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Softbait crab experiment

Posted by Wellyfisher <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Wellyfisher' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 21/7/2013, 2:33 pm

Went out to the wairarapa again today with the idea to try gulp peeler crabs and secret sauce. After pulling in the usual spinies and red cod on blue mackeral in quick succession I put the crabs on two of my three rods.

I was using pilchard flavoured secret sauce to add a bit of enticement but didn't land anything. I'm pretty sure crabs latched on a couple of times, other than that they got played with a little bit but that was probably crabs as well.

I had one fixed and one pulley rig and tried a variety of traces, floating/gurnard rig etc (all from this site) but no luck. I think that the fish that are around played some role in this. Not sure if red cod and spinies are known to go for soft bait but as soon as I changed to natural bait I pulled in a few more fish.

Does anyone use these as a genuine part of their repetoire?

Re: Softbait crab experiment

Posted by Panser <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Panser' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 21/7/2013, 8:19 pm, in reply to "Softbait crab experiment"

I tried them once. Got a gurnard about 15cm long plastic crab was actually bigger than its mouth. The rest of the time the real crabs would just chew off the legs, comes out looking like a hockey puck.

Born to fish. Forced to work.

Re: Softbait crab experiment

Posted by fredman <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=fredman' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 22/7/2013, 2:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Softbait crab experiment"

I've caught a 3kg Moki in Welly harbour (along the railway line) on a plastic crab....

Re: Softbait crab experiment

Posted by rondo <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=rondo' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 23/7/2013, 2:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Softbait crab experiment"

Good to hear fredman! I brought a packet of glup crabs once, filled with hope and promise but only ever reeled them back in with missing legs, no fish attatched. Had a full sized kahawai smash a real crab once, found it and decided to give it a shot, pleased with the result - it was only in the water a couple of minutes, Hence my initial interest in the plastic ones.

Some Success

Posted by Wellyfisher <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Wellyfisher' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 23/7/2013, 7:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Softbait crab experiment"

Nice catch Panser, moki are very high on my 'catch in 2013' list.

I managed to catch a kahawai on a 4' pogy softbait today, my first fish on softbait. Was a good buzz as I was only having a cheeky fish on the way home at ngati toa domain.

Re: Some Success

Posted by Panser <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Panser' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 23/7/2013, 7:46 pm, in reply to "Some Success"

On a ledger rig I sometimes use a flouro green softie and the KY seem to favour them over the bait, worked a charm on 90mile beach.

Born to fish. Forced to work.

Re: Some Success

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 24/7/2013, 5:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Some Success"

I have caught moki, snapper, trevally, kahawai and gurnard from shore on Gulp! Crabs and a heap of other species on soft bait in the boat.
It really is worth using when spineybacks drive you mad taking every bait.

You wont catch anything on them when there is nothing around though. Try them when the fish are about.

Disclaimer: I sell GULP! for a living.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Some Success

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 24/7/2013, 5:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Some Success"

They also keep eagle rays off you hook when they are thick on the beaches.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Some Success

Posted by Naki-Fisher <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Naki-Fisher' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 24/7/2013, 10:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Some Success"

How do you fish them Gary?

Re: Some Success

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 24/7/2013, 10:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Some Success"

I have found that the crabs fish best on a ledger rig with 3/0 Gammy circle hooks. I guess any brand of circles would work though.
I often set one rod like this during the day when I am fishing two rods. It can be left and the fish will hook themselves. It doesnt always work but then neither does squid, crayfish or pilchards. It is worth a try though. Best success has been on sandy beaches except moki which I have caught in Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa fishing near rocks. Day and night success too.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Some Success

So Gary in your expert opinion if you set one rig up with a crab every time you went out fishing for a season, what do you think the catch would be like versus fresh bait?

Re: Some Success

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 25/7/2013, 9:02 am, in reply to "Re: Some Success"

Too many variables, but in an area with high populations of fish (any kind) 50/50 is possible.
You need to think of the other advantages as well though. Easy transportation, ability to change colour and size easily, the fact that some species dont like softbaits, eg sharks, rays and dogfish.
I often fish softbaits cast and retrieve while soaking baits and score a bonus kahawai and occassionaly a kingfish that may never have seen the bait.
Give it a fair try and see how you go. I doubt that Gulp crabs will outfish real crabs side by side for moki but when you dont have crab baits they could save the day. They did for me at Matakona one day when I had no bait. The moki loved them.
A fair try means fishing them when there are fish around not just when there are no bites on bait.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Some Success

Posted by te-hori <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=te-hori' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 1/8/2013, 9:13 am, in reply to "Re: Some Success"

Not wrong there Gary, if fish aint about nowt works

Re: Some Success

Gary do you believe they would work at night?

Re: Some Success

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 1/8/2013, 10:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Some Success"

Absolutely definitley! I can introduce you to a bunch of snappper, kahawai and mackerel that love it after dark.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Some Success

Sounds like a date.

Re: Some Success

Posted by te-hori <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=te-hori' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 2/8/2013, 8:14 am, in reply to "Re: Some Success"

G'day Gary, how do they go on red cod ?

Re: Some Success

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 2/8/2013, 9:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Some Success"

I havnt had any experience with red cod on soft baits that I remember.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Some Success

Posted by te-hori <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=te-hori' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/8/2013, 1:52 am, in reply to "Re: Some Success"

Ok thanks Gary. got old mate who to crook to fish anymore, luvs cod. will try to get him a feed. they & dogs seem to eat anything, dont need the dogs ! only one way to find out ! Cheers.

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