
Tarpon, Cobia they all love to feast on
the Crabs under the right conditions.
Also a little bonus video on Gags here
by our old Pals Joshua Taylor, and
Chris Canning
(borrowed from their
Youtube channel.)
I suggest everyone subscribe and study
up on their stuff. Theyve worked hard
to provide this resource for us all
so we might as well make use of this
Goldmine of information.
Thanks guys!

[SkyJay]

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z16JbtU4olk

[SkyJay]

m.youtube.com/watch?v=S47VxOsmtdc

[SkyJay]

m.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ3tAS4BBH8

[aussieguy]

excellent videos ... thanks for sharing sky

[phishead]

Dec 17, 2019 23:47:14 GMT -5 SkyJay said:

Not really a current event post, but
when the flush commences the local
fish adjust and pattern to feed on what
Mother provides.
I've been preaching on here for years
about the value as forage, and effectivness
of the Pass Crabs as bait at the Skyway.
I've caught a literal ton of fish on them out
there and nothing beats free bait besides
free beer. 😉
Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper, Snook,
Tarpon, Cobia they all love to feast on
the Crabs under the right conditions.
Also a little bonus video on Gags here
by our old Pals Joshua Taylor, and
Chris Canning
(borrowed from their
Youtube channel.)
I suggest everyone subscribe and study
up on their stuff. Theyve worked hard
to provide this resource for us all
so we might as well make use of this
Goldmine of information.
Thanks guys!

This may be a silly question but do they use a bobber stopper and set to a certainly distance like 1-2 ft above the bottom or do they let the crab touch the bottom.
And where can you get such long nets?

[parkpass]

No man, they're using those popping bobbers that slide on a wire with those sexy beads....lame way to fish for sheepshead in my opinion . They probably weren't after sheepshead, the sheep's just happened to come up and hit. Cobia cruise those piers and they will inhale those crabs. I made my own crab catcher with a telescoping fiberglass pole, attached a crab net to the end and it won't flex like the one they use

[carlf]

Could probably get a telescopic painters pole and rig up a net like that.

[parkpass]

Plenty of time, I don't see many pass crabs this time of year anyway. If you do try to get some do it on a ripping afternoon outgoing tide during a new or full moon. You can get them with a 4ft castnet, watch for big clumps of grass coming thru, they hang in those clumps and you could get 6-8 with one drop. Small sheep's won't mess with them much so if you catch some they should be hawgs

[SkyJay]

the corks are used to keep the bait up
vs down in this instance.
when Im targeting Snapper around the bridge
i use just enough weight to swim the crab
mid to lower water column but in this
case the fish are keying on the crabs swimming
on top to mid coloumn.
Theyre in ambush mode looking up,
attacking the bait from below.
The first thing a scared Pass Crab who
just had a hook stuck in him does is dive
for the bottom.
So... the cork keeps em up in the water where
the fish are looking.
The idea is to mimic a free floating of swimming
crab, being carried with the tide.
I personally have only seen this phenomena
occur during maximunmn flush, and the crabs
are numerous/thick.
Not saying they wont eat em on the bottom
just that this is a spring/summer pattern
in my experience.
I prefer the little mud Crabs this time of
year.
As far as the cork goes i believe any
cork would work, provided it keeps the
bait up high.
The beaded/weighted corks give the
advantage of a longer cast when needed,
The clacking sound is believed to
attract the fish but idk.
I do know this... Josh is one of the
all time best fishermen ever to hit
the Skyway and if the fish are there,
he will catch them.
His advise and techniques are all
the best available.
Especially when it comes to finding
the big ole Gags at the skyway

[Salty Scales]

I appreciate the share Skyjay, good folks such as yourself really help us to get the good word out. Thank you!

Check out the link in my signature for great grouper tips.