Jimmy potting can only be practiced in bald places..

[MrWolf]

So im scratching my head why “Jimmy potting” only works on blad places as described here:
https://www.bluecrab.info/crabbing/softcrabs.html
“Jimmy potting can only be practiced in special areas singularly devoid of eelgrass or other plant cover. Bald places, in other words. Pocomoke Sound is one such. "All bald, mostly sand and you won't find much over ten feet" is the way crabbers describe this broad expanse of water.”

For “Bare Potting”, where the male wants to hide to shed makes fully sense to me. But why would that influence females going for the Jimmys? I know nature docent have to make up to my sense making, but im just wondering. I would imagine It wouldn’t have to be dependent on bald places..

Any explanation to why this is?

[jack1747]

Cause in a bare spot the crabs see the pot as a place to hide.

[MrWolf]

Yes I understand for the males seeking a place to hide. But... ok then that would then be the same reason for the females arriving there being attracted to the jimmys in the first place? I would just imagine that they would go all the way into the trap just because of the males/jimmys used as bait.. Regardless of bare spot ore not..

Thank you Jack!

[jack1747]

Yes I understand for the males seeking a place to hide. But... ok then that would then be the same reason for the females arriving there being attracted to the jimmys in the first place? I would just imagine that they would go all the way into the trap just because of the males/jimmys used as bait.. Regardless of bare spot ore not..

Thank you Jack!

If they are in grass, the males seek out the females..

[xFishdogx]

Can a rec use a peeler pot?

[jack1747]

Can a rec use a peeler pot?

yes.. 2 per person... but one or the other.  not 2 hard crab and 2 peeler pots.

[MrWolf]

If they are in grass, the males seek out the females..

Thanks for your knowledge.

Interesting. So by nature they do not even near the trap if there is eelgrass? Ore maybe they will come near it but not enter it? Do you know?
There is a swedish study (but in Green craps, that we have here) that shows the females will come from long distances, being attracted by the smell of the males. They will come within a distance of meters, and from there the male will be the one approaching the female. This was a study in mating and pheromone and nothing to do with trapping/fishing.

[D3]

We peeler pot on bare bottom and on grassy bottom. At times catch more on grassy bottom than anywhere else.

[MrWolf]

We peeler pot on bare bottom and on grassy bottom. At times catch more on grassy bottom than anywhere else.

Interesting. Thanks you D3!

[xFishdogx]

How do you properly declaw a jimmy without killing him?

[D3]

How do you properly declaw a jimmy without killing him?

Pop his claws backwards at the knuckle/elbow, in the middle, not where it attaches to the body. They will usually drop that claw if done right.

We do it some but usually leave claws intact. A dead or bleeding  jimmy is worthless.