10 or 12 inch crab traps

[psoin]

I'm getting ready to place an order for crab traps but can't decide which size to order.
Is there any advantage/disadvantage with either size.
Thanks!

[Crab Shack]

If you're going to crab in Louisiana,  you're going to need the 12 inch traps.  Since 10" crabs are caught there on a regular basis, the 10" traps would make for a tight fit... (inside joke... )

[Ronster]

 

[Potty Mouth]

Recreational crabbers can have traps up to 15" x 20" here in MD I believe...  The Big Guns work nicely!   2 or 3 crabs per trap is a nice pull.... gets heavy...  but, I've caught crabs in small traps, big traps...  jus' depends if you're at the right spot...

[Crab Shack]

Recreational crabbers can have traps up to 15" x 20" here in MD I believe...  The Big Guns work nicely!   2 or 3 crabs per trap is a nice pull.... gets heavy...  but, I've caught crabs in small traps, big traps...  jus' depends if you're at the right spot...

Makes a lot of sense...and if you're in the right spot having a bigger trap with more bait can't hurt.

[thedutchtouch]

off the top of my head:
10":
advantage- lighter, take up less room in boat, can stack in a milkcrate (if topless), slightly cheaper.
disadvantage- smaller, MAY catch less (dont know if there's really any proof of this)

12":
advantage- bigger, may catch more (see above)
disadvantage-  slightly more expensive, heavier, take up more room in boat, can't stack in milkcrate

when building mine, the ability to stack in milkcrates, and the # of traps i could make per roll of mesh were the deciding factors. trap weight factors in in two ways 1- pulling them all day long (where the slightly larger surface area will make the 12 inch traps slightly harder to pull when underwater... not super noticable, but it may add up, and 2- you'll need more float to float the 12" in case you drop it in a hole/area deeper than your line, etc.

[Ronster]

I have 10" traps and like them.   

[on the hook]

Believe Md says 144sq inch footprint...........12 X 12 or equal 10 X 14 etc.........

[Crabbyd]

Believe Md says 144sq inch footprint...........12 X 12 or equal 10 X 14 etc.........

http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/08/08.02.03.01.htm

08.02.03.01

.01 Crabbing Gear.
A. Lawful Gear.

(1) A person may catch crabs in the tidal waters of Maryland only with the gear authorized in this chapter.

(2) Diving Apparatus. A person may not possess or catch crabs in the tidal waters of Maryland using diving apparatus by itself, or in conjunction with any of the other methods authorized in this chapter.

(3) Gear designated to catch crabs and defined in this chapter, except for a seine, is not considered a net under the definition listed in COMAR 08.02.05.02.

B. Recreational Gear—Definitions.

(1) The gear defined in this section may be used to catch crabs for recreational purposes.

(2) "Collapsible crab trap" means a manually operated, portable device:

(a) Having a flat bottom not more than 20 inches by 15 inches, and not more than four articulated sides; and

(b) Designed so that failure to apply manually exerted tension on the closing mechanism allows the crabs to escape.

(3) "Crab net ring" means netting supported by a ring-shaped rim less than or equal to 30 inches in diameter.

(4) "Crab pot" means a cube-shaped or rectangular shaped device with openings toward the inside for the entrance of crabs.

(5) "Dip net" means a mesh bag of netting or wire which is suspended from a circular, oval, or a rectangular frame attached to a handle.

(6) "Handline" means a fishing line managed primarily by hand.

(7) "Trotline" means a length of rope or line, buoyed at both ends with one or more anchors, which is baited without hooks or snares at intervals for the purpose of catching crabs.

( "Seine" means an encircling type of net which is not more than 50 feet long and 5 feet wide.

[CrabDog]

I have all 3 sizes.. the 10 x 10 pack better and take less space...use them in early season summer.. less to pull and can work em faster.... and pull more as they are easier... my 12 x 12 have several springs and can load several baits which leads to 2 plus crabs sometimes...... both are good all season.. take up a bit more space .... but can catch multiple crabs.....and my big guns 15 x 20 have 6 baits springs and catch mulitple crabs alot.. but take twice the space and are HEAVY to pull.....and cost a lot more
but work great in fall when the final runs hits...... I like the 10 x 10 as my base... use 12 x 12 with em.... most of the year mix in 15x20 in fall and lose some of my 12 x 12 in their place....  they all work  and have a specific need....if you are just starting out.. I would go with 10 x 10 as they are cheaper and easiest to use, store, and take least space in boat and cost the least.... My one idea would be to make sure you use a float big enough to float your traps so that you never lose any.... that is the best advice to give.....if you throw it in 20 ft of water with 10 ft of rope it will float and you will save sinking them.....
once you get a rig of 10 x 10 you can add in some of the 12 x 12 or 15 x 20... I do not use a milk crate either to stake em as then when you lay yor gear you still have 3 milk crates in the boat taking up space.. I use bungees wrapped around the base of the first trap.  when gear is in water three bungee's get placed in my storage compartment and no space wasted in boat.. really helpful with smaller boats.. I only have a 16 ft duck boat so space is at a premimium.

[on the hook]

I see that now. I have not crabbed in over 2 years, and pretty sure it "was" 144". The new size is over twice as big! I also see where only 25 traps, if I read it right, instead of the usual 30? Just checking...........My edit is that I see where this is Atlantic& tribs...........Chesapeake and tribs is 30.......

[KALknowsRAE]

I have 10" traps and like them.   

Yes. Go with the 10's. There is a web site where you can build your own over the winter. I can help you locate the materials if you are in the area.

[Crabbyd]

I see that now. I have not crabbed in over 2 years, and pretty sure it "was" 144". The new size is over twice as big! I also see where only 25 traps, if I read it right, instead of the usual 30? Just checking...........My edit is that I see where this is Atlantic& tribs...........Chesapeake and tribs is 30.......

Val

The size rule only changed about a year ago and you are correct with "it was 144 sq inches"  Not much has changed since you left but this is one of the few.

[on the hook]

That means I'll have to buy 60 more topless traps. They are 10X10, so I can wire 3 together as 1!

[CrabDog]

That means I'll have to buy 60 more topless traps. They are 10X10, so I can wire 3 together as 1!