Hardback Crabs

[Crusty]

Thinking of using small hardback crabs as bait to lure big smoothies this summer (over 15 lb) this year from the shore in the Solent. Anyone had any experience of this?

I always use peeler crab but I'm thinking that if I use hardbacks I can get through the increasing numbers of smaller fish (Pups are starting to get irritable as they'll take baits intended for bigger fish).

Chris

[audiracer]

if you need any hardbacks let me know and i will go down the old wall at netley with my girls , they love catching them and have started to get quite good at it, the last time we went down they caught about 100 crabs in about 30mins

[Crusty]

100 in 30 minutes - that's impressive!

Have they been able to master picking them up yet though? I have two nippers (boy and a girl, 7 & 5) and they can't bring themselves to pick them up yet. Can't blame them really.

The girl in particular likes to come out when I'm looking for pelers except when her boot gets stuck in the mud and I see her standing on one leg with the other leg dangling above the lost boot!

[audiracer]

my youngest does not mind picking them up, as she seem to love animals and has developed a knack for handling all sorts of creatures.

the girls love crabbing at high tide with plenty of mackrel heads for bait and some cheap nets we picked up from the car boot sale

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Thinking of using small hardback crabs as bait to lure big smoothies this summer (over 15 lb) this year from the shore in the Solent. Anyone had any experience of this?

Should do the trick but would make sure the shell is cracked so that the old juices can flow

God not long now and boy am I looking forward to catching smoothounds which are my favourite fish

[Crusty]

I share your love of smoothhounds. Spent many evenings over many years in the Solent fishing for them.

Played about catching stingray up to 20 lb last year off some marks but the novelty factor wore off once I considered the risk of getting paralysed.

Roll on the rays and smoothhounds - rockling just don't get me going so I'm only fishing matches at the moment - grudgingly at that.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well mate ; come the fish , come the admin ( god hope that reads right )

Always willing to travel and only a pm away

[fishingbonsai]

Crusty

Welcome to the forum.

I have only fished for and caught smoothounds twice and only once landed them, best 11lbs, at Selsey, but it was absolutely fabulous. SOO looking forward to catching them again.

Stangely all the landed fish took ragworm. I had been fishing two hook flappers with 2/0 hooks, with fresh peeler crab on one hook and the rag on the other.

But I was smashed several times and some of the hooks were snapped as well, I believe I hooked into some big fish that I didn't have the skill to land, mainly down to not setting the drag correctly I believe. Lets see if I have learnt anything next time they are here. Doesn't just the thought of em get you going?

[John Marshall]

Hi Crusty,
hard backs, peelers, rag and squid will all take smoothies from beach and boat.

[JuanPablo]

sorry to restart a really old thread but has anyone actually fished with hardbacks?
im wondering how to present them? would you shell them like a peeler crab or not?!