Rookie Baiting Questions

[chef]

Well I'm looking forward to the start of the season this year.

Last summer was my first time crabbing. I did alright and my 8 year old son had a great time (getting 30+ crabs on a few of our trips). However looking back made me realize that parts it could have gone more smoothly had I asked members here some questions instead of winging it on my own like I did.

I used 4 door foxy-mate traps and decided that zip tying necks would be the way to go however I found it to be overly time consuming doing it this way. I'm interested in trying bait springs and I'd like to know where I can buy them since googling bait springs doesn't return much. Any other baiting tips would be appreciated as well.

I was also wondering where I can buy a reasonable amount of chicken necks. I've been to several supermarkets around my area and none of them sell them except for Weis. Unfortunately they only sell 40# boxes of necks. This is not an option as my wife would shoot me if she came home to a freezer full of chicken necks. Are there any supermarkets that sell 2-5# packs of necks within 30 miles of northwest Baltimore county?

[125blackfire]

Well I'm looking forward to the start of the season this year.

Last summer was my first time crabbing. I did alright and my 8 year old son had a great time (getting 30+ crabs on a few of our trips). However looking back made me realize that parts it could have gone more smoothly had I asked members here some questions instead of winging it on my own like I did.

I used 4 door foxy-mate traps and decided that zip tying necks would be the way to go however I found it to be overly time consuming doing it this way. I'm interested in trying bait springs and I'd like to know where I can buy them since googling bait springs doesn't return much. Any other baiting tips would be appreciated as well.

I was also wondering where I can buy a reasonable amount of chicken necks. I've been to several supermarkets around my area and none of them sell them except for Weis. Unfortunately they only sell 40# boxes of necks. This is not an option as my wife would shoot me if she came home to a freezer full of chicken necks. Are there any supermarkets that sell 2-5# packs of necks within 30 miles of northwest Baltimore county?

If you can, I suggest a deep freezer from ebay to store fish, and bait in. If you ever go with a trotline you can put that in their too.

You should be able to buy springs from homedepot, or ebay?

http://www.stackablecrabtraps.com/store.html

[Crabby Captn John]

Try a few local butcher shops. If they don't have them in the showcase- ask. There are a few grocery stores here that sell them in packages too small to be of use- about 1/2 a bait cafe per package. One store will sell by the 1/2 box.

[JIMMYCRAB]

Do you have a Mars grocery store around you??? They sell them in 2#-3# packs in season.

[CaptMoose]

Bait springs can be made from (wooden) storm door springs.  Cut them to length and bend the last two loops on each end downward to form the eyes used to attach them to the trap.

Another option is snoods which work just as well if not better and are definitely easier on the hands.  I and other members make and sell them.  Shoot me an email if interested.

[double E]

I second the snoods.

[shedking]

I third snoods. Never had a neck stolen with snoods. Lost more than mt share with springs.

[threesuns1]

I was not happy with springs, I fastened small battery clips to the bottom of the trap. Very easy to bait.

[Ronster]

I was also wondering where I can buy a reasonable amount of chicken necks. I've been to several supermarkets around my area and none of them sell them except for Weis. Unfortunately they only sell 40# boxes of necks. This is not an option as my wife would shoot me if she came home to a freezer full of chicken necks.

The way I see it you have two options.

1)  Buy a small, inexpensive chest freezer.
2)  Find a new wife.

 

[botsman]

He could buy a large freezer and store both the necks and the wife in there.....

[olclamman]

  if ya  store   the wife  in the freezer   you wont  need  necks

             
       seeya  down  the  bay  ( barnegat )     

[KI Crabber]

If you have no other option locally available, you can alway salt your necks. They do not require refrigeration once cured in salt. Richardson's in WhiteMarsh has them by the pound or by the box. Good Luck!

[Dreampixels]

He could buy a large freezer and store both the necks and the wife in there.....

Nice to see someone thinking outside the box

[Mutzy crab man]

I use chicken drum sticks.Buy them in bulk on sale and freeze.  ...FROM THE GREAT JOE CRABS..." IF YOU WANT BIG CRABS YOU GOTTA USE BIGGER BAIT"

[MetroMan]

Try to find an international supermarket/grocery store. I buy them from a local international market in small packages that range in weigth from 2-3 lbs.

[chef]

He could buy a large freezer and store both the necks and the wife in there.....

The thought has crossed my mind on more than one occasion!   

[CrabDog]

The thought has crossed my mind on more than one occasion!  

Chef,

both Mars grocery stores in Timonium sells them in 2-3 lb packs not the cheapest but if you are looking for small separated packages that would be the closest known place to get them.  One is at York Rd and Padonia Rd other is off York Rd just before you come down to Ridgley Rd.  They usually carry them until September... Normally if I am in a pinch and need enough for 30 topless traps I think 2 - 2 1/2 lb packs will suffice with about 20 necks each.  If they are real big I  break them in half.. that is enough to load all my traps and have 10-15 spare for rebaiting.... They are usually already frozen in these packs too so easier to deal with too.  I jut pull them out and threw them in a bucket in my garage before I go to work and when I get home they are only partially frozen but loose enough to break up and bait with depending on the temps outside.  I usually pre bait the night before they are thawed out and ready to roll the next morning.. I like to bait up ahead of time as it saves time on the water.....But normally I get a box fresh and then divide them up into packs of 30 necks in freezer bags and then I just grab a bag as I need.  I aalso use bait springs in my traps so whether the neck is still frozen or not doesn't matter as the spring will press down on th ebait as it thaws and keep it snug... IF you use tie wraps or other type tie downs in your trap.... you will have to go back and snug them if the necks are still partially or frozen otherwise you will have baits taken out of the traps when using them pretty easily...

[chef]

Chef,

both Mars grocery stores in Timonium sells them in 2-3 lb packs not the cheapest but if you are looking for small separated packages that would be the closest known place to get them.  One is at York Rd and Padonia Rd other is off York Rd just before you come down to Ridgley Rd.  They usually carry them until September... Normally if I am in a pinch and need enough for 30 topless traps I think 2 - 2 1/2 lb packs will suffice with about 20 necks each.  If they are real big I  break them in half.. that is enough to load all my traps and have 10-15 spare for rebaiting.... They are usually already frozen in these packs too so easier to deal with too.  I jut pull them out and threw them in a bucket in my garage before I go to work and when I get home they are only partially frozen but loose enough to break up and bait with depending on the temps outside.  I usually pre bait the night before they are thawed out and ready to roll the next morning.. I like to bait up ahead of time as it saves time on the water.....But normally I get a box fresh and then divide them up into packs of 30 necks in freezer bags and then I just grab a bag as I need.  I aalso use bait springs in my traps so whether the neck is still frozen or not doesn't matter as the spring will press down on th ebait as it thaws and keep it snug... IF you use tie wraps or other type tie downs in your trap.... you will have to go back and snug them if the necks are still partially or frozen otherwise you will have baits taken out of the traps when using them pretty easily...

Yes I have lost a few necks on zip ties after they got whittled away by minnows and loosened up a bit. Ill definitely have to switch to springs or snoods this year.

Does curing or dehydrating necks reduce their effectiveness over fresh necks or does it not matter? If it doesnt I could just turn the 40# box into neck jerky and keep my wife.   

[Crab Shack]

I was not happy with springs, I fastened small battery clips to the bottom of the trap. Very easy to bait.

I tried that once...really had a tough time getting the car into the boat. 

[KI Crabber]

Yes I have lost a few necks on zip ties after they got whittled away by minnows and loosened up a bit. Ill definitely have to switch to springs or snoods this year.

Does curing or dehydrating necks reduce their effectiveness over fresh necks or does it not matter? If it doesnt I could just turn the 40# box into neck jerky and keep my wife.   

They still work very well! Nothing is ever as good as fresh, but they do not lose much being salted. I have done it to thousands of pounds of chicken necks and never had issues catching crabs with them.

[Deckworks1]

Like you I just started with a trotline last year. We had real good luck with necks. I get them at the local "La Mart" or "Supermarcado". Any international super grocery store will have them and cheap. It usually costs me around $10.00 to bait my 1200 foot line.
I second the little freezer also. I have one that is just for my bait. It takes up little room but is a lifesaver. Good Luck this season.

[crabman1969]

If you have no other option locally available, you can alway salt your necks. They do not require refrigeration once cured in salt. Richardson's in WhiteMarsh has them by the pound or by the box. Good Luck!

I live not too far from richardsons and they are cheaper then mars but the problem I had with them last year was there necks were very skinny, not much meat on them. Not sure if you noticed that also!

[wag]

I use chicken drum sticks.Buy them in bulk on sale and freeze.  ...FROM THE GREAT JOE CRABS..." IF YOU WANT BIG CRABS YOU GOTTA USE BIGGER BAIT"



   

               YES --- agree to the bigger bait thing. 
               How else can you catch  10" ers in LA ?  LOL

[CrabDog]

I use chicken drum sticks.Buy them in bulk on sale and freeze.  ...FROM THE GREAT JOE CRABS..." IF YOU WANT BIG CRABS YOU GOTTA USE BIGGER BAIT"

Maybed true with drum sticks etc.. but with necks I find that I do better in traps that have smaller necks or just half a neck...  seems like the bigger necks almost scare away the crabs.... or attract smaller crabs.... I find smaller peices even when they are chewed down to the bone usually catch some of the biggest and heaviest crabs on barely bones...left
I do find that regardless of what type of chicken peices you use.. I do find that using skinless chicken works a lot better or if you leave the skin on it takes a few crabs to chew down the skin to make the bait work better.. and that is according to  THE GREAT JOE CRABS..."   um  CRABDOG   

[CaptMoose]

 

The chewed up bait stays in the water until: 1) its not catching any more or 2) time to go home.