is crab over rated as a bait

[NICK R]

Do you think crab is overrated ,Reason iam asking is that i have over 100 in my freezer ready for the cod ,but i have not been using them as i use fresh black lug and have very good results..

thoughts

[gullyworm]

No mate .
The thing is this time of year your not going to better black lug/yellows
as a Cod bait.
Theres no Crabs peeling at the moment in any of the Cod areas so there not what the fish are after.
Give it another few months when a few crabs start to peel and the spring run fish turn up and crab will be the number one bait.
I m pretty sure its all about the target fish and the time of year,down here in early summer when the smuts turn up they are virtually interested in nothing but crab .
If i were you i d keep it in your freezer for spring

[cuckoo]

Originally Posted by gullyworm

No mate .
The thing is this time of year your not going to better black lug/yellows
as a Cod bait.
Theres no Crabs peeling at the moment in any of the Cod areas so there not what the fish are after.
Give it another few months when a few crabs start to peel and the spring run fish turn up and crab will be the number one bait.
I m pretty sure its all about the target fish and the time of year,down here in early summer when the smuts turn up they are virtually interested in nothing but crab .
If i were you i d keep it in your freezer for spring

cant add any more

lee.

[NICK R]

I was on about in general not as a seasonal bait .. I should of added that i also had more success with worm for the bass .hard to get smoothies off the beach in this area

thanks for your thoughts

[gullyworm]

Originally Posted by NICK R

I was on about in general not as a seasonal bait .. I should of added that i also had more success with worm for the bass .hard to get smoothies off the beach in this area

thanks for your thoughts

All baits are seasional though mate,but in general i think its a top bait.

[Lookfar]

Originally Posted by gullyworm

down here in early summer when the smuts turn up they are virtually interested in nothing but crab .

In the last few years, from the boats we've seen increasing numbers of smuts taking squid. I'd say that it now outfishes hardbacks and at least matches hermits (when you can get them, that is!). I've heard theories that the hermit population has been decimated by the whelk potters? The focus on squid may well be due to the big die-off of cuttles after they breed, there are certainly plenty of cuttlefish bones floating around in spring and something must be eating the soft bits!
Inshore though, it might still be crab they are tuned in to, since they'll be coming in for the shore and spider crab peels.

Steve

[tommy a]

I personally think crab is absolute rubbish and well overrated - use it regularly through the summer for bass, rays and anything else and very rarely catch anything - I prefer squid and rag myself. The only good thing it does catch are the hounds but you are right - me and Shads have discussed this several times and find it expensive and overrated !!!

Having said that - maybe it will be the bait for the bassing Im going to do with John !!

[gullyworm]

Originally Posted by Lookfar

In the last few years, from the boats we've seen increasing numbers of smuts taking squid. I'd say that it now outfishes hardbacks and at least matches hermits (when you can get them, that is!). I've heard theories that the hermit population has been decimated by the whelk potters? The focus on squid may well be due to the big die-off of cuttles after they breed, there are certainly plenty of cuttlefish bones floating around in spring and something must be eating the soft bits!
Inshore though, it might still be crab they are tuned in to, since they'll be coming in for the shore and spider crab peels.

Steve

The Cuttlefish lay there eggs in early spring and then die.
Ive seen some really big Bass taking chunks out of dead floating Cuttle.

[lazy hooker]

Originally Posted by tommy a

I personally think crab is absolute rubbish and well overrated - use it regularly through the summer for bass, rays and anything else and very rarely catch anything - I prefer squid and rag myself. The only good thing it does catch are the hounds but you are right - me and Shads have discussed this several times and find it expensive and overrated !!!

Having said that - maybe it will be the bait for the bassing Im going to do with John !!

Too right and if anything i MUCH prefer and have more confidence with crab used from the location rather than bought live....fishing with a mate last year who is notorious for buying and i kicked his arse 4 times out of 4 using local against bought...so bring your wellies too tommy

Over RATED - NO
OVERPRICED- OH YES

[tommy a]

Wellies I will bring and I cant wait mate - never been peeler collecting, let alone bassing off the rocks in South Wales - can you PM and let me know when the first trip might be planned mate so I can make arrangements far in advance !!

Churz

Tommy