Measuring Crabs

[bluecrab2u]

I would like to know how you're supposed to measure a blue crab for its 5" (in MA) size. I mean, I know it is from point-to-point...what I am asking is, what do you use to do that? I just eyeball them and if they look like 5 inches, they belong to me. Is there a better way?

[Dr Phildo]

a tape measure might be a good start.

[bluecrab2u]

Here is what I have just found on Mass. Div. of Marine Fisheries:

Blue crabs must be measured with a special gauge to make sure that they are “keepers.” Check your local fishing supply store or Town Conservation Department for availability.
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Sounds like it might be the right tool for the job. I will check with the town conservation dept. where I crab.

[Dr Phildo]

All of the local tackle shops down our way have the guage you are talking about.  I've found it just as easy to keep a tape measure on the boat and lock it in place at 5¼" 

[bluecrab2u]

If I were crabbing from a boat, that would work. But it's just me, a net, and a bucket. I'm out there in the water and that's it. Used to drag around a canoe, but haven't done that lately. I'll see if I can turn up one of those tools. Either that, or trust my judgment that what I think is the legal 5 inches really is.

[wildturkey101]

Here's a link to a thread on here with a few ideas, or just make a simple one out of wood and paint it.

http://www.bluecrab.info/forum/index.php/topic,21213.0.html

[bluecrab2u]

Thanks. That gave me the idea of just getting a standard 12-inch ruler and chopping it off at 5". That will give me something I can keep in my pocket while I am out there in the water. Still might be a little tricky getting the crab to sit still, but worth a try. Of course, I could just keep the really BIG ones and not worry about it ;-) Seriously, there was a time when that would have been pretty easy to do, because I would find enough jumbos. Those days are gone forever, over a long time ago, as Steely Dan says.

If I run into any of your buddies, I'll give 'em your regards.

[Ronster]

I use an old shoe measurer set to the the keeper's length.

[SHELLFISH]

An easy way is to just wrap electrical tape around the bottom of the net; the basket part.
That way when you get close to the crab to scoop it you can tell about how big it is before you scoop.
I have mine set at 5.5 inches.

[crovaxtc]

I like that tape idea on the net.  I actually just had to make a few tools up because I was sick of the tape measure I was using.  Found a piece of plastic in the basement and started cutting away.  CT has the same 5" rule and all the bait shops have a standard one that the smallest size is 5 3/4" so that doesn't help. 

[headlessblade]

i use a piece of wood 4.5" that i cut painted white easy to see i hold the crabs and place it on there back

[Horsin]

I like that tape idea on the net.  I actually just had to make a few tools up because I was sick of the tape measure I was using.  Found a piece of plastic in the basement and started cutting away.  CT has the same 5" rule and all the bait shops have a standard one that the smallest size is 5 3/4" so that doesn't help. 

After almost 40 years the best thing I have found is a simple hair comb.
Simply take a common 7" plastic hair comb (I picked up half a dozen at a tag sale for a buck 2 years ago) leave the large end tooth and then measure a five inch gap and then remove the teeth (I use a sharp wood chisel and hammer) in that five inch range.
I keep mine in my back pocket and whip it out when I got the two claws immobilized with no fuss no bother.
Heck with the comb measure it takes me as little as 90 seconds to go from fresh out of the trap to have that crab either in the bucket or back in the water!

[Dr Phildo]

Please tell us you don't whip it out and do a quick swipe through your hair after each keeper?    

[Dreampixels]

The first Time I have ever heard of this, I admire you ingenuity

[crovaxtc]

After almost 40 years the best thing I have found is a simple hair comb.

That is an awesome idea.  Now I have to find some big tooth combs. 

[TAXI CRAB]

 I have a corian sink cut out I've been using as a cutting board. I think I'm gonna rip a piece off one side and make one that will last forever.   

[Horsin]

That is an awesome idea.  Now I have to find some big tooth combs. 

Thanks....I tried all the other things I read about in this thread (and more)over the years and I found them to be either too easy to break or too bulky or they get lost and are a pain to replace!
BTW any old used comb over 6 inch will do just fine!