Catching Softshells

[patuxentpat]

Has anyone tried the method of fishing for soft shells using a jimmy with a string tide to his swimmer?

Any insight would be appreciated. 

[madcrabber1113]

What?

[genecrabman]

I guess if there are a lot of softshells around, it's possible.....

Maybe you should crazy-glue the string to his back shell, so you don't restrict his movement.

[horsefly]

Nope, can't say I have done that. Is that sorta like a pig hunting for truffles? I have taken a red hot female peeler and attached a string around her points to attract jimmies.....it worked, but you have to be very patient with them handlining.

[patuxentpat]

What?

I was referring to: Jimmy Crabbing

In this method a string is tied around one swimming leg of a healthy Jimmy crab. The other end of the string is secured to a pole strategically embedded in the breeding shallows. The Jimmy will unfailingly clasp every red sign female that comes within his tethered orbit. The crabber then gently draws in the line and dip-nets the pair. The rank female is kept and the frustrated Jimmy returned to the water to continue his work.

It sounds like it might work...I also like the idea of using the red hot female....anyone ever tried shedding a red hot female in the upper area of a crab pot to attract large males?

[horsefly]

I was referring to: Jimmy Crabbing

In this method a string is tied around one swimming leg of a healthy Jimmy crab. The other end of the string is secured to a pole strategically embedded in the breeding shallows. The Jimmy will unfailingly clasp every red sign female that comes within his tethered orbit. The crabber then gently draws in the line and dip-nets the pair. The rank female is kept and the frustrated Jimmy returned to the water to continue his work.

It sounds like it might work...I also like the idea of using the red hot female....anyone ever tried shedding a red hot female in the upper area of a crab pot to attract large males?

Yep, if we only had a a few like  a dozen or so red hot girls, we would leave them in the pots, if they don't escape you can expect at least 10 extra Jimboys in the pot, maybe even a fryer too

[Seanile]

Pat is referring to a technique called "Jimmy Crabbing" that is covered in the soft shell crabbing section of bluecrab.info:

http://www.bluecrab.info/crabbing/softcrabs.html

I'm curious also if anyone has ever tried it.

[horsefly]

Pat is referring to a technique called "Jimmy Crabbing" that is covered in the soft shell crabbing section of bluecrab.info:

http://www.bluecrab.info/crabbing/softcrabs.html

I'm curious also if anyone has ever tried it.

I like the dipping for them in the shallows. I think it takes a good sturdy rusty male(usually small one like 5 1/2" and up to do the biz. It would be better if ya caught a jimmy already toting a peeler, you'll know for sure he is good. The other method, I thought was effective is peeler skimmers (same idea of a shrimp skimmer rig)

[tattoo]

interesting. never have done any of that. 

[ILLSWIMHOME]

I was referring to: Jimmy Crabbing

In this method a string is tied around one swimming leg of a healthy Jimmy crab. The other end of the string is secured to a pole strategically embedded in the breeding shallows. The Jimmy will unfailingly clasp every red sign female that comes within his tethered orbit. The crabber then gently draws in the line and dip-nets the pair. The rank female is kept and the frustrated Jimmy returned to the water to continue his work.

It sounds like it might work...I also like the idea of using the red hot female....anyone ever tried shedding a red hot female in the upper area of a crab pot to attract large males?

Growing up there was an old timer who ot me into crabbing, he used to talk about doing that but I've never tried it.  Always thought it would take too long compared to throwing in the traps.

[mdjohn]

I tried it once - didn't catch anything. figured it was wrong time of the month or the location. 

and there is a chance you lose the jimmy crab ----- ouch

[jack1747]

we did it all the time when I was a kid mostly during a peeler run... it was just something fun for us to do during the summer not serious crabbing.  course there were crabs around then too

[crabbygramps]

 Can't say I've ever crabbed that way...however......did drag the Mother-in-law behind the boat for six miles in the Okee-finoke one summer.. They haven't seen a gater in that stretch of river since...

[madcrabber1113]

Can't say I've ever crabbed that way...however......did drag the Mother-in-law behind the boat for six miles in the Okee-finoke one summer.. They haven't seen a gater in that stretch of river since...

Were you Rodney Dangerfield in another life? 

[jack1747]

Were you Rodney Dangerfield in another life? 

finally a name i know 

[Hescrabby]

anyone taking softshells in delaware, power plant area of rehoboth bay?  I'd die for a softshell just one! 

[madcrabber1113]

anyone taking softshells in delaware, power plant area of rehoboth bay?  I'd die for a softshell just one! 

Try walking any shallow grass beds you see and scooping some up.

[longbeard]

me and my dad used to do it down at solomons....we,d get in the watter and wade out to our jimies.... tied to stiks....and we put the bushal in an inertube .... tie the tube to our waist....then grable catfish to pass time...and check our muskrat traps.....then back to the stiks.....the string usaly will go slack when he,s found his gurl....good luck....their are bull sharks ...so keep a walking stik with ya and a big knife...and shuful your feet too....it will spook any skate....whats the last thing steve irwin said after he got stung by that skate that killed him.?kkkrrriiiikkkkyyyy!

[Syoung]

I just pay $24.00 for a dozen jumbo softshells when I go down stingray hunting in the Chincoteague area. Beautiful quality crabs for $2.00ea.

[tattoo]

Nice , that is a good price/