Catching Spider Crabs

[Tong]

Hi,

I have tried to find a definitive answer to this question but am hitting blanks!

What is the best way to catch a spider crab??

I went out today tried to catch a few but all I got was bittern fingers!

Any help would be great as I love crab

Also am I correct in thinking that the crackly noise you can hear under water sometimes is crabs and lobsters etc?



Cheers

[ickledevil]

Can be them but more often than not its the surge moving rocks/pebbles etc. As for catching spider crabs I just go for it, grab them across the widest part of the shell from above they will usually reach back for you and unlike brown crabs they can reach, mind you their bite is more of a nip compared to the crushing pain of a decent brown crab or a lobster! Only thing I have ever found to calm a bitey one is to turn it upside down, this usually makes them curl their legs in to protect their underside. I always leave the females (small claws) and take the nice males with the big claws and more meat!
Joe

[baldyfish]

hey tong,
think ickledevil said it all. go for males, turning them upsidedown does work. get some neoprene gloves because if your catching quantities it will be unforgiving on the skin.
another way and the best way i find to swim a distance with a big male is to grab their 2 claws in one hand holding them together. that way you dont have to be watching what their claws are doing. ive caught spiders with a claw span of nearly 3 feet in irish waters. there the nicest crustacean in the sea i think.
johnny

[Mr. X]

I usually go for the males too, although I found around 50% of people told me the meat is all in the shell (so assuming they got females) & 50% said the meat is all in the claws/legs (so they probably got males).

I grab the on the top at the back - usually it takes them a while to reach back & some never seem to manage it. When they do, I flip them over. Getting them in my draw-string bag is the tricky bit (esp. when it has a knot in the way, as it did last week!) - they splay out & get all caught up. I really should use my other bag (purse type opening). You can tie them up in your float line (clove hitch?) -- I've started to try this when the bag has been trouble but the crabs have always changed position & so ended up in the bag.

It takes time to get the meat out of a spider crab, so best to stick to big ones.

[ickledevil]

But the meat is so nice.. spider crab in chilli and omatoe sauce with fresh pasta... mmm nice
Oh and tying them to your float line?? Not heard that one care to elabourate? What bit do you tie them by?
Joe

[Marwan]

i watched rick stein on bbc food catch them knee deep in water, i believe it was in cornwall..he seemed to be using a gaff like stick..

[Pastor]

It's not actually a gaff but it looks like one. The thing is used to get around the back of a crab and tickle its arse, apparently crabs don't like that and come out of their hole

[Marwan]

poor buggers never had a chance...first they get their arse poked and then its all over and downhill from there

[BennyB]

If I ever get tickled on the arse by Pastor i'll know EXACTLY what he's up to...

[Pastor]

Should be no need to tickle a porn star up the arse to let him know when to come out of a hole

[baldyfish]

from crabs to porn and arse tickling.........i likethis thread....

[Pastor]

Natural progression really, haven't all porn stars got crabs

[Tong]

lol seems like i have quickly found out the level of chatter on these forums :> but porn is always a great subject!


thanks for the crab advice anyway, i will let you know how i get on.;

[felipe felop]

nice one pastor but you could always try the butchers chain mail gloves see your local butcher for details, they come in handy if your not too sure what your touching,ecxeption electric eels & maybe the morgue or intensive care

[Pav]

I harvest 1 front claw from our local spiders. 10 - 15 makes a nice starter.

I am promised this is a sustainable way of collecting. I dive and grab the spider by the front 2 claws (only the biggest spider crabs). I pull and twist 1 arm and release the spider alive.

The crab will feed with 1 claw and grow the 2nd back. If you look carefully you do find spiders with odd sized front claws, and some with just 1. I am sure I am not responsibly for all of these and believe they can shed a claw like lobsters if threatened.

I always find my biggest crabs and lobsters when spearing with no bag and no bouy line! ... and my biggest Bass when I am in the middle of coaxing a lobster or crab out its hole!