Crabbing with Bill

When and time to go crabbing

Crab Trap Rentals are only done at the Rental Store Location is between Depoe Bay and Lincoln City

When a good time to Crab? . . . Any time

Beginning in September, crabs tend to be more “filled out,” meaning a higher percentage of quality meat. You can tell the amount of meat by the shell’s condition. Hard-shelled crabs contain 15-25 percent meat by weight compared to soft-shelled crabs. If you have caught more than your limit of 12, throw the soft-shell back and only keep the 12 hard-shelled crabs.

Crabs during Slack Water

“Slack water” (peak high or low tide) is the best time to crab. During swift tidal exchanges, crabs often bury themselves, but at slack water, more crabs walk around foraging since they are less affected by tidal currents.

365 day Season

Crabbing is open year-round in estuaries (i.e., bays), beaches, tide pools, piers, and jetties.

Bait

Many different types of meat are used for crab baits: turkey, chicken, mink, fish carcass, shad, herring, clams, etc… But whatever you use, FRESH bait is best. Remember that seals and sea lions will eat any attractive bait they can get, including bait on a crab ring. You can avoid this problem using chicken, as seals do not like it, but crabs do like it.

Gear and soak time

The secret to our traps is the fact. The crabs can access the bait without restrictions, such as bait bags or gates. The Crab bait is open and accessible for the crabs to eat. This means the crabs will be eating your bait fast. Therefore, with our traps, you have to. “Pull in the Trap” quite often—the crabs will have all the chicken legs every five to six minutes.

This is true. Whether you are using the Original Traingle Max or the Round Crab Max, they all work the same.

The difference is in the netting area. Both traps are 24″ on the base, but the Round Crab Max has 50% more catching area because it is round and not a triangle.

Picture of the Crab Max. Triangle Original and the Round Crab Max

Original Triangle Crab Max

The Original Triangle Crab Max with 100 ft black Hand-Line … free shipping

Area of square = width X height …. Crab Max when folded out make square width = 17 …height =17 …… 17x 17 = 289 sq inches crab catching area

The Round Crab Max, when opened, makes a circle, not a square. This increases the Crab Netting area by more than 50% just by changing the shape of the netting.

You do the Math

Area of circle = radius X radius X 3,1417 …. Round Crab Max, when folded out, makes a circle with a radius of 12 ….12 X 12 X 3.1417 = 452 sq inches

Area of square = width X height …. Original Triangle Crab Max when folded out make square width = 17 …height =17…… 17 x 17 = 289 sq inches

Circle Area minus Square Area (452-289)=163 inches increase and 163/289 = 56% more than a 50% increase

Both are built on a 24-inch axle; the netting is different, and the Round Crab Max is Stronger.

Stronger Stainless Steel

The Round Crab Max uses .125 Stainless Steel instead of .091 steel used in the Original Triangle Crab Max. The .125 enables the Round Crab Trapper to be a circle instead of a triangle.

• Black Hand-Line to Fishing Snap Breaking Strength increased to 300 lbs instead of White Hand-Line Breaking Strength of 100 lbs.
• The Breaking Strength from the Fishing Snap to Swivel increased to 220 lbs.
• The breaking strength from swing to trap has been increased to 500 lbs.

Round Crab Max Trap Holder

When a spring-loaded trap is not in use, it springs open. The Crab Max Round has a small holder that can hold the trap together whenever it is not in use, making it easier to carry.

Single Round Crab Max

Hand-Line Options if you do not want Black String

Shipping & Handling Options …. Free Pickup in Newport, Oregon

• All the information necessary to take Dungeness and red rock crabs from Oregon’s Coastal Waters.
• Stimulates the interest of young crabbers in the complexity and diversity of the crabs common to the Pacific Northwest.
• Evaluates the methods used to take Dungeness and red rock crabs.
• Updated maps of Oregon’s Bays that disclose the areas of Oregon’s Bays where crabs are commonly caught.

• Recover a higher percentage of crab meat per crab using the same method used by professional Crab Shakers.
• Family Crab Louis recipes that your family will love. Our recipes emphasize using cooking methods that enhance the naturally sweet flavor of crab meat to its full potential.

• Updated maps of Oregon’s Bays that disclose the areas of Oregon’s Bays where crabs are commonly caught.

Bait Bag

Dead fish may not seem appealing to you, but crabs love them. We said earlier that fresh is best, but dead fish is one area where you can make the exception.  Fish are pretty fragrant, to begin with, and once they start to rot, their stink will be even more noticeable. You can use any rotten fish. Often, bait shops or fish markets will give them away.  They’re cheap and readily available, too. You can use fresh or frozen fish, but the benefit of frozen fish is that it will break down more slowly than fresh fish, giving you more time between checking traps.

Some options include tuna and mackerel. When baiting with tuna, some people even punch holes in a tuna can, then lower the can into the trap before placing the trap in the water. Fish are quite attractive to other animals, including seals. Seals will not only steal your bait but also do their best to remove it from the trap.

Clams

Clams are crab favorites. These are part of a crab’s natural diet, so you shouldn’t have to do much hard work to convince the crabs to take a bite.  Plus, they are legal to use in most areas.  However, it is essential to note that clams might not be as effective if you are crabbing in an area with a large population of these creatures already.   The crabs might be bored by this additional offering.

Mink Carcasses

Mink carcasses can be rigid to get your hands on in some areas, but they work as superior crab bait if you can.  Why? They’re super stinky.   Commonly used in commercial crabbing operations in Oregon, mink is stinky, oily, and incredibly versatile. The oil will stay on your hands, so you might want to wear gloves.

Any Meat or Animal Parts

If you don’t want to spend all your money purchasing meat, consider using readily available meat. Discarded organ meat from butcher shops is a good alternative.

You can also use other animal pieces in your crab traps.  You can also use a roadkill. The benefit of roadkill is that it is easy to come by just about anywhere you might live.  It also gives off a potent odor. Choose options like raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, or other animal carcasses for the best results.

Other Human Foods

You can attach old bacon, bits of cheese, hot dogs, or even some bread to your crab trap. But remember – the stinkier, the better, and oilier foods tend to work best, too. The benefit of using human foods is that they tend to be much less stinky (and therefore easier to handle) than rotting meat. Some people even use unique household items like cat or dog food to entice crabs.

Customer Service Hours …. 8am – 10pm … Everyday … 541-765-2109

Store Location

• 136 SW Brook St, Newport, OR 97365, 
• 8 AM – DARK
• 365 days a year
• Newport, OR 97365,
• 541) 265-5847
• crabbinginfo@yahoo.com

Main Office

• nextday@vol.com
• 1113 N Hwy 101
• 8 AM – 10 PM
• 365 days a year
• Depoe Bay, OR 97341
• 541-765-2109