Posted by Ed C Waimang on 23/9/2007, 2:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Crabs"
Yes, the crabs are the main reason the fish are there, so use them for bait. Two ways I catch them (only works at low tide) 1. Tie a fish frame or bait in a sock with a sinker and a short cord and a float, and walk out to waist deep in a hole. wait a minute then slowly lift it up. slip a trout landing net under the bait and catch them as they drop off. most will hold on until well clear of the bottom. Two baits are better, as you can go from one to the other. Waders will stop you getting nipped, as they get agressive and will have a go at anything. 2 When standing by the rods, I dangle a bit of bait on a string in the shallows and use the sock on my hand to grab them. A good method if you just want a few to use straight away. You will be amazed at how quickly they will pop up out of the sand.
Keeping them alive is a problem, and they don't freeze well either. They stay alive best if you put them on ice and cover them with a damp cloth. Don't put them in water or in a closed container or they will die and then they go off quickly. Cheers.