Peeler Crabs

[Plod]

Hi guys, sorry not been on for a while, but work and family have kept me busy.

With the Forum Smut meet coming up soon, and seeing as it is in my home town, I thought I'd make it one of my few fishing outings of the year.

Now I know that peeler crab is the meal of choice for the average smoothie down here, but the price of the buggers puts me right off. Added to that, my nearest stockist is probably 20 miles away. I want to collect my own, and know that people use upturned roof tiles and all sorts in estuary areas to lure them in when they are peeling.

My question is, can you collect peelers from the rock pools on the beach at low tide, or do they generally head for more sheltered areas like estuaries when they are in this vulnerable state? To the left of the river mouth at Seaton is a mass of rough ground, exposed at low tide. I go there with the kids and find loads of crabs, but never found one with the telltale crack across the rear, suggesting it's moult time. Is it worth me going down there and persevering or giving it up as a bad job? Might find some of Pingus gear down there from a year or two back

Let me know what you think.

Cheers guys,

Regards, Darren

[Pross]

I'm sure you can use hard backs if there aren't any peelers about.

[FlyingFox]

if you cant manage to get any peelers you can use either softies, hardbacks or hermit crabs.....also keep an eye out for some peeling spider crabs in the groynes or rockpools or even check them if you catch one fishing....there a killer hound bait!! good luck with your bait collecting and good luck with the meet....should be a few hounds there by the sound of things!

[pompy.bass.man]

if you cant get crab, squid, rag and mackerel works well to. i have seen 12lb smoothhounds off the pier on rag

[geffski]

Originally Posted by Plod

Hi guys, sorry not been on for a while, but work and family have kept me busy.

With the Forum Smut meet coming up soon, and seeing as it is in my home town, I thought I'd make it one of my few fishing outings of the year.

Now I know that peeler crab is the meal of choice for the average smoothie down here, but the price of the buggers puts me right off. Added to that, my nearest stockist is probably 20 miles away. I want to collect my own, and know that people use upturned roof tiles and all sorts in estuary areas to lure them in when they are peeling.

My question is, can you collect peelers from the rock pools on the beach at low tide, or do they generally head for more sheltered areas like estuaries when they are in this vulnerable state? To the left of the river mouth at Seaton is a mass of rough ground, exposed at low tide. I go there with the kids and find loads of crabs, but never found one with the telltale crack across the rear, suggesting it's moult time. Is it worth me going down there and persevering or giving it up as a bad job? Might find some of Pingus gear down there from a year or two back

Let me know what you think.

Cheers guys,

Regards, Darren

this is good info plod, seaton rough ground? arrr crap! i hate it unless im on the dexter or float! pulling for a break takes a bit of my sole away everytime! im travelling down from sussex by train and cant see the peelers making it that far! (frozen crab is sh*t) this is slowly turning into a logistical nightmare!! hopfully get a sesh in at brighton marina the day before and get a stack of spiders if ther on the molt!?

[Plod]

Cheers for the replies guys.

Geffski,

Don't panic about the rough ground mate, it is only to the far ends of the bay, left of where the mouth of the river Axe is, and at the other end at Seaton Hole. The main bay in the middle where everyone fishes, well for smoothies anyway, is a pebbly/sandy number, and I can't recall ever losing a rig.

If you are worried about the crabs enjoying the journey, you could always get down here early, go to the left of the river mouth, see if you can find any peelers in the rocks, then let me know if I should bother or not.

Cheers, Darren