How to build a topless crab trap

[crewstation]

14-gauge if you want them to last more than a season.  YardGard or similar.  The stuff I use is unbranded, I think.  I get it from Jos. Fazzio & Sons up here in NJ.

[vw_buggsy]

I'm a newbie so this might be a dumb question:
Why 10x10 on the footprint?

It looks like MD regs allow for traps up to 20x15:
(2) "Collapsible crab trap" means a manually operated, portable device:
(a) Having a flat bottom not more than 20 inches by 15 inches, and not more than four articulated sides; and
          (Etc...)

Is it a matter of larger traps simply not really catching any more, or bigger crabs? Is it that smaller traps take up less space, or cost less money in materials to make? Is it that 10x10 maximises the use of the welded wire rolls?  Is it that 20x15 would weigh too much to pull up all day?

Or is it a combination of all of those factors and/or more that I'm not seeing that just results in 10x10 being the "ideal" size?

Thanks,
Buggsy

[on the hook]

I'm a newbie so this might be a dumb question:
Why 10x10 on the footprint?

It looks like MD regs allow for traps up to 20x15:
(2) "Collapsible crab trap" means a manually operated, portable device:
(a) Having a flat bottom not more than 20 inches by 15 inches, and not more than four articulated sides; and
          (Etc...)

Is it a matter of larger traps simply not really catching any more, or bigger crabs? Is it that smaller traps take up less space, or cost less money in materials to make? Is it that 10x10 maximises the use of the welded wire rolls?  Is it that 20x15 would weigh too much to pull up all day?

Or is it a combination of all of those factors and/or more that I'm not seeing that just results in 10x10 being the "ideal" size?

Thanks,
Buggsy

I believe, but could be wrong, that the footprint when these traps were started/discussed WAS 10X10, but???....I know the total was once 144sq inches(I think?) and it has gotten bigger...

[vw_buggsy]

I believe, but could be wrong, that the footprint when these traps were started/discussed WAS 10X10, but???....I know the total was once 144sq inches(I think?) and it has gotten bigger...

Thanks... Hmm, 10x10 would be 100 square inches, 144" square inches would imply a 12x12 based trap.

Something tells be that after a certain point of making them larger it hits a point of diminishing returns. Heavy, cumbersome to carry/maneuver and store at home or in a boat, to pull and check on the water, and unlikely to catch any more crabs per trap anyway??

If anyone could weigh in on whether 12x12 is the "sweet spot" for topless trap size, or what that sweet spot I'd, I'd be grateful! I'm thinking I might try to make some this winter, my local tractor supply has the stuff. I might check another farm supply store down here to compare prices but tsc wasn't too bad for cost on materials.

Now that I think of it I'm working out of a canoe though so I should probably be thinking in terms of how small can I make them and still catch rather than trying to go bigger...

Buggsy

[KALknowsRAE]

Several years ago, I made some 20 x 15 traps out of 14ga. to try out. I made the doors ridiculously high. Attached numerous baits all over the bottom and doors. They did not out-perform the 10 x 10 traps. And it felt like pulling up a shopping cart.

I'm thinking of retiring the 10 x 10 traps I have made over the years in favor of ring traps.

[on the hook]

Several years ago, I made some 20 x 15 traps out of 14ga. to try out. I made the doors ridiculously high. Attached numerous baits all over the bottom and doors. They did not out-perform the 10 x 10 traps. And it felt like pulling up a shopping cart.

I'm thinking of retiring the 10 x 10 traps I have made over the years in favor of ring traps.

Regs say 15X20 max...Does that MEAN 300sq in?...Could you do 17X17?....

Seems I remember the footprint was 144"...At the time, my first in Md, my old pyramid traps were 16X16. Didn't know and quit when we found out.

[crewstation]

I don't think you can go wrong with 10"x10" or 12"x12".  I used to make traps and sell them and the 12"x12" were a lot easier to sell.  Personally, I use 12"x12" and wouldn't want to pull anything heavier than that.  I also can't imagine anything bigger would catch more or bigger crabs. 

The only down side to 10"x10" would be the occasional crab that got hung up in the doors and escapes.  Hope that helps.

[CrabbyFrank]

Crewstation, 9 times out of 10 the crabs that get hung up in the door are brought into the boat by the claw still in the trap. The crabs claw usually gets hung up by the points and it catches the wire.

[crewstation]

Crewstation, 9 times out of 10 the crabs that get hung up in the door are brought into the boat by the claw still in the trap. The crabs claw usually gets hung up by the points and it catches the wire.

Agreed.

[indoe]

Bug if you are in a canoe I would go for ring traps or 10x10. I have used 12x12 and 10x10. Both catch fine but after paddling all day to the traps as well as the room they take up smaller is better. I crab from a kayak and small john boat. You want all the room you can get. Also traps can get top heavy if you have a lot of them. Im making ring traps for space and easy of pulling them. I dont think you will get 30 traps, bushel basket, basket to cull the crabs and what ever else you are going to take with you. Paddle, drinks, food, extra bait, life jacket and what ever you may take. Space is key when in a small vessel.

[vw_buggsy]

Thanks folks.

Actually indoe my kiddo and I were having so much fun in the water with the canoe that I decided it was worth investing in a bigger boat this past summer. I picked up a used Lowe 14' wide bodied aluminum skiff, with a nice running 15hp Evinrude (both around mid-80's era), and a trailer. The prior owner had replaced the transom and done some decent work on it. It's solid and has absolutely 0 leaks, and the outboard started on the 2nd or 3rd pull each time, and the trailer was in okay shape. I've been pleased with it!

I did some crabbing with traps (10x10 traps & cotton rings) this season but nothing worth posting as far as great results. Lots of smiles and fun though for both me and kiddo which is frankly more important to me. I'll gladly spend my time doing something I'm not very good at as long as I'm still having fun doing it  It's tough when you're new to all of it, I'm also new to power boating and don't really come from a boating family. So it's a learning curve all around and of course safety is always my priority over trying to get any crabs in the boat which can slow me down.

In the upcoming season I'll be adding a fish finder for depth and temp readings, and I'm getting set up over the winter to try a trotline for the first time too. I've got the trot-line stuff all figured out now I just have to get a prop stick rigged up. I'm still figuring out what is going to "work" for me for crabbing. I'd also like to add some quality ring nets to my arsenal to try but the perfectionist rings are frankly beyond my budget (nothing against them, I'm sure they're worth every penny I just can't budget that many pennies for traps). I may order some from Alario Bros or get some of the all metal ring nets in the spring.

I also fully intend to become a paying member on this site soon. Though I don't post often I've gotten a lot of information and help from the free membership so I'd really like to contribute to the upkeep of the community!

Sorry that ended up kind of a long post!

[backfin_blues]

For the life of me I can't find the .150 inner diameter brake line tubing. I'm located in Florida if anybody can point me in the right direction.

[ILLSWIMHOME]

Take a piece of wire from the frame to Pep Boys and ask to see their brake lines.  Fine one that's close. That's what I did.

[Country boy]

Does anyone have a link or copy of Old Crabbers topless crab trap instructions?