Thread: Catching crabs for bait?

I think there's a size limit on blue crabs. Don't know what it is.

IF you are taking (blue) crabs for eating the limit is 5" minimum from tip to tip across the back of the shell.
But for recreational fishing with (blue) crabs the limit is waived and placed at a one-gallon container.
(dee 2 3 and #4 @) http://www.outdooralabama.com/sites/..._Rec_Aug13.pdf

So they aren't going to cite a fisherman collecting a few 'undersized' blue crabs for fishing, but they best not have any "eating" crabs in their possession at the same time.

Originally Posted by CarlF

I've actually never heard of anyone fishing with ghost crabs before.
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Somebody would get a heck of a workout trying to catch ghost crabs! I'd use a chunk of fresh mullet or a live pinfish/croaker/finger mullet for big redfish.

Originally Posted by ssstovall

Hey Carl, I want to go after some bull reds on the dixey bar. I've read on this forum that crabs are one of the top two or three baits to use it

Live small mullet & croakers, fresh pogies and cut mullet would be my first choices. Crabs are too much work to catch unless you have a net to drag or trap to hang off the pier.

Of course if the bull reds are on the surface, an old flipflop, piece of drift wood or a just about anything else moving will work.

No workout for me.. My 5 year old daughter loves going out on the beach at night and chasing them. Entertainment for her and free bait for me=Win-Win!!

That is correct. Occasionally you will catch blue crabs in edge of the water, but the wife and I enjoy catching a few fiddlers at night and use for bait.

Thanks guys, I knew it was 5" minimum for eating size, but I did not know you could keep smaller ones for fishing only. This is great information and thanks again.

a half or quarter blue crab makes a great red fish bait. Problem is a lot of small bait fish will suck the goody out pretty quickly. A whole live crab with most of the legs and the claws broken off can catch you a big bull red.

Can you still catch calico crabs on the beach at night?

There should be plenty of crabs in the gulf surf right now right off the beach. A small dip net will do the trick. Bait stores may have fiddlers, too.