I want Crabs!

[inshorebasher]

Question guys? I want to know if the offshore fisherman have ever used blue crabs offshore on bottom to catch grouper, snapper etc...

i was planning on getting some and cutting them into 1/4's like i do when i redfish and wanted to know if the same principal could be used offshore.

Jay I know you would know........but also many times i see lots of offshore fish regurgatate crabs once surfaced so I was thinking maybe a good bait.

Get at me!
-Eddie

[grouperscooper]

Re: I want Crabs!

Jax bus station,downtown......

third stall.....

give it about 5 minutes and PRESTO!!!

All the crabs ya need.

[inshorebasher]

^bump^

never been there don't wanna do that! lmao! <(, .. ,)>

seriously is it good for red snapper bait? i would like to know for sure before i try it.

[jab]

there has to be crabs around the rocks and wrecks and stuff.

[no1painter]

I saw a fishing show once and the guide said a surefire way to get the grouper was to hook a pin and a blue crab on the same hook. Painter

[bodysnatcher]

I used one once years ago in the gulf and just about got yanked out of the boat. Never did land it the line gave in.

[steelcity]

Grouper would eat $hit on a stick if you presented it right. They love crabs. We were out yesterday and I caught a keeper red. Upon removing my hook, he spit out a nice size crab. I took that crab and sent it right back down. Next thing you know a keeper gag gets slid into the box. Was a bit bumpy yesterday but laid down in the afternoon. Boat ended up with 6 gags, 3 reds, a few nice sea bass, and one hungry mango.

[tarponfishnut]

Over the years, I have used "some" crabs for bait. I used to go fishing at the second bridge out on Dunedin Causeway, you know, the little bridge. I used to walk the shore line on the North side when the tide was right, and flip rocks looking for baby Stone Crabs (yes! Its illegal now) or any other kind of crab or bait I could find. I've hooked many a 10# mol Sheapshead out there & a few 10-15# Reds on the Crabs. One time I hooked something so big, fishing on the North side of that bridge, on a crab, and it just kept going like a slow moving Train, and took me right under the bridge till it broke my line! MAN was I pi**ed!! Never got a look at it, so I don't know what it was.......... BESIDES 'VERY' BIG!!!

I've tried dead blue crabs offshore, but have never had any really good luck on them. However, as "STEELCITY" has said, I have caught grouper that have spit out crabs, so I imagine they would work. Maybe better if their live!

There is a new lure on the market, that is a crab imitation, which I haven't tried it yet but it looks pretty impressive,. the website is: lures.cwcrab.com/.

Anyhow, good luck!! Tight lines & full coolers!!!

[inshorebasher]

anyhow so the crabs were a bust! i bought about 13 and ate 7 of them and had 6 left. couple of things that weren't on my side with them.

1. water was dirty
2. fish weren't biting (whole or cut crab)
3. grouper were pretty non existent
4. felt taps from chicken snapper but couldn't set the hook.
5. damn i wish i weren't on a party boat!


whatever i'm posting usless info about my crabby expierence but maybe someone can try it out and let me know how it worked for them. but i froze 2 left over and will save it for redfish or drum bait.

[jab]

what i do for red bait is take a whole crab, pop of the top shell, pop of the claws, and then split it in half right under fown the middle, then hook it through the cartilage under the back flipper.

[Look'n4Tuna]

I've been out to a few shorelines lately and haven't seen any fiddlers or any crabs for that fact. Are they still available this time of year, or do they go into hiding when it gets colder? Although it hasn't been real cold lately.