Best "Bushel Basket" Ever

[fishnchip]

I have found a cleaned 5 gallon paint bucket with many 1/2 inch holes drilled into it works great as a crab basket.  The bottom never falls out and if you string it through the bucket, not with the handle, you will never lose it.  This allows me to dunk the crabs while on the boat or on the shore to keep them alive for the day.   Keep another 5 gallon bucket with no holes in the car.  Place the "holy bucket" inside the bucket with no holes, add ice and cap with the lid to keep them "fresh".  I've never had water in the car or crabs on the seat using this method.  Bungie into a pick-up bed. 

[tattoo]

nice, I got a bushel basket from a fruit stand, it is heavey with lots of holes,. in it the handles are on top .orks great for me.

[Syoung]

Only problem with the 5 gallon bucket is you are 3 gallons short. I found a guy in Rising Sun Maryland that will sell the orange plastic bushel baskets for $10.00, so I bought 2 of them.

[Crabbyd]

Only problem with the 5 gallon bucket is you are 3 gallons short. I found a guy in Rising Sun Maryland that will sell the orange plastic bushel baskets for $10.00, so I bought 2 of them.

the orange baskets are bigger then a bushel but work great and hard to tear up.

[fishnchip]

My buckets were free from my last jobsite.  They also fit better in the trunk of the car, have a good lid, and also fits in the fishbox on my boat.  They are also much easier to carry due to the handle on the bucket.  I've used the "fruit baskets" in the past, but after a while, they tend to smell and develop "growth", especially when stored outside.  Plastic is easy to clean.  The metal rings also left marks on the deck of the boat.  Bring two buckets, you will be a few gallons ahead and have room for ice.  One bucket works for me as I only keep what I will use (rest of the family doesn't like crabs).  I've seen the commercial guys at the marina use the orange baskets.  They seem to work good.  $10 don't sound too bad either. 

The best thing is to use what works for you, the bucket was just a suggestion. 

Bill. 

[Crab Shack]

The best thing is to use what the DNR considers legal.  That way you won't raise any red flags. 

[Seaweed]

The orange baskets don't hold moisture like wooden baskets do.  You'll probably have more dead loss on a hot day with the plastic baskets.

[tattoo]

not really. I have burlap that I wet on the bottom the middle and the top.

[Seaweed]

not really. I have burlap that I wet on the bottom the middle and the top.

Gotcha.  Sounds like extra work.  I guess thats why I use wooden baskets.

[Syoung]

I never take more than 4 dozen since I would be wasting them. I never have any problem with the 9 gallon plastic basket being full! Once I get around 3 dozen I just start culling and keeping the bigger ones. I put the rest back for y'all and the next trip down.

[tattoo]

thanks. 

[procrabber]

The orange baskets don't hold moisture like wooden baskets do.  You'll probably have more dead loss on a hot day with the plastic baskets.

you will have more dead loss.  even if you lose 1-2 more crabs in a plastic basket, it would be worth it to buy wood.  whatever you guys do, dont spend $10 on a wood basket.  just swing by and pick some up from me for $2 a piece.. i hate seeing people get ripped off 

[Syoung]

If you keep a wet towel on top of the crabs in the plastic bucket will it help. I was thinking about making a plastic lid for it as well. I like to have them anyway to throw the pieces of carp that we shoot in after we cut them up into chunks for a rapter recovery place that uses them to feed the injured gulls, ospreys and bald eagles.