Crabbing

[Chinook]

When I'm out on the boat, I love to crab, Dungeness crab, that is. The big problem has always been how to store a crab trap. Even the rectangular coated wire traps, which flatten down, are big, awkward, and bulky to stow. While reading up about our planned Vancouver Island cruise I kept seeing references to the excellent crabbing to be had in many of the anchorage areas. I poked around on the internet to see what was available in a collapsible crab trap, and I ran across reference to the Flex Fold Trap. It looked perfect. It's a round style, like the commercial traps. The top and bottom rims are made with braided stainless steel cable, and they are covered with nylon netting. Three stainless hinged doors allow the crab in but not out. The really cool thing is that, when stored inside its stowage bag, the whole thing is only 17 inches in diameter and just a couple inches thick. When deployed it measures over 40 inches in diameter and a foot tall. It's beautifully designed. You fold it up by twisting the wire rims into three rings, onto themselves, much like a surveyor's chain gets folded. It's a little tricky at first, but not all that difficult. The bad news is that the manufacturer, a guy over on Vancouver Island, is taking a year off from the business, and so new ones aren't being made again until 2018. I got lucky, though, and found a new one on Ebay. I got it for 2/3's of the new price. There are still a few available in marine and fishery supply stores, at the full price. While expensive, with a new price of $170, they really are well designed and well made, and the only practical option if your heart is set on crabbing from a MacGregor. Now, all I need to do is catch about 10 legal size Dungeness and I'll be ahead of the game, in terms of cost. The gain in good eating: priceless.

For a look at the trap, including videos of assembly and stowage, check out the website at: www.flexfoldtraps.com.

For you east coast prospective crabbers, though, the news is bad. This trap won't work for your smaller blue crabs.

[Wind Chime]

These are perfect MacTraps.

Pros:
- they catch well!
- fold small and flat but when open is the same size as a commercial trap
- round traps catch more than square (no contest)
- has a great nylon vented case
- cage is nylon mesh and stainless so no rust
- way less smell than metal traps
- large opening at the top to pull out your dinner.

Cons;
- hard as heck to remember how to fold up, but has handy laminated directions in the case.
- very light so need weight. We lost one to the current a few years ago. Always put weights in the new one, especially on the Vancouver coast with lots of tide.

[Chinook]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll rig some lead weights to hold it down.

[kadet]

You guys need access to the good old Aussie crab pot.

https://www.arnoldsboatshop.com.au/900m ... oCdLjw_wcB

Works on Muddies and Blue Swimmers

[Estate Sail]

I carry one metal round trap in my inflatable raft/tender. Since it is in the water for most of the trip, it isn't much trouble. I have lead weight in it and don't have drifting problems. Salmon is great bait. Season starts 15 July and Ill be ready!!!

[Wind Chime]

... and another reason I like our rigid hull Walker Bay dingy? No worries when crabbing

[Tomfoolery]

This is what I picture when I hear the term 'crabbing'.

[grady]

This is what I picture when I hear the term 'crabbing'.

Left rudder! Left rudder!!!!!!

[Y.B.Normal]

Same here, Tomfoolery. Of course, I only live 15 miles from Oshkosh!
For you non-pilots, that's the home of Airventure, the world's largest aviation event.

[Tomfoolery]

I thought it was called the EAA annual convention and fly-in, or something like that (experimental aircraft association). Did they change the name? I haven't flown since 1987, so I'm kind of out of the loop at this point.

[Wind Chime]

Boy ... Did this thread get "hi-jacked" quick!
Get it? hi-jacked, plane talk

[K9Kampers]

[Wind Chime]

Let's see if we can get Chinooks original post back on track ...
... What game do nerdy crabs like to play? Dungeness and Dragons!


Sorry, not quite back on track

[Highlander]

OK
Never caught Crabs not sure I,d want Too "Oh never mind "that,s a differnt subject "

Anyway for crabbin meat I,m all for u guys trappin & catchin them , someone cookin them all up & then I,ll gladly taste test them all for u Mmmm whatda think sound reasonable

J
PS a friend of my daughter just gave us some nice NWP Sockeye Salmon he,d caught I guess last summer so I cooked it all up with red onions, green , yellow , red peppers , tomatoes,potatoes a few herbs & other spicies , she asked where was her,s I said I had taste tested her,s & it was good so I then had mine , needless to say she was not amused I,m still in the S/H Oh Well!

[Y.B.Normal]

Tomfoolery,
It was called the EAA Convention (Fly-in) until Tom Poberezny, Paul's son, took over the reigns. Airventure could be trademarked; the whole event became very commercialized after he took over. Come on back, it's still a fantastic fly-in.
"Now back to our regularly scheduled forum.."