Now, let me tell ya, I’ve been around a bit and seen a lotta things in me time. One thing I know for sure is that if you wanna catch crabs, you gotta know a thing or two ‘bout them crab pots. Oh, they’re mighty handy, them pots, for bringing in a good haul of them crabs, especially the Dungeness crabs. Let me explain how it all works. It ain’t that hard, really, just gotta know where to put ‘em and when.
First off, you need to get yourself a proper crab pot. Now, these pots, they ain’t just any ol’ basket, no sir! They’re special, made to trap them crabs and keep ’em in. The way these things work is real simple. The crabs, see, they’re curious little critters. They’ll go in through an opening, but they won’t find their way out. You gotta make sure them pots have the right funnel on ‘em, ‘cause that’s how they trap them crabs inside. There’s a kinda trick to it though; if ya don’t set ‘em up right, the crabs might just scurry right on out again. So make sure them escape rings are working fine, especially if you’re after the big ones. The little ones, well, they get out easier.
Now, when it comes to setting them pots, you gotta think like a crab. You see, crabs like to hang out in places where they can find food and hide from danger. So, you gotta think about the depth of the water. Them crabs, they ain’t picky, but they do like it best between five to seven feet deep. But don’t just stop there, no ma’am, you need to test different depths to see where they’re hiding. Crabs can be sneaky, and the weather and tide can make ‘em move around. So, it’s always good to set a few pots in different spots, just to be sure you ain’t missin’ out on a good catch.
And I’ll tell ya this, the weather ain’t always your friend either. Them crabs, they can be tricky little things, and they move with the tide. Sometimes they’ll be deep down, other times they might be closer to the shore. If you’re really serious about catchin’ them, you’ve got to be prepared to move around and adjust. That means keepin’ an eye on the weather and the tides, ‘cause that’s what’ll tell ya where the crabs are hiding. If you ain’t paying attention, you might just find yourself sittin’ empty-handed, and that ain’t no good, no sir.
Another thing you need to think about, once you’ve caught them crabs, is how to keep ‘em alive. You see, crabs, they can’t stay outta water for too long. You gotta keep ‘em fresh if you wanna sell ‘em or eat ‘em later. The best way to do that is with a saltwater tank. You don’t want just any ol’ tank though, no sir. You need one that’s got good filtration and aeration, so the water stays clean and full of oxygen. Without it, well, the crabs might not make it long. They’ve got a habit of urinating in the water, and if the water ain’t filtered, it can turn all bluish and nasty-like. That’ll spoil the meat and ruin your whole catch.
And here’s another thing, you gotta keep an eye on them pots once they’re set. Them crabs, they’ll escape if they get the chance, especially the little ones. The big ones, they’ll usually stay put for a while. But you can’t just forget about ’em and leave ‘em for days on end. You gotta check ‘em every once in a while, ‘cause once them triggers go up, them crabs know it’s time to make a break for it. They’re crafty little creatures, and if you ain’t careful, you’ll lose half of ‘em before you even get back to check.
So, to wrap it all up, if you wanna be successful at catchin’ them Dungeness crabs, you gotta make sure your pots are in the right spot, at the right depth, and you need to keep ‘em fresh once you catch ‘em. And don’t forget to check ‘em often, ‘cause them crabs, they can be as slippery as a fish in water! But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be catchin’ crabs like a pro in no time. And I’ll tell ya, there ain’t nothing better than a nice plate of fresh crab, especially if you’ve done the hard work yourself!
Tags: [Dungeness Crab, Crab Pots, Catching Crabs, Crab Fishing, Crab Traps, Crab Pot Setup, How to Catch Crabs, Crab Fishing Tips]
