style of crab traps
- Thread starter hemi57
- Start date
They all work but some of the cheap ones let the Crabs escape if there is any play or flex or clips on the seems etc that hold them together are damaged or missing. Especially the cheap plastic coated reg. steel square ones which I have noticed the crabs seem to be able to escape from easier if they are left down a long time. The only advantage of the cheap square ones is that they are very inexpensive even new and you care less if they were to go missing. They also rust out if used a lot even with the plastic coating and generally seem to fall apart more.
The real issue is which are the best traps for catching and holding crabs and that depends on how you plan to use them. The best for actually catching and holding crabs in my view are the large heavy weighted round stainless commercial traps with zincs which will out fish all the others about three to one. The downside is that they are huge and heavy and in my view are best if you are in a marina and can put them in the harbour nearby and leave them in for months on end and just check them and re-bait whenever you are out in the boat. If you fish them deeper or are older and pull them by hand you will need a good back. They also take up way to much room on the boat and are in the way and messy and the non stainless weight ring can leave rust stains and because of their size and weight are more likely to damage your glass boat gel coat with handling.
Next best for actually catching crabs are the smaller round all stainless sort of sport version of the stainless commercial traps without the heavy reg. steel weight rings etc. They take up less space than full size commercial traps and don't leave rust stains and work better and hold crabs better than the cheap square ones but are still not as good as the real full size weighted commercial ones for catching lots of crabs. They are also rather pricy, more so than used full size commercial traps and harder to find used at bargain prices but if you trailer your boat, go to different locations etc. they may be your best option. Don’t forget the lead core trap line as it is a real hazard to yours and others boats having it float on the surface where you can run your leg or prop. into it.
The real issue is which are the best traps for catching and holding crabs and that depends on how you plan to use them. The best for actually catching and holding crabs in my view are the large heavy weighted round stainless commercial traps with zincs which will out fish all the others about three to one. The downside is that they are huge and heavy and in my view are best if you are in a marina and can put them in the harbour nearby and leave them in for months on end and just check them and re-bait whenever you are out in the boat. If you fish them deeper or are older and pull them by hand you will need a good back. They also take up way to much room on the boat and are in the way and messy and the non stainless weight ring can leave rust stains and because of their size and weight are more likely to damage your glass boat gel coat with handling.
Next best for actually catching crabs are the smaller round all stainless sort of sport version of the stainless commercial traps without the heavy reg. steel weight rings etc. They take up less space than full size commercial traps and don't leave rust stains and work better and hold crabs better than the cheap square ones but are still not as good as the real full size weighted commercial ones for catching lots of crabs. They are also rather pricy, more so than used full size commercial traps and harder to find used at bargain prices but if you trailer your boat, go to different locations etc. they may be your best option. Don’t forget the lead core trap line as it is a real hazard to yours and others boats having it float on the surface where you can run your leg or prop. into it.
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SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Go with boxes if you lose one not expensive....
Fish Assassin
Crew Member
Harbour Chandler always seems to have them outside for $19.99. Way less hurt when they go missing. I never weigh mine down. I just use light line and a light but noticeable float. I also find older and more beat up they are better they fish. When they are brand new I find they fish a bit slower then the older ones I may have.
scott craven
Well-Known Member
Yup, been using them for many years and work well.
The traps vary in product quality however.
the cheap ones $19.99 are real flimsy, Canadian tire sell a good one for $29.99 and it's worth the extra 10 bucks.
jeffywestcoast
Well-Known Member
chandler has square ones with a door in the top for 29.99, way better for sorting crabs..IMO but still cheap enough
Gear'n'beer!
Well-Known Member
SS Ladner traps all the way 
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
If you lose how much does it set you back?SS Ladner traps all the way
DVL U Know
Member
My favourite trap growing up was always those reddy brown plastic crab pots...they just keep catching and catching...even if you lose it!
Have a flex fold trap now which is awesome for size and gates and for stowing away on the boat (just have to remember how to fold it up...
Always hated the blue boxes...gates suck!
Have a flex fold trap now which is awesome for size and gates and for stowing away on the boat (just have to remember how to fold it up...
Always hated the blue boxes...gates suck!
Fish Assassin
Crew Member
Maybe you should have taken 2 mins and adjusted them one time only after buying them
Now days they come with a way better designed door that you don't have to adjust.
mbowers
Well-Known Member
Instead of adding weight to the trap which makes it a bigger hassle in and out of the water, I prefer to add the 1kg Bruce anchor with a little bit of chain on a ziptie break away rig between trap and float. I think the trap fishes better when the float isn't tugging away on it and that anchor isn't going anywhere. Even with a heavy trap, the tide could wrap a log into your float and carry away the trap. The anchor should take more force to dislodge than any trap light enough to deploy manually.
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
I have a couple I cut out of my prawn trap aqua mesh material I make for my prawn traps (Bauer Trap material) just haven't made them yet... If I can get them made down to less than 50.00 per might be worth a try...
But truthfully hard to beat the box ones a they collapse these won't.
But truthfully hard to beat the box ones a they collapse these won't.
My favorite traps are the ones where the crab has to walk about a slight incline, then drop in. So if the gate malfunctions chances are it won't get back onto the ramp. All of our large commercial traps we fish with are built that way. A few years ago we got some at Island Outfitters that were mesh / fabric with ramps but the crab legs kept getting hook in the mesh which was an absolute disaster.
Gear'n'beer!
Well-Known Member
I believe they were $109 @ trotac this weekend, I honestly don't recall what I paid for mine as it's been a while. My thinking, and many will disagree, is I spend a tonne of money on my boat, tow vehicle, trailer, gear, insurance, moorage, fuel etc.. That a few extra $$$ for a quality made in bc trap is really nothing in the grand scheme of things. That is why I fish Bauer traps for my prawns too, some dude in Sidney made them and they didn't come overseas via freighter to my local store, in fact the same dude that made them delivered them. Same goes with Scotty, ace, islander etc.
There is a lot of value in locally produced stuff. They support local derbies,fundraisers, salmon enhancement and the like. China ain't doing any of that. Not judging anyone, just my .02
