Bull lip questions

[TC]

I want to try using bull lips this season and was hoping to get a few questions answered and hear your opinions.  The questions include:

How many trips can I expect to get before replacing lips?  I get 1 maybe 2 using chicken necks.

Methods and tool used to cut lips.  I've seen a few opinions on this, such as when frozen, salt for 3-4 days and then cut.

what kind of salt do you suggest?

How long can I keep baited line in a salt brine?  Will it last a month or longer outside (like on boat), or does it need to be in cool dry place (garage)?

Thanks for any answers and opinions to the above!

[Crabbyd]

be prepared when you go to purchase a case of them.  Take a band aid.  They have more than doubled so far this year.  C&C wants $120/60 lbs right now.

now to answer some of your questions:

The number of trips will be determined by the amount it is used and how long per day with the number of crabs biting.  I used to get 3-5 days out of them with minimal refreshing of the bait each day.  It will also be determined by how well salted they are and how well you keep them salted after each use.

I cut the lips with a very sharp butchering knife but it is a pain and a paper cutter or similar is much better. 

Personally, if you are not a commercial crabber, stick with necks.  Much cheaper and easier.

[Big Liar]

Crabbyd,

     Do you have a chest freezer?  I've found a much cheaper source if your interested.  I just picked up just under 300lbs. but he had another 300lbs sitting there in his freezer and is butchering more every day.

[TAXI CRAB]

I don't think they catch as well as necks . Last season I baited my line with necks and lips (switched every other ) and the necks caught  much better. 

[Dreampixels]

I don't think they catch as well as necks . Last season I baited my line with necks and lips (switched every other ) and the necks caught  much better.  

I can agree and I can disagree. When the population is heavy with undersize crabs you have a better chance of catching your quota with bull lips or a harder bait for them to consume.
Chicken Necks may indeed yield more crabs, but when they are undersize are thick the Bull Lips and such give you are better chance at filling your baskets with out re-baiting or calling it a day because your bait is gone.

On the days when keeper size crabs out number the juveniles I am in your court and "That's the Truth" - Edith Ann

Like the weather it is a variable. It all depends on the conditions. Are Raincoats and Umbrellas a good thing to carry everyday, No unless it is raining.

 

[fishingtom]

I can agree and I can disagree. When the population is heavy with undersize crabs you have a better chance of catching your quota with bull lips or a harder bait for them to consume.
Chicken Necks may indeed yield more crabs, but when they are tick and undersize the Bull Lips and such give you are better chance at filling your baskets with out re-baiting or calling it a day because your bait is gone.

On the days when keeper size crabs out number the juveniles I am in your court and "That's the Truth" - Edith Ann

Don't forget pig tongue, it's cheaper than both and tough as lips...

[shedking]

Cow nose.

[Ronster]

I can agree and I can disagree, as clearly potatoes out catch both lips and necks.

Fixed your quote from above.

[crewstation]

I am in your court and "That's the Truth" - Edith Ann

Wow, two days and two Laugh-In references.  Bet you can't make it three in a row.  Speaking of court, "Her come da judge, here come the judge, order in the court 'cause here come da judge."

Like the weather it is a variable. It all depends on the conditions. Are Raincoats and Umbrellas a good thing to carry everyday, No unless it is raining.

Ved-d-d-d-d--d-y Interesting, but shtupid!          Oops, just fell off my tricycle. 

[Crabbyd]

Crabbyd,

     Do you have a chest freezer?  I've found a much cheaper source if your interested.  I just picked up just under 300lbs. but he had another 300lbs sitting there in his freezer and is butchering more every day.

Yes, I have 3 chest freezers and a walk in and will buy more if needed.  .  Much better price?

[TC]

thanks for all the advice, i think I'll give it a try, I'm curious.   

Also, just visited c&c, I work in same industrial park as them, the current price for bull lips this week is $1.50lb.  They come in a 60# box, and chicken necks are $0.59lb and the box weights 40#.

If you live in hte annapolis area, work right next to C&C so I can bring my truck to work and pick up a load for you.  Let me know.

thanks!

[Dreampixels]

Wow, two days and two Laugh-In references.  Bet you can't make it three in a row.  Speaking of court, "Her come da judge, here come the judge, order in the court 'cause here come da judge."

Ved-d-d-d-d--d-y Interesting, but shtupid!          Oops, just fell off my tricycle. 

Ok I'll give up cause it looks like "You Socked it to me" Goldie Hawn

[fishingtom]

Where, Oh Where are You Tonight?   Pfft you were gone...

[crewstation]

"You Socked it to me" Goldie Hawn

Bet your sweet bippy I did.

[Greenlady]

Have you ever tried using fish heads? I've used chicken necks and bull lips before, but now my bait of choice is a fish head.  A local lifetime crabber turned me on to them and I swear by them now. You can usually find them for free from local Fisherman at the end of the day when they are cleaning their catch, most of them just throw the heads away anyways. Just put the heads in a bag in the fridge overnight to use them the next day.  1 baseball sized head will last me about 3-4 hours,when I'm baiting and dipping and they usually won't even have fully picked it yet, but I find that keeping the bait fresh makes it more tempting bait than one that has been sitting in the water for hours.   I've see huge crabs that won't come near chicken necks and bull lips (I guess the bigger ones are smarter), but they will not budge off a fish head even if you have to drag your bait line a bit before you can net him. 

 

[crabman1969]

thanks for all the advice, i think I'll give it a try, I'm curious.   

Also, just visited c&c, I work in same industrial park as them, the current price for bull lips this week is $1.50lb.  They come in a 60# box, and chicken necks are $0.59lb and the box weights 40#.

If you live in hte annapolis area, work right next to C&C so I can bring my truck to work and pick up a load for you.  Let me know.

thanks!

  Foul necks is an alternative!  tougher then chicken necks i here.  never used them personally.

[flounderpounder]

Have you ever tried using fish heads? I've used chicken necks and bull lips before, but now my bait of choice is a fish head.  A local lifetime crabber turned me on to them and I swear by them now. You can usually find them for free from local Fisherman at the end of the day when they are cleaning their catch, most of them just throw the heads away anyways. Just put the heads in a bag in the fridge overnight to use them the next day.  1 baseball sized head will last me about 3-4 hours,when I'm baiting and dipping and they usually won't even have fully picked it yet, but I find that keeping the bait fresh makes it more tempting bait than one that has been sitting in the water for hours.   I've see huge crabs that won't come near chicken necks and bull lips (I guess the bigger ones are smarter), but they will not budge off a fish head even if you have to drag your bait line a bit before you can net him. 

 

400 fish heads on a line makes for a BIG HEAVY line....used to use flounder heads in a trap or a hand line.....but a trotline....may be a lil much..

[Ronster]

You might catch a few Coneheads on a line baited with 400 fish heads.

[flounderpounder]

You might catch a few Coneheads on a line baited with 400 fish heads.

  maybe even a pinhead..

[Crab Shack]

FISH HEADS

[fishingtom]

I use Jack Percells...

[threesuns1]

Boy these bull lips look tasty.

[flounderpounder]

Boy these bull lips look tasty.

those are lips? looks like toungue to me....  but what do I know

[flounderpounder]

those are lips? I think Ill stick to chicken....looks like toungue.......but what do I know

[threesuns1]

those are lips? looks like toungue to me....  but what do I know

I just searched "bull lips" and that was one of the few pics I could post, I was wondering what they looked like. It was a very scary search, you should have seen all the nasty stuff that came up!