Trapping Crabs

• There are many different types of crab cages, or traps, and they all work in much the same manner to catch a crab. Bait is placed at the bottom of the trap, usually in a "bait bag," which is then secured to the bottom of the trap so that it doesn't float away. The cage, which has a string or cord attached to it, is then tossed into the water. When the trap comes to rest on the sea floor, the sides of the cage collapse down into the sand. This disturbs the sand, causing it to sift up and conceal most of the cage, leaving the bait in plain view. The bait attracts crabs, who circle around to partake of it. When the cage is pulled out of the water, the tugging action on the cords causes the sides of the cage to come up, trapping the crabs inside of the cage. The best and most expensive cages, however, have sides that do not collapse, but are designed to allow for a crab to climb in and eat the bait. Once inside the cage, the crab cannot climb back out.
  
  

Deploying Your Cage

• Crab traps can be deployed from fishing piers. However, make sure that you secure the line of the trap to a railing or other part of the pier or dock. Do not tie the trap to any part of your body. Traps can be set from boats. These traps have a buoy attached to the top of the string, so you can find your trap when you return to it later. Most crabbers set their traps early in the morning and then check them early in the evening, but you can return to a crab trap and have successfully caught some crabs in as little as 10 minutes.
  
  

Types of Crab Cages

• There are three basic types of crab cages, or traps--ring nets, pyramid/star traps, and crab pots or cages. Ring nets are inexpensive, but like most things, you get what you pay for. In this case, you are paying for a two rings, the top one slightly larger than the bottom one, connected by a mesh net. It rests flat on the ocean floor. When the trap is pulled up the top ring is pulled first, which stretches the net tight and traps the crabs. Ring nets are prone to tear easily, as they can snag on rocks, shells and other items as they are being pulled to the surface. The the pyramid or star trap, is made of metal wires. It works like the ring net, with the exception that the string is attached to the tips of the four triangular sides, which lie flat on the sea floor. When pulled up, the triangular sides draw together to form a pyramid shape, trapping the crab inside. This cage, although inexpensive, can land with one of the sides trapped underneath it, and are not frequently used due to that reason. Crab pots or cages are very efficient, and come in many shapes, sizes and prices. These traps have two internal areas. The bottom area has two (or more) entrances in the shapes of funnels which allow a crab to enter, but not to exit. In the middle of this area is the bait box, which has the bait in it, but is enclosed in wire so the crab can't eat. The crab smells the bait, enters, and is trapped. The crab tries to escape by swimming out the only exit, which is another opening that leads to the upper area. Again, the opening is shaped so that the crab can swim up it, but can't get back down to the bait area. Most crab pots are made with PVC coated wire. Some even come with options such as dedicated space for the bait, and many are designed with openings in the wire that are just large enough to let small creatures and undersized crabs escape, leaving only the large ones trapped. Some are also collapsible for easy storage.