kayak crab storage question

[horst3]

Has anyone gone kayak crabbing and stored the crabs inside the kayak?  I have a sit on top kayak, with two hatches, and planned on putting the crabs in the center hatch while crabbing, and then tilting the Mahal up so the crabs all slide to the other hatch so I can get them out.  I also plan on putting some ice packs in there to keep them cool.  Any thoughts, or has someone tried this before?  Thanks.

[MetroMan]

I attach my basket to the bow and dump them in there after scooping.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/lmajette/crab002.jpg

My buddies who use traps just keep a cooler behind their seat to dump them in there. I think your center hatch idea will work just fine...just as long as there's something (a container of some sort) in there to keep them from moving around inside the hull.

[horst3]

Do you only run a line, or do you pull traps as well?

[MetroMan]

I only run a trotline now, but I have run traps beforehand.

[yak_crabber]

Here is my take on how to rig a kayak for crabbing blue crabs. I hope this helps anyone interested in kayak crabbing.

http://kayakcrabbing.blogspot.com/2012/05/kayak-set-up.html


 

[Pokers1337]

I attach my basket to the bow and dump them in there after scooping.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/lmajette/crab002.jpg

My buddies who use traps just keep a cooler behind their seat to dump them in there. I think your center hatch idea will work just fine...just as long as there's something (a container of some sort) in there to keep them from moving around inside the hull.

Is that a paddle or a peddle kayak, someone told me i couldnt do a trot line on a paddle kayak.

[MetroMan]

It's powered by a trolling motor. Being hands free is kinda critical to run the trotline effectively from the yak

[Terrapin T]

When I've gone I've towed out an inflatable and anchor it near the end of my line.  Run gear and cull at end and then paddle back.  Keep my cooler in there too.  

[Harford Crabber]

I've never tried it but this one looks like the perfect rig for trotlining.

[mr.krabs]

Secure the basket to the bow as metroman mentioned. I wouldn't say you cant run a line paddling, but it might be tricky depending on where your prop stick is located on your follow through, putting the paddle down, picking up the net, dumping in the basket, etc. I would def leave some room between baits to give yourself a chance.

It will still be fun.

[flounderpounder]

I've never tried it but this one looks like the perfect rig for trotlining.

why not just buy a boat....lol

[bigjohntate]

I've never tried it but this one looks like the perfect rig for trotlining.

Oh my God i SO need one of those!!!

[doomdealer]

I'd like to try this, but dayum that looks like a lot of work.

[mr.krabs]

A labor of love.

 it's a lot of work with a lot of things working against you, but thats part of the fun. Fun might not be the right word, sort of like climbing everest really doesn't look fun, but does provide some sense of satisfaction through accomplishment.

[MetroMan]

Has anyone gone kayak crabbing and stored the crabs inside the kayak?  I have a sit on top kayak, with two hatches, and planned on putting the crabs in the center hatch while crabbing, and then tilting the Mahal up so the crabs all slide to the other hatch so I can get them out.  I also plan on putting some ice packs in there to keep them cool.  Any thoughts, or has someone tried this before?  Thanks.

the more I think of this, the more I change my mind against this idea. Just seems like space would be so limited. Also seems more cumbersome than dumping the crabs in a basket/bucket type of container with a wide open top.