Need SW Florida (Fort Myers Beach) Crabbing Tips Please

[anamealreadyinuse]

Can anyone share with me some tips for locating crabs throughout the year around Fort Myers Beach (Matanzas Pass) area?  I know some times of the year they are closer to the ocean and other times up in the mangroves and back bay but not sure when.  Also looking for any other tips you can offer including bait, where to throw traps etc. that seem to work best for the area.

Thanks in advance!

[prosh442]

That's a good area for crabs, I know the commercial crabber that crabs that area. Best time seems to be all year except when it gets cold. The back bays of matanzas pass is where the big boys come from. I have seen some monster crab come out of there. Look for the trap bouys back in there. I'm over in Sanibel , haven't found any big crabs , but I will. Good luck , let us know how you do !!

[anamealreadyinuse]

Thanks for the tip...It's weird, I can't find a single trap buoy even in the channels back in there right now though?  Do you know where the commercial guys are grabbing in the summer time?

[prosh442]

You should be able to spot bouys all through the pass.I went with a comm crabber last yr all through that area. He had traps out all over . He is still crabbing 2 times a week back there. There's a huge marina I remember with a big metal building for indoor boat storage. It's on Fmb, we went out of the pass into the back bay area opposite of that marina.it's real shallow back there !! That's where the big crabs were. Good luck.

[anamealreadyinuse]

Hmmm, are you talking about Matanzas Pass under the big bridge?

[prosh442]

we went under the small bridge just before the big one. in matansas pass.On the back side of Estero island.look on a map or google earth.theres big back bay area about half way down estero island..

[anamealreadyinuse]

Okay, I think I know where you are talking...looking at google map and I am pretty sure he went under the bridge from Pelican Bay into Hurricane Bay...if this is the case, that is good...as I have pots soaking in that area right now 

[prosh442]

thats it,huricane bay.. im real surprised you dont see his floats out there.I think there green and white.. if you see him out there,his name is PJ..just dont mess with his traps !!

[anamealreadyinuse]

I'm back up in there but approached from the matanzas side and am not all the way up into hurricane where he was...looking over the map I realized I am just barely touching good grounds...can't wait!

[prosh442]

there is a creek that comes in way back in the corner of huricane bay.he was getting MONSTERS out of there.I have bought 8.5"-9" crabs from him out of there.. if you want to go crabbin some time let me know.I have some pullup traps that a buddy made in Maryland.they work great.and i have 1 big pot too. what are you using for bait ?

[anamealreadyinuse]

Sounds good, we will have to set something up.  Right now I am using frozen ladyfish I kept and also some chicken neck.  Neither is working well as far as dropping in my pots and letting them soak for a few days as both are not holding up.  What do you recommend for leaving a few days and holding up?  I heard pigs feet or bull lip but have not tired either? 

[prosh442]

I was told pigs feet too. I have a pot out in the Bayou here i put pigs hocks in it on Sunday.Going to check today and see.. The comm guy over there uses fresh cut fish scraps and fish heads. Im having a hard time finding any big crabs over here.just bought a 14" jon boat on sat.put a new trolling motor on it and its the perfect crab boat.have you tried a trot line yet?

[anamealreadyinuse]

Congrats, sound like a perfect boat!  Where are you crabbing out of?  Let me know on the how the hocks go, looks like a good choice as well.  Going to call Publix and get pricing on both.

[prosh442]

Im on Sanibel,basically ive been crabbing on and around the island.The Nature refuge is the best place so far,but you can only use dip nets,no bait. and there not that big. now that i have this boat,i can get out in the water and explore a lot more. the 5 trap rule sucks.. unless your right on the crab its hard to get enouph.. I would like to try a trot line sometime,but its alot of work.

[prosh442]

what size boat do you have ? what are you using for traps ? have you caught anything yet ? are you new to the area?

[anamealreadyinuse]

That is surprising, I figured it being so pristine that the crab would be crawling all over the place.  Is that a restriction set on the whole nature preserve, no pots?  I heard there was a place on the bayside called Coral Creek Inlet that was good for crabbing but not sure if pots or traps.  Trotline sounds interesting, I will read up on it...might be a good way to work together around that 5 pot limit which I agree is just plain silly.  Hope you have a potful today!

[anamealreadyinuse]

We have a sailboat off of FMB docked right by matanzas and I scoot around on a 6ft. electric dinghy which makes for an interesting time when I am moving the gear

I used to live in cape coral and could usually rely on half a dozen nice size ones when I threw the trap out every week or so.  I am using the standard 4 entry crab trap with parlor but am going to take a swack at making my own based off the plans on this site, I have some ideas for tinkering on the design I'll post pics once I am done.  I need to re-read the specs as well on what is allowed.

[prosh442]

yes the nature preserve has a no traps no bait rule.. trot line cost about $100 for 1000'.if you put chic necks every 5 ft thats 200 baits in the water compared to 5 traps .the only thing is you have to be on the crabs .if your not in a good spot its a waist of time.. if i were you id go back in hurcane bay at low tide with a dip net and dip for them.You can prob see them in the shallows..I do this in the back bay of the refuge.

[anamealreadyinuse]

Hey there,

Hey FYI...I just talked to a guy down on the beach and he said the crab have moved out to the ocean side of sanibel???  I guess they are dipnetting them right off the beach...  Might explain the lack of pots in the back bay maybe? 

[prosh442]

I just got back from checking my pot, there were 8 crabs 6 keepers. The pig hocks work good, they were almost gone after 2 days though . Steaming them up right now !! Have to get some more pots ..

[anamealreadyinuse]

Niiiiice!  Enjoy!!!  I'm checking mine Thursday, can't wait!

[prosh442]

They were good ! The trolling motor isn't going to cut it . To slow..the bayou is 2 miles long. Takes forever to explore it. I had to turn back because the sky was getting dark and I heard thunder .but my guess is a trot line in the bayou would be ideal. It's not very deep, 1-4 ' ..but it's all sandy muddy bottom, no grasses what so ever .

[Greatharvest1]

People in SW Florida.. Try brining or salting your chicken Necks  They last lots longer

[captaincrab55]

People in SW Florida.. Try brining or salting your chicken Necks  They last lots longer

But they will lose some Natural Juices....

[possomcat]

I'm so excited to find this forum and you two guys in Sanibel/Ft. Meyers.  Our family has grown and now we all meet and rent a house in Sanibel/Captiva every year.  Looking to go crabbing without the kids. Crabbed in New Jersey and try where ever I go.  Do I need a boat or can I find a dock, pier whatever.  This year we are renting near the Green Flash restaurant, the Ole Timmy's Nook. Was wondering how the Roosevelt channel is?