Hi AllI have noticed that on days I catch fish, my baits don't get crab picked. So I assume that if there are fish around, the crabs stay buried in the sand as they don't want to be fish tucker. And as they are the main target of any fish within the zone we fish, they are indeed the main diet.
I am also aware that when a crab takes your bait he submerges himself and your bait in the sand. Where he can dine without fear of becoming dinner himself. You often feel this when using a running rig and reeling in. A tension like a breakaway, then it lets go. And as you wind in, a sense there is something other than bait or sinker. And then Mr Crab gets dislodged from your mono and ashore comes a fish skin. Or if you really have him snared, ashore comes Mr Crab.
Okay, even when using an anti crab rig, I still appear to be getting crabbed. So I have to assume that the pesky buggers can rise of the bottom grab your bait and then back into the sand. We call them Paddle Crabs in NZ. But in the States they call them swimming crabs. Well its obvious that is what the paddles are for.
Is there anyway to beat them. Was talking to a mate the other day, and one day he put a paddle crab on to try and beat them. They eat their own kind he found out. Bloody cannibals.
But the other day, I hooked an eight inch herring/mullet and that was on a Garys anti crab rig, quite a big hook. So maybe when we think we are getting crabbed it is actually herring/mullet that are destroying the bait. I mean you would never feel them bite. When I wound in didn't feel a thing of course. And there it was. Couldn't believe it.
I did notice Chad that one day when I was getting crabbed I put a green needle fish rig on (tks). And it seemed to stay intact. Perhaps it was to much for Mr Crab to pull under the sand, so rather than be in the open eating it. He didn't bother.
I like eating paddle crabs when I am after them. But man they sure try my patience. And do they scoff the bait.
I am almost getting to the stage that if they are dining, then I may as well just pack up and go home. A bait buried in the sand with a crab having a free feed aint gonna catch fish.
Yesterday they devoured half a KY in bait I delivered to them. Or was it herring/mullet doing the damage. No lice down here.
Oh thanks for the feedback on the Breakaway Tension guys. Got it sorted, took the tape of, and went for bending the wires. I didn't think they would bend being like spring steel almost but they did.
Will get back to you Charlie via email.
Cheers Trev