Crabbing Fort Desoto, Pinellas County, FL

[tomclark]

At least ten per trap per night using a 2X2 recreational, commercial sized trap with mullet heads for bait.  All Jimmies.  Have two traps now as of today, may have up to 5.  Getting some stonecrab traps, too, recreational crabbers can put out 5 of those also.   Season for them is coming up!  I walk the bluecrab traps out to the channel edge near a huge grassflat and a pass.  This afternoon it was getting dark, raining and I have to wade out up to my neck with the traps because it was high tide, normally it's about nip deep.  Ah the things we do for crabs, eh?  Sure wish I had a boat, LOL.

After I got back I saw an Cambodian family that were using a small rectangular box trap (closed type) next to a bridge piling in the pass.  As they left I asked if they got many crabs, their bucket was right there and I looked it was 1/3 full of the smallest bluecrabs, only a few good sized ones.   They also were taking ALL the other kinds of crabs they caught, some with leopard spots on them and such, of all sizes, mostly quite small.   
Happy Crabbing.

[tomclark]

Dam thieves stole one of the traps and looks like they emptied the other one.  That's it, I'll buy crabs, more for you guys to catch!

[gkrangers]

Sucks about the theft, I wouldn't leave stuff out.

In Florida the only collapsible (ie the ones with doors) traps that are legal to use are 12"x12" Pyramid traps, which is unfortunate, tho the law is hopefully being changed to allow the box traps, topless traps, etc.

[tattoo]

hope so, the box traps a much easier to use and to store.

[Stonecrabman]

 Tom Clark, I'm a commercial crabber in this area and don't feel alone...The thieves had their way with a string of mine last week in the same area....We know who they are..Out of county (Hernando)and the law does also...Just hope the law catches them before I do....By God ....it would not be pretty. Look out for late model red Chevy pickup....towing a front mounted engined boat  (mullet boat) aka (well boat. )Now don't think everyone with a mullet boat is a thief, as I run one too and a lot of fishermen and crabbers do too...They operate at night so keep an eye out. Remember ...every crabber has his number and color of his bouy on both sides of the boat and on the topsides so it can be seen from the air. So anyone pullin' a different colored bouy is 9 out of 10 a thief!! Get the tag/boat number and report it to the Marine Patrol immediately. Molesting (pulling) a crab trap in the state of florida is a FELONY /up to 5 yrs. in prison.I work too [dang] hard for my money to have it taken by thieves. I certainly understand your frustration..Good Luck.

[tomclark]

Thanks, Stonecrabber.  I went to Mastry's and bought a new one today.  Put them both at a friend's dock at Vina del Mar, intracoastal waterway fairly close to the bridge.   Not as clean as Desoto by far!
Talked to detectives at FWC and they are very interested.  I'm PO'ed because my traps were able to be walked to from the bridge, unlike the commercial guys.  There are always groups of fishermen and crabbers on that bridge, there were some there when we dropped them off.

Mrreinke, Port Orange is a long ways away from Tampa Bay!!! LOL.  Happy Crabbing!

-Tom in St. Pete

[R D]

Thanks, Stonecrabber.  I went to Mastry's and bought a new one today.  Put them both at a friend's dock at Vina del Mar, intracoastal waterway fairly close to the bridge.   Not as clean as Desoto by far!
Talked to detectives at FWC and they are very interested.  I'm PO'ed because my traps were able to be walked to from the bridge, unlike the commercial guys.  There are always groups of fishermen and crabbers on that bridge, there were some there when we dropped them off.

Mrreinke, Port Orange is a long ways away from Tampa Bay!!! LOL.  Happy Crabbing!

-Tom in St. Pete

Good luck with the FWC, 

[Stonecrabman]

Yeah ...you got that right R D .....the FWC couldnt catch 'em in a wash tub.......

[tomclark]

I'm not a commercial crabber but I am a sneaky bastid.  If I had the gumption and a boat I would catch them if they are operating out of my area.  We already thought of putting devices on traps, LOL.

[Stonecrabman]

What does Larry get for his traps?

[tomclark]

Blue Crab traps were 28 bucks plus tax plus Line/Float/line crimp weights.  Maybe 35 bucks altogether.  I noticed my other trap that was given to me had a heavy metal square ring on the bottom of the trap for extra weight/holding power?  It seemed a bit more beefy than the one from Mastry's (never a bad deal there and a great institution!).  Someone today said Fisherman's Ideal Supplies (Mad. Beach?) had them, too and I should check out their manufacture/sturdiness.  Do you have a good source for Blue Crab traps or do you make em?  I wondered if the throats and rings were sold separately and I'd try to make one, but honestly after the work involved and expense it's probably best to buy one from a good local maker.

The traps I put out at Vina Del Mar after twenty fours hours with mullet heads there were two stone crabs in one trap and a small triggerfish in the other one.  Bad, bad spot.  Moving back to Ft. Desoto Saturday afternoon, LOLOL!!!  Want crabs bad, been stolen from, pizzed off, hopeful again, disappointed with new spot and I still want to eat them crabbies.
Happy Crabbing , let me now if you have a good source for the traps I will eventually need another three or four of them for me and another up to 5 for both my wife and my best friend.
-Tom

[R D]

Blue Crab traps were 28 bucks plus tax plus Line/Float/line crimp weights.  Maybe 35 bucks altogether.  I noticed my other trap that was given to me had a heavy metal square ring on the bottom of the trap for extra weight/holding power?  It seemed a bit more beefy than the one from Mastry's (never a bad deal there and a great institution!).  Someone today said Fisherman's Ideal Supplies (Mad. Beach?) had them, too and I should check out their manufacture/sturdiness.  Do you have a good source for Blue Crab traps or do you make em?  I wondered if the throats and rings were sold separately and I'd try to make one, but honestly after the work involved and expense it's probably best to buy one from a good local maker.

The traps I put out at Vina Del Mar after twenty fours hours with mullet heads there were two stone crabs in one trap and a small triggerfish in the other one.  Bad, bad spot.  Moving back to Ft. Desoto Saturday afternoon, LOLOL!!!  Want crabs bad, been stolen from, pizzed off, hopeful again, disappointed with new spot and I still want to eat them crabbies.
Happy Crabbing , let me now if you have a good source for the traps I will eventually need another three or four of them for me and another up to 5 for both my wife and my best friend.
-Tom

Try Lee Fisher in Tampa somewhere, just not sure where, 800-356-5464

[Stonecrabman]

Yeah.... Lee Fisher is where I get mine. It's just off Dale Mabry, North of the stadium.I think I was payin' $18 but I bought 50 the last time over, so they are cheaper.It's where mastry and the rest of em buy them.

[R D]

Yeah.... Lee Fisher is where I get mine. It's just off Dale Mabry, North of the stadium.I think I was payin' $18 but I bought 50 the last time over, so they are cheaper.It's where mastry and the rest of em buy them.

I was in charge of the labor for the net buyback in Tampa and stayed on Dale Mabry for 2 weeks,  what a great place to hang out, 

[Stonecrabman]

Yeah RD ....I know a fine upstanding Son of the South, such as yourself would NEVER go into Mons Venus or any other Dale Mabry establishments???

[R D]

Yeah RD ....I know a fine upstanding Son of the South, such as yourself would NEVER go into Mons Venus or any other Dale Mabry establishments???

I thought it was a upscale resterant,     I thought the $20 cover charge was a little high for a resterant,