What bait do you use?

[Tootallwal]

Hello Friends,
Here is the age old question every crabbers ask himself. What bait do I use? Chicken ( necks, backs ) or cut fish ? I have used both , but I mainly use chicken necks because I hand line alot.  What is your favorite bait and why? I look forward to hearing everyone's response.
Thanks,
Wally

[rdbeard]

 in Md my brother is a hand line king since it's his only option most of the time and he never seems to have much cash so he takes his fishing rod ,catches some grass shrimp and uses white perch as fresh as you can get it. He always gets a meal of crabs without fail.

[Mag]

Frozen perch racks are one of my favorite bait. Seem to do better than fresh for me

[SHELLFISH]

Chicken, necks backs and legs.
I also use fish racks when I have them.
Flounder, any of the Snappers and Mullet works well.
Triggerfish not so much.

[ICECharger]

When I lived in Maryland I always used chicken necks and that seemed to work pretty well there. In Florida tried necks and wasn't doing that well so switched over to freshly cut fish and seem to catch a lot more crabs.  

[JIMMYCRAB]

Frozen perch racks are one of my favorite bait. Seem to do better than fresh for me

X2    Frozen always works better than fresh. Especially early in the season when crabs are picky. I think they soften up when thawed and release more scent.

[Stabilizer]

Was thinking Florida crabbing and saw this old thread, could not resist telling you - I tried something called chicken paws, from food lion (might have been a Walmart) anyway this was the cheapest bit of chicken available.  I put more than a few of these in a pot off the seawall - it would not catch a crab.  Chicken lips might do better.  We usually just use what's left of filleting most any fish when down there.

[bluegrassCRABBER]

Good info, thanks guys, I'm taking notes!  LOL