Are crab snares legal in NJ?

[Testhec10ck]

I've heard they are not the best for catching blue claw crabs, but I can't seem to find anything on their legality.
I do a lot of kayak crabbing so they might be a perfect addition to my setup.

[fishnchip]

They look like a handling on steroids!  I think there would be concern if the trap is lost or snagged, how will the crab or other life be able to swim away?  I think this is the reason spring loaded traps have been banned in many states.  Just my 2cents.

[samiam]

Are you asking about a castable device like this?
https://cdn3.volusion.com/9j7vu.jw4f2/v/vspfiles/photos/Joes-Crab-Snare-Unweighted-2.jpg?1371050611
Since the cage serves only to present the bait, not catch the crab, I'm not aware of any explicit provision in the crabbing regulations that would forbid it. On the practical side, however, can you imagine what it would be like trying to retrieve this thing on a day when the current is running strong and the weed is thick? NTM the potential for snagging on obstructions. Also, you might want to search the site for references to the "crabhawk" for opinions on similar devices.

I've heard they are not the best for catching blue claw crabs, but I can't seem to find anything on their legality.
I do a lot of kayak crabbing so they might be a perfect addition to my setup.

[Nj-creekcrabber]

Funny you should ask this, I'm thinking about getting a few for the same reason. I couldn't find anything about them being illegal, kinda seems like a hand line...sorta.
Seems like a fun way to catch the critters...definitely different for these parts.

[thediehardfisherman]

I just watched some videos on these snares- pretty cool but I would imagine a feisty blue claw would be a real P.I.A. to free from the snare compared to a slower moving dungeness or stone crab.  Traps seem simple to make, if I do make some and have luck, I will post a report. I will do a little in depth rules and regs research for NJ.

[Testhec10ck]

I tried a crab snare on my 7' heavy jigging rod while kayaking a few weeks ago.
That thing caught me tons of seaweed.
I managed to snare a few nice size crabs.
It seemed to only be grabbing them when it secured around more than one leg or around the body.
A single leg didn't seem big enough to be snared.
I noticed that I was damaging the legs of some of the smaller crabs so I took the snare off and reverted to netting them.

[thediehardfisherman]

I tried a crab snare on my 7' heavy jigging rod while kayaking a few weeks ago.
That thing caught me tons of seaweed.
I managed to snare a few nice size crabs.
It seemed to only be grabbing them when it secured around more than one leg or around the body.
A single leg didn't seem big enough to be snared.
I noticed that I was damaging the legs of some of the smaller crabs so I took the snare off and reverted to netting them.

I can imagine how blue claws smaller thinner legs can slip through the snares compared to the heavy thick jointed dungeness or rock crab legs and the snare lines for the dungeness and rock crabs look like small diameter coated clothes line wire- what LB test did you use for your snares? I'm thinking about using 30 or 40 LB mono leader for my snare line. As for legs breaking off, I could see that happening too if a crab is being snared by one leg.

[Seanile]

Enter the words "crab snare" in the search box .... you'll get years of comments & reports.

[Testhec10ck]

what LB test did you use for your snares? I'm thinking about using 30 or 40 LB mono leader for my snare line.

The snares themselves are a thin vinyl coated wire. My leader line was 2' of 20lb fluoro to 30lb braid on a barrel swivel.