Thread: Crabs

Hi everyone -Does anyone know the best place around gulf shores/orange beach area to go crabbing from the shore?And also the best method?

Id say little lagoon or perdido bay is your best bet. But thats not really practical for you. If you are staying in one of the condos, im sure its really frowned upon. Im not sure they allow it. If you are staying in a house, buy a trap and some bait throw it out overnight and what you get.

In the mid-atlantic region where I grew up, a turkey or chicken neck was tied to a string and tossed into deeper water from a bank or dock. A long-handled net was at hand when one slowly pulled in the string and the greedy crabs gently were pulled over the net. Usually several baits were out at once, checked in rotation. It required less overhead than buying and planting a trap and definitely provided entertainment for the kids. Of course the Chesapeake bay and DelMarVa area were crab-rich and too much patience may be required in Alabama.

Originally Posted by midwestexile

In the mid-atlantic region where I grew up, a turkey or chicken neck was tied to a string and tossed into deeper water from a bank or dock. A long-handled net was at hand when one slowly pulled in the string and the greedy crabs gently were pulled over the net. Usually several baits were out at once, checked in rotation. It required less overhead than buying and planting a trap and definitely provided entertainment for the kids. Of course the Chesapeake bay and DelMarVa area were crab-rich and too much patience may be required in Alabama.

That is exactly how we did it!
About 60 years ago, Grandma would roll me out of bed way too early and we would be off to the lagoon, Lake Shelby, the cut off or the bridge on 59 across from Original Oyster House. Turkey necks and fish heads on a string weighted with big washers or even a spark plug. Of course back then there was plenty of water access and we could drive the Jeep where ever we wanted to.

I use fresh, scored mullet(small enough to fit in the trap compartment). If I can't catch any with the cast net I'll use turkey nets.

If you get done having a successful fishing day, you could always use fish carcasses. I've done that before and had success. Little lagoon is where I usually go on an incoming tide. It really gets that scent trail moved into the lagoon.

Thanks for the info since the pier ain't so great for fishing due to the storm we will try it!

beef melt works good too.

We just got back from the beach after 10 days and the grandkids put a crab trap out 8 days using carcassess from the fish we caught from the pier Spanish macs,blue fish,spec,and any other things the kids could find.Caught some nice big crabs but no many very slow but we share a dock on Mobile bay and some other folks had there traps in also.i think you don't need a dock look around and find a small salt marsh area that will work on a good tide.As a kids we caught lots of crabs with hand lines and a good scoup net.Down rt 180 near the fort on the bay side there are spots you just got to get in the soft marsh to find the crabs but plenty of spots drive and stop and walk the edges.Hope it helps crabbing will get better toward ene of summer. Take care Tom