S
SIR
Guest
With so much wind trolling has been out of the question so we've been doing some crab trap testing the last week. We've used lot's of differnet styles of traps at the Resort and I've never really spent the time to figure out which ones were better so last week was about figuring that out.
We've been fishing two traps per line using the same bait in the same area and have done over 20 sets so think our results should be pretty representative of the traps capabilities.
We tested three styles of traps the expensive round SS commercial kind, the big black square metal collapsables and the light round mesh type with the round opening in the top and four side gates.
Using 30 minute sets the big black ones came in first, the light round mesh second and the SS commercials a distant third. Using longer sets (where the bait is all eaten) the SS commercial were the winners as they seem to be harder for the crabs to get back out of.
The SS commecials required no modifications as purchased. The big black collapsables needed the gate clips rounding with needlenose pliers so they opened and closed more easily. The mesh traps needed the horizontal ends of the gates shortening with a hack saw as they got caught in the mesh and locked open.
You would not be able to fish the light round mesh traps without a second heavy trap on the line as any type of wave/current would send them walkabout.
So in conclusion we are going to stick with the big black collapsables for short sets and the SS commercial style for all day/overnight sets.
Crab cakes for dinner tonight
Happy crabbing!
We've been fishing two traps per line using the same bait in the same area and have done over 20 sets so think our results should be pretty representative of the traps capabilities.
We tested three styles of traps the expensive round SS commercial kind, the big black square metal collapsables and the light round mesh type with the round opening in the top and four side gates.
Using 30 minute sets the big black ones came in first, the light round mesh second and the SS commercials a distant third. Using longer sets (where the bait is all eaten) the SS commercial were the winners as they seem to be harder for the crabs to get back out of.
The SS commecials required no modifications as purchased. The big black collapsables needed the gate clips rounding with needlenose pliers so they opened and closed more easily. The mesh traps needed the horizontal ends of the gates shortening with a hack saw as they got caught in the mesh and locked open.
You would not be able to fish the light round mesh traps without a second heavy trap on the line as any type of wave/current would send them walkabout.
So in conclusion we are going to stick with the big black collapsables for short sets and the SS commercial style for all day/overnight sets.
Crab cakes for dinner tonight
Happy crabbing!