Best bait for crabing in Oregon

Troutski · 06-22-2007, 09:42 PM

I have heard that one shouldn't use fish remains for bait because of the Seals/Sealions robbing your pot/trap. What is a good replacement bait ?
I read some where that chicken works well.....sounds odd to me, but I am a city boy

Any help would be appreciated.

Chuck

Osprey · 06-23-2007, 11:30 AM

I myself use chicken or mink. You can get the mink carcasses at the bait shop at the gas pumps at Yaquina bay Marina. The mink is frozen so you'll need at hatchet or something to chop or cut it up so it fits into your bait holder. Your right about using fish, if you have crab traps the sea lions will bust them apart to get to the fish, and that can be expensive.

Oregon4x4 · 06-24-2007, 12:19 PM

Dead on with the chicken and mink! works Ok and the seals don't screw with it.
If your in an area that doesn't take constant "babysitting" of the pots (cause of sea lions, or worse -Humans.) Try saving your chinook heads after filet' time, and combine those heads with some squawfish or shad (shad stink more). The bugs seem to love the stink of the salmon/trout family as much as they love the shad ect.

If your afraid of sea lions, use chicken or mink or beef, hotdogs, you name it, they are scavengers!
if you wanna catch more bugs for dinner / or are at a place without the sealion pressure. I suggest fish- squid, shad, salmon heads, whatever ya got on hand That Stinks...

I use "commercial" pots, and last time we went crabbing the pots were in the water for ~45 minutes, and after the first pull - we were limited. using squawfish and chicken drumsticks that had freezer burn for bait.

Troutski · 06-24-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregon4x4

Dead on with the chicken and mink! works Ok and the seals don't screw with it.
If your in an area that doesn't take constant "babysitting" of the pots (cause of sea lions, or worse -Humans.) Try saving your chinook heads after filet' time, and combine those heads with some squawfish or shad (shad stink more). The bugs seem to love the stink of the salmon/trout family as much as they love the shad ect.

If your afraid of sea lions, use chicken or mink or beef, hotdogs, you name it, they are scavengers!
if you wanna catch more bugs for dinner / or are at a place without the sealion pressure. I suggest fish- squid, shad, salmon heads, whatever ya got on hand That Stinks...

I use "commercial" pots, and last time we went crabbing the pots were in the water for ~45 minutes, and after the first pull - we were limited. using squawfish and chicken drumsticks that had freezer burn for bait.

Thanks a ton for the information....this stuff is worth a million bucks.

Chuck

Dichrofisher · 06-24-2007, 04:40 PM

My set up is......Abu Garcia Brute rod, Penn 3211 LH reel, #80 braided line(has never failed), and a "crab hawk". I use the chicken because of already stated reasons.

kalan · 07-10-2007, 10:27 PM

The crab hawk is a lot of fun! I have three crab rings and it's a blast to sit on the dock, drop your rings or pots, and then "fish" with the crab hawk while you're waiting to pull the pots! It's an excellent way to spend the day...

If you don't have one and you're going crabbing... GET ONE before you go!
Too much fun.

royiii · 02-15-2008, 09:30 PM

I've always used carcasses from fish cleaning stations and never had a problem with sea lions. I see them swimming around and people with crab rings have problems but I have a pot so they can't get the bait.

krikcoin · 02-25-2008, 07:33 AM

I use Bass carcasses, they are very oily and attract crab very well or catch a bunch of Shad when they are running they work great. and of course chicken and mink I think Im going to go crabbing next weekendwell see if i get the chance to go.

bir48die · 02-25-2008, 07:56 AM

Have crabbed for many years. I use traps with inside bait cages. Shad is very oily. The secret is to let it thaw overnight and get smelly. I obviously use tongs to put it in the bait cages. Can get shad at GI Joes or Fisheman's Marine.

cchinook · 02-25-2008, 05:16 PM

bait boxes that are sealed properly will keep the seals out - regardles of bait-
I use sea-clamps - get them at Joe's - they are cheap and work great -
I use 2 - 1 on each corner of my box - they release easily and are salt proof-
I have had seals try to pry them open - no luck !! those rubber bands that come with crab rings are a joke ! you have to spell it out to the employees at Joes ----- s-e-a clamps not c- clamps , those are used to keep water hoses on engines - the knowledge of their employees is somewhat lacking -

06-22-2007, 09:42 PM	#1
Troutski Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, OR. Posts: 1,528	Best bait for crabing in Oregon I have heard that one shouldn't use fish remains for bait because of the Seals/Sealions robbing your pot/trap. What is a good replacement bait ? I read some where that chicken works well.....sounds odd to me, but I am a city boy Any help would be appreciated. Chuck __________________ Practice C.P.R. (Catch Photograph and Release)

06-23-2007, 11:30 AM	#2
Osprey Sustained Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Albany Posts: 288	I myself use chicken or mink. You can get the mink carcasses at the bait shop at the gas pumps at Yaquina bay Marina. The mink is frozen so you'll need at hatchet or something to chop or cut it up so it fits into your bait holder. Your right about using fish, if you have crab traps the sea lions will bust them apart to get to the fish, and that can be expensive. __________________ Ron _____________________________________________ Fishin's My Thing!But racing comes in a close second!!!

06-24-2007, 04:40 PM	#5
Dichrofisher Sustained Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Yewgene Posts: 276	My set up is......Abu Garcia Brute rod, Penn 3211 LH reel, #80 braided line(has never failed), and a "crab hawk". I use the chicken because of already stated reasons. __________________ What's your angle?

07-10-2007, 10:27 PM	#6
kalan Apprentice Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cornelius Posts: 50	Crab Hawk The crab hawk is a lot of fun! I have three crab rings and it's a blast to sit on the dock, drop your rings or pots, and then "fish" with the crab hawk while you're waiting to pull the pots! It's an excellent way to spend the day... If you don't have one and you're going crabbing... GET ONE before you go! Too much fun.

02-25-2008, 07:56 AM	#9
bir48die Neophyte Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1	Shad is the answer Have crabbed for many years. I use traps with inside bait cages. Shad is very oily. The secret is to let it thaw overnight and get smelly. I obviously use tongs to put it in the bait cages. Can get shad at GI Joes or Fisheman's Marine.

06-24-2007, 12:19 PM	#3
Oregon4x4 Apprentice Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 53	Dead on with the chicken and mink! works Ok and the seals don't screw with it. If your in an area that doesn't take constant "babysitting" of the pots (cause of sea lions, or worse -Humans.) Try saving your chinook heads after filet' time, and combine those heads with some squawfish or shad (shad stink more). The bugs seem to love the stink of the salmon/trout family as much as they love the shad ect. If your afraid of sea lions, use chicken or mink or beef, hotdogs, you name it, they are scavengers! if you wanna catch more bugs for dinner / or are at a place without the sealion pressure. I suggest fish- squid, shad, salmon heads, whatever ya got on hand That Stinks... I use "commercial" pots, and last time we went crabbing the pots were in the water for ~45 minutes, and after the first pull - we were limited. using squawfish and chicken drumsticks that had freezer burn for bait.

02-15-2008, 09:30 PM	#7
royiii Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfiled Posts: 30	I've always used carcasses from fish cleaning stations and never had a problem with sea lions. I see them swimming around and people with crab rings have problems but I have a pot so they can't get the bait.

02-25-2008, 07:33 AM	#8
krikcoin Angler Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Roseburg(best smallmouth river in the world) Oregon Posts: 102	I use Bass carcasses, they are very oily and attract crab very well or catch a bunch of Shad when they are running they work great. and of course chicken and mink I think Im going to go crabbing next weekendwell see if i get the chance to go.

02-25-2008, 05:16 PM	#10
cchinook Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland Posts: 81	bugs bait boxes that are sealed properly will keep the seals out - regardles of bait- I use sea-clamps - get them at Joe's - they are cheap and work great - I use 2 - 1 on each corner of my box - they release easily and are salt proof- I have had seals try to pry them open - no luck !! those rubber bands that come with crab rings are a joke ! you have to spell it out to the employees at Joes ----- s-e-a clamps not c- clamps , those are used to keep water hoses on engines - the knowledge of their employees is somewhat lacking -

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