How to Make a Sand Crab Trap
- 1). Cut the plywood circle in half with your hand saw. This will create two equal half-circles.
- 2). Place the two half-circles 24 inches apart on a flat surface. The flat edges of the half-circles should be facing each other. Place two 1-by-2s between the half circles. Slide one 1-by-2 up until it is flush with the top edges of the half-circles. Slide the other down until it is flush with the bottom edges of the half-circles.
- 3). Drill a screw through edge of the half-circle into the 1-by-2 at each of the four corners. This is the base of your trap. The base should now be a 12-inch by 24-inch rectangle with rounded sides.
- 4). Wrap your wire mesh around the edges of your trap base. Wrap the mesh tightly to create a flat trap, or wrap it with a little slack to create a wire pouch on the bottom of your trap. Staple the wire mesh to the trap with your staple gun.
- 5). Lay two 1-by-2s parallel on a flat surface three feet apart. Place your 3-foot 1-by-2 between the top edge of these boards. Screw these boards together by putting a screw through the side of each 1-by-2 and into the middle of the 3-foot 1-by-2. This is the handle of your trap.
- 6). Place your trap base between 1-by-2s on the open end of your trap handle. Put a screw through the handle's 1-by-2s and into the sides (half circles) of the trap base.
- 7). Hold onto your trap's handle with one side of the trap base deep in the sand by the surf. As the shore break washes over your trap, the sand crabs will get caught in the mesh, while the water and sand filters through.
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