Soft Crabbing - best way?

[dantheman2929]

Ok, I am sure some of you seen the post about my catch at Elk Neck. I am also sure most of you are familure with the grass in that area. I feel it would be a great place to get some quality softies without paying an arm and a leg for them!

So here are my questions,

What is the best time of day to start looking around?
What areas should i look in ? Grass beds, rocky areas, or what ?
What depths should i look in ? I noticed ALOT of sheds in the shallow water and on the beach. Also seen 1 6 1/2" softie on the beach. Had been dead for a little bit and was hot inside so i did not take a chance with it!
What equipment should i use? I heard they use to "rake" the area and they would swim out of the grass. Is this an effective method, or will walking through the grass beds have the same effect ?
Should i clean them and put them in the cooler on ice as soon as i come out of the water, or will they be ok out of water until i get home like hard crabs?


Thanks for the info, any help is greatful!!

[stinkbait]

grass is hard to come by anymore. your lucky you found some. my advise,  tie some floats to a basket -tie the basket to your waist-throw on some old sneakers-use any basic net you have-and just start walkin. this ,to me , has got to be the funnest way to crab .   if you got extra basket tie to you as well for all the doubler jimmies you might kick out .   doesnt really matter what time, its more about hittin it at low tide

[tugcapt]

I agree, walking is fun and easy for getting crabs out of grass.  You can use a inner tube or pool noddle (with hole in middle, run line through noodle and tie around basket) around basket to keep it afloat with some water in it.

The method I use with my boat is to drift down wind across the grass beds while standing in the boat.  You can dip the crabs as you see them. A long handled net works good so you can pole off the bottom and not lean over too much to dip.  I few drops of fish oil on the surface will make it easier to see. I've caught some big jimmies from the doublers out of grass.

[dantheman2929]

Will the soft crabs swim out of the grass? Or will i see a doubler, catch him and hope he is carrying a softie ? Or do they not swim out of the grass and I need to just have great eye sight to see them in the grass... lol I know it is an art, just trying to find some of the tricks of the trade! I would love to scoop enough up to make some spaghetti sauce with! man that would be good I like frying them up as well

[Crabbyd]

Will the soft crabs swim out of the grass? Or will i see a doubler, catch him and hope he is carrying a softie ? Or do they not swim out of the grass and I need to just have great eye sight to see them in the grass... lol I know it is an art, just trying to find some of the tricks of the trade! I would love to scoop enough up to make some spaghetti sauce with! man that would be good I like frying them up as well

http://www.bluecrab.info/crabbing/softcrabs.html

[Shootzie]

Best way is to buy them. It's not easy to get soft crabs any more.

[tugcapt]

Best way is to buy them. It's not easy to get soft crabs any more.

Says who? I already have a stock in my freezer from the last two crabbing trips. Where do you think all these crabs are coming from?

[capt. ron]

Most commercial guys have a set of shedding tanks in their yard.  Check out my post under softshell know how "softshells."  Shed those suckers in one day.

Ronnie

[Mr. Ray III]

I hate to say it but your probably wasting your time.  The grass is so thick, you usually can't see the bottom, or the water is cloudy.  Again, I don't think there are THAT many crabs in the grass.

[tugcapt]

That grass up there is more floating than what we have down here and a different kind of grass. I am used to crabbing further down the bay.  You guys may be right about finding soft crabs up there.  While fishing up there, it was a pain in the butt and thick.  The current doesn't help either.

[dantheman2929]

I read the "soft crabbing know how" it was helpful. Guess the only way for me to find out is to try! Trial and error. I am not looking for 20 softies, just a few to enjoy with my wife! I like the chase, I would rather attempt it my self than just pay someone for it. The worst thing that will happen is i get nothing

The way i was "crabbing" in order to eliminate the thick gras beds was to cast my chicken neck out into an area surrounded by grass. Then just walk out to the area the crab is in, raise him out of the grass and net him! Out of the 3 rods i was using it was pretty much non stop and I would say they were only 20 - 25' apart. The crabs were in there pretty thick. Maybe i just got lucky, maybe they are just in there and it is a honey hole since no one can really get in there to crab it!

The grass i will be walking is in about 2 - 3' of water and lower than that at low tide. I will let you all know if i go saturday how i do!

[EastonCrabber]

Find an area where you get a lot of doublers. I have a spot I go to and last trip out ( tuesday) I had 4 doublers that had softies. And about 3 times as many that had peelers

[tugcapt]

Also look for doublers on or around piles.  I got a nice one from a doubler off a pile last time out when I pulled the boat on the dock.  I also got 4 more in my traps off doublers, all nice except one, the biggest was starting to get hard, was ok to eat soft, but I froze it for taug bait instead.  When I clean them, I save the aprons for bait as well.

Whatever you do, good luck and let us know how you do.  If I get a chance to pole for some this week, I will take some pics.

[dantheman2929]

I caught 4 doublers when i was out. 3 were really small and the 4th was a decent female. None were soft. There are alot of rocks in the area. would they be a good area to look ? When i say rocks I am talking rocks stacked that extend several hundred yards.

[EastonCrabber]

If the water is clear enough and theres water on the rocks even at low tide then yes they will sit there. And I agree TugCapt I also usually find a good amount on the pilings even during the heat of the day.

[dantheman2929]

I have to say I am pretty stoked about getting out there and seeing how well i do, I will let you all know how excited I am at 2pm in 95 degree heat lol 

[blwalt17]

Keep us posted on this. I'd like to see how you're did and maybe try my hand at it.

[DoubledareDan]

If the water is clear enough and theres water on the rocks even at low tide then yes they will sit there. And I agree TugCapt I also usually find a good amount on the pilings even during the heat of the day.

I think that is key, if the water is clear enough to see... other wise you will be well just a wishen and a swishin.

[dantheman2929]

I could see down to the bottom in about 3' of water. Not sure how clear the water needs to be... But I will be there are sun-up on monday trying my hand at this! I seen some people wade all the way out to the rock wall when I was there last week. So the water should not be that deep.

[blwalt17]

I could see down to the bottom in about 3' of water. Not sure how clear the water needs to be... But I will be there are sun-up on monday trying my hand at this! I seen some people wade all the way out to the rock wall when I was there last week. So the water should not be that deep.

Try not to get run over out there.

[DoubledareDan]

Good point... got a bright colored hunting hat?... not for you but to put ontop of the floating basket, hate to have them good softies get chomped up by a wayward prop. 

[dantheman2929]

They area I will be crabbing is designated for fishing and swimming. There are markers about 100 yrds off shore marking a " no boating area " Just another reason to love this spot!

[blwalt17]

How'd you do?

[dantheman2929]

I was not able to get out there tonight. Had to spend the day in the ER with my daughter. She fell off of her bike and cut her arms and legs up pretty good. Wife called me in a panic thinking she might have broken something. I could have went out this afternoon but decided not to!

[DoubledareDan]

Good man! The crabs can waite but your daughter will always remember how you were there for her.