Looking to get into commercial crabbing

[Mr. Breeze]

I found a nice 16 foot Caroline skiff with a 40 hp johnson I. Think it's the right boat and pretty good deal on it

Pretty sure that you won't be happy with 16 feet.  IMO way too small for commercial.  When I last trot lined commercially, I had 18 feet 6 inches and would like to have had 21 ft. minimum

[rdbeard]

 i think 24 is just right but anything 20 or over will work. IMHO there's never enough room on a comm trotline boat.

[Ryanthecrabber]

I know man but I'm sorta on a budget and this fits my deal I'm gonna start small and go bigger hopefully later. I'm curious about the prices and how I should charge.

[Mr. Ray III]

If you're on a budget then wait until you can afford the boat that you need.  Trying to start with a boat that's too small to begin with will only cost you more money and time. 

[Ryanthecrabber]

Your right I can afford a 20 so I might just try and find a good deal on one. What's a good rule of thumb for pricing?

[Mr. Breeze]

Look at Seeweeds boat he posted earlier.  Looks like a nice starter boat

[rdbeard]

weeds boat listed 14000 approx. then it's way too pretty to crab with, great fishin boat.

[Seaweed]

weeds boat listed 14000 approx. then it's way too pretty to crab with, great fishin boat.

I've lowered it to 12, and if necessary, can add plenty of dirt to it!

[Ryanthecrabber]

So I take it 50 pot liscense is a good one to start with right? Say I wanna get bigger how would I get a say a bigger liscense buy one from someone or does having a liscense get your foot in the door for another one?

[reds]

So I take it 50 pot liscense is a good one to start with right? Say I wanna get bigger how would I get a say a bigger liscense buy one from someone or does having a liscense get your foot in the door for another one?

You have to buy the crab licenses. Waiting List is to long.
Next stop would be a 300 pot license after the 50 pot.
Then 600 pot..Then 900 pot..

But LCC (50 pot) is all you need for unlimited trot line length.

[Ryanthecrabber]

I know it's hard to exactly say but say I do pretty good one season. how much can I expect to make? Rough estimate? I got guys saying 20 to 30k gross a year

[Crabslayer]

weeds boat listed 14000 approx. then it's way too pretty to crab with, great fishin boat.

That's because it never got dirty in the first place.  You have to put crab on a boat to make it dirty.  Something Weed doesn't know anything about!  

[Crabslayer]

This is the only time Weed saw crab. 

[Seaweed]

That's because it never got dirty in the first place.  You have to put crab on a boat to make it dirty.  Something Weed doesn't know anything about!  

Hey clown, let me know when I can help you pack for Indonesia!  How about TODAY?

[jack1747]

That's because it never got dirty in the first place.  You have to put crab on a boat to make it dirty.   

[Mr. Ray III]

This is the only time Weed saw crab. 

Probably the last time he heard anything about of his left ear too.  Jeezus.

[Seaweed]

Probably the last time he heard anything about of his left ear too.  Jeezus.

You gotta be tough on the F/V Disaster!

[Crabslayer]

Hey clown, let me know when I can help you pack for Indonesia!  How about TODAY?

I'm still waiting for you to clear out my garage.  Guess I'll have to give the rest to Skeet.

[Crabslayer]

You gotta be tough on the F/V Disaster!

Don't worry.  Your little weakness secret is safe with me. 

[Seaweed]

I'm still waiting for you to clear out my garage.  Guess I'll have to give the rest to Skeet.

When I'm not busy putting on a clinic on how to harvest jumbo trotline crabs, I'll get over there.  So December    Skeets doesn't need any more junk.  He's a real crabber