Crabs in prawn trap

[Baxter]

I gave up on crab in area 14. That may have changed.

Friday night I dropped prawn traps in a new spot. 300’ of water.

Came back the next morning. With two traps I only got 20 keepers. A hand full with eggs were returned and had many prawn pieces…. And about 40 small dungeness! They were all about the max size that could fit through the opening. Some red rock as well. Pretty sure they were feasting on my prawns!!

So I did not get to take home many prawns, but now I know where to try dropping crab traps! I had no keepers just because the trap openings were too small.

Thoughts on my plan?? Going to make prawn trap openings harder for crab by dividing the openings by 2 or 3 with some zip ties. Then will drop a set or prawn and a set of crab traps in the same spot. Thinking I’ll use prawn bait for the crab traps - seemed to work.

Aside from zip ties for smaller openings, any tips for keeping crab out? Anyone else have this issue? First for me.

Some pics below. (Don’t worry, the crab in the cooler were all released - just dumped the traps in there first to pull out the prawns.)

 

[Samnjoe]

Lots of people crab that deep in areas where the otters have cleaned the shallow ones out.
Unfortunately they are moving south.

 

[Marley]

I have caught red rock crabs in my prawn traps before. Never dunganess

 

[bryce]

This will get you fixed right up

 

[Sea Chaser]

Better than hagfish! I had to dump a stuffed trap back as the bugger slimed the whole
Works . Was tempted to Throw the trap back with it lol. Nasty mother truckers

 

[Bugs]

yes to narrowing openings. In saanich inlet where catching many small red rocks using a zap strap across middle of door of Bauer dramatically increased prawn catch. However don’t recommend targeting dungeness at that site. Those are cancer gracilis (graceful crab) look similar but never get large. Slimmer more purple legs. If you look closely there is a small tooth on each side of the carapace behind the widest tooth. In Dugeness the widest tooth is the furthest back

 

[Squire]

yes to narrowing openings. In saanich inlet where catching many small red rocks using a zap strap across middle of door of Bauer dramatically increased prawn catch. However don’t recommend targeting dungeness at that site. Those are cancer gracilis (graceful crab) look similar but never get large. Slimmer more purple legs. If you look closely there is a small tooth on each side of the carapace behind the widest tooth. In Dugeness the widest tooth is the furthest back

Thanks for the useful info. I also had a prawn trap full of these crabs once and assumed they were small dungeness.

 

[Baxter]

yes to narrowing openings. In saanich inlet where catching many small red rocks using a zap strap across middle of door of Bauer dramatically increased prawn catch. However don’t recommend targeting dungeness at that site. Those are cancer gracilis (graceful crab) look similar but never get large. Slimmer more purple legs. If you look closely there is a small tooth on each side of the carapace behind the widest tooth. In Dugeness the widest tooth is the furthest back

Well damn. Thought they weee Dungeness. Thanks for letting me know!!

Very helpful. Prawn traps have already been zip ties , ready for next drop.

 

[Hot-Streak]

I've caught Dungee crab while halibut fishing at 350ft. It grabbed onto the bait and wouldn't let go all the way to the boat.

 

[seachicken]

I get these in my prawning spot if I get too deep, 200-210' in a sandy bottom. If I get up onto structure about 185' I don't get any.