Correct way to set trap

Incorrect way to set trap

This is by far the most common way to catch crabs. It involves tying a long rope between a baited trap (you can have up to 2/person) and some secure place on the shore. This is usually done on a floating dock or a pier because you can access deeper water. Secure place means some thing that won't be moved by the force of the trap dragging the rope while it falls. The bait is secured to the trap by a piece of wire going through the bait. The trap is then thrown into the water. You wait a certain period of time before you pull the trap up (amount of time depends of the type of trap you use) and examine what you have, or not have caught. Warning: Make sure that you secure your trap(s) to some place secure before you throw the thing in the water. You may loose the trap if you don't. Don't try to hold the rope in your hand or tie it to any part of your body to secure the trap. The trap might pull you into the water. The illustrations below show the correct and incorrect way to deploy a trap.

The advantages of this method are that it is widely used. This means that you can easily obtain equipment and there will be a lot of other people at crabbing spots for you to ask questions at. The disadvantage is that since a lot of people catch crabs using this method, you will have trouble finding a good crabbing spot that isn't crowded.

Deploying Traps From Over the Water

Setting trap using boat

This is basically the same thing with the previous method except for that you secure the traps to buoys/floats and throw the traps from a water transportation (e.g.. a boat). Don't tie your lines to the boat unless you want to wait at the spot you put your trap. The buoys/floats enable you to find and retrieve your traps. The advantages of this method are that you don't have to compete with the people on shore and deploy your traps in spots they can't reach. The disadvantages are you need to pay more for your equipment and do maintenance on the boat.

• boat
• 2 short lengths of chain
• 2 small boat grapnels or any heavy weights
• 4 20-foot lengths of line
• 3/8 inch cotton or hemp rope less than 1000 feet long
• Floats
• 1 live well
• 1 long handled net using 1 or a regular net will do
• Drums / Containers
  
  

Constructing Your Trotline

1. Use your single long line as a bait line. Attach the chains, one at each end.
2. To each of the chains, attach one short rope. Attach a plastic float at each end.
3. From each of the floats, attach the remaining lengths of rope with an anchor (weight) tied securely to each
4. To bait your line, use chicken necks, salted eel, beef tripe, bull lips or other tough bait that can't be eaten too quickly. Attach the bait to the line at 3 to 4 foot intervals.
5. Carefully coil your bait and place it in a plastic tub with a strong brine solution (4 pounds of salt to 5 gallons of water). This is a good way to store bait if you're not going to use it right away.

Fishing Your Trotline (Like Rawai fishing)

1. You can fish a trotline from a row boat or small power boat. Throw the first end of the trotline overboard and play out the line as the boat moves. When you reach the other end of the line, drop the second anchor overboard. Return to the first buoy and begin crabbing.
2. Check your bait from time to time and replace any that has been eaten. Store your bait and your baited line in dry salt to cover or in a brine solution. This prevents the bait from spoiling.
3. Grasp the bait line and pull it slowly to the surface. Bring the crabs close to the net without scaring them. Net them and toss them into the live well. As you work the line and are waiting for more crabs to bite, size your crabs. Tongs are helpful for handling crabs. Release undersized crabs immediately. Toss decent sized ones into your live well. Keep a wet cover (canvas or burlap) to keep the crabs alive and prevent them from escaping.