Fishing

July 2, 2009

It’s summertime, and the crabbing is easy – and fun

By JOE MALAT

I’m kneeling at the end of a pier, only a few feet above the water. My small hands are wrapped awkwardly around the long, wooden handle of a large net.

My dad, kneeling beside me at my right shoulder, is pulling very slowly on a string stretched tight into the clear water. As he pulls, I see a huge crab with vivid blue claws appearing inches below the surface.

“Get ready, Pal, here he comes,” my Dad whispers as he drags the monster crab closer to the pier. “Okay, get him!”

I make a swoop with the net and miraculously snatch up the crab. Pop and I break out into wide grins as the surprised crab tries to scramble out of the net.

More than five decades have passed since I dipped that crab, and I still enjoy trying to catch a “mess” of blue crabs for dinner.

These 10-legged crustaceans walk sideways, on three pairs of thin legs. Two front claws are used for defense and feeding. The fifth pair of flat legs is used for swimming.

Crabs will eat anything that comes their way, including fish, shrimp, oysters, clams, worms, and even other crabs. Fortunately, to the delight of children and parents who pursue them, they are relatively easy to catch, and there are several locations around Hatteras and Ocracoke islands to catch them.

There is no universal “best time” for catching crabs, and much depends on location. Some crabbers prefer an incoming tide. Tidal creeks will hold more water (and hopefully more crabs) while the water levels are rising as the tide floods.

The best way to find out where to go crabbing is to make a visit to a tackle shop or marina on Hatteras or Ocracoke. These locations will also have information about the minimum sizes and methods that are allowed for recreational crabbers.

The simplest, and in my opinion, the most fun, of all crabbing methods is “dipping.” This works best when at least two people (a “puller” and a “dipper”) are involved. It’s a great family activity, and everyone can participate. Crabs can be dipped from the shore, creek banks, piers, docks, and boats. The only equipment you need is some string, a long-handled dip net, bait and a container for your crabs.

Even though crabs will eat almost anything, don’t let their reputation as scavengers fool you. Fresh or fresh frozen baits will catch more crabs than old, rotten baits. Many tackle shops on Hatteras and Ocracoke sell crab bait, and the most popular baits are fish heads and pieces of chicken.

Chicken necks are cheap, effective and also available at the local grocery store. Fresh fish heads may be free for the asking at fish cleaning tables located at marinas or fishing piers. Be sure that everyone washes and sanitizes their hands thoroughly when using any raw chicken parts for crab bait.

To get started, run an end of the string through a weight. Tie on the bait. When using a fish head, secure the bait by running the line through the bottom jaw. The tapered shape of the head allows the bait to move easily through the water as the line is being retrieved.

Next, toss the baited line into the water and let the bait settle to the bottom. Peel off a few feet of line. Cut the line from the roll, make a loop in the end, and tie it to a pier piling, boat cleat, or a stick shoved into the sand.

When the line comes tight, a crab has the bait. Pull the crab in very slowly and quickly dip the crab up with the net as the crab appears on the surface

Folding traps made of wire, and round, net traps are also popular, but I don’t think the process is as exciting as dipping. These traps don’t work very well from the shore or beach. It’s best to use them from a pier, dock, bridge, or boat, where they can be eased straight down to the bottom. Check your traps about every 10 minutes and be sure to securely attach the bait to the trap’s floor. If used from a boat, attach a small float in the line above the trap to keep the line directly above the trap and away from the boat. Be sure to rinse traps thoroughly in fresh water to keep the metal wire from corroding.

Handle crabs carefully. Long handled tongs or heavy work gloves are recommended, but there is a way to hold them without any tools. Always pick up a crab from the back side. Use a foot or a stick to hold the crab’s claws down and grab one of its flat, paddle-shaped swimming legs where it meets the shell. Crabs held firmly in this manner cannot reach their claws around to pinch you.

As you catch them, don’t put crabs in a container of water. They will soon use up all of the oxygen in the water and die. Keep crabs in an empty wooden bushel basket or a five-gallon bucket with holes drilled in the sides and bottom. Either should have a top, also with holes. Direct sun and heat will dry out the crabs and kill them.

Now that you have caught them, what next? For me, eating crabs is more fun than catching them, and the best place to find some excellent crabmeat recipes is from my crabbing book or any one of several seafood cookbooks that are available at many of the Hatteras and Ocracoke bookstores and gift shops. The possibilities are endless. Enjoy!

FOR MORE INFORMATION

“Let’s Go Crabbing” is a book by Joe Malat. The informative text is vividly illustrated with 33 photos that show how to catch, handle, clean and cook hard crabs. There’s a section on cleaning soft crabs and Malat also includes some of his favorite crabmeat recipes.

“Let’s Go Crabbing” is available at many Outer Banks tackle shops and book stores. Signed copies are available for $6.50, including first class shipping to anywhere in the continental U.S., from Joe Malat, P.O. Box 69, Nags Head, NC 27959, or visit his web site: www.joemalat.com.

(Joe Malat lives in Nags Head and is a professional outdoor writer and book author, and he operates the Outer Banks Surf Fishing Schools. He writes about saltwater fishing along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and is published regularly in national and regional magazines. To order his books, or request information about the Outer Banks Surf Fishing Schools, visit Joe’s web site at: www.joemalat.com.)