[PierMaster]

First rig of the seaon for me yay!

bout time, thing was i got 6 of them

Kept 5 threw one back and lost another trying to pull it up.

Walked to beach twice

not bad for only having 7 crabs.

Date: 19 October

Location: Brighton Pier

Fishing time: 7.30pm – 11.45pm

Bait: crab

Sorry bout photos they from my cell lol

[yellowfin]

Sweet.. Might have to start visiting the beaches this weekend

[Miliwolf]

Good job.

I would be on the beach again tonight Hopefully would get one.

[yellowfin]

You must’ve started getting them not long after Rob and I left – I’m usually in the wrong place at the wrong time! Might have to start using a long beefy leader again for lifting these guys up.

[fishsnatcher]

ok one question, as far as I’ve seen paddle crabs are massive! as big as my splayed out hand [and thats just the body], so my question is this; how the heck to you cut them up? e.g. in half, use one leg? and what rig should i use.

Or are you using smaller crabs, or a differant type of crab?
I’m pretty keen to give these guys a go…

[Jones Jr.]

Bump to fishsnatcher’s question! Need to know this info to! Thanks

Cheers
Aaron

[yellowfin]

Yeah I’ve tried using paddle crabs but they were an ass to hook on. Would like to know as well.

About the best I could work out is rip a couple of legs off.. Thread the hook through one leg and out the other.. I’ve tried cutting them in half but they sort of fell apart… it all depends on the size of the crab I guess??

[yellowfin]

not a bad nights effort to get ya limit in just a few hours!

[tracknz]

Well pleased to see everthing is normal then. I go home and you catch my fish lol. Good haul andy but make sure you leave some for the rest of us hey.

[yellowfin]

Usually if using crabs for bait you need some bait cotton to tie them on, otherwise they just fall off. Depending on the size, cut them in half and tie them on well, and they should stay on.

[fishsnatcher]

Yeah have a look at “How to catch paddle crabs” forum it has some replies on how to rig them.

[PierMaster]

Hey yeah got them caught the first at 10.15pm and the last at 11.30pm.
Usually fish 2 hook ledger trace with 5/0 hooks but was fishing 1 hook ledger trace on sunday.
Due to me not having much bait

I use small crabs and cut them into halves, then put the hook up through in between the legs and then bind the legs onth either the shank or around the eye of the hook with cotton.

[Wilderness]

put your thumb nail right at the back end of the crab, your find a lip there where the shell over laps. hold the legs down or bottom of the crab and lift the shell up from the back to the front.

once the hard shell has been lifted cut the crab straight down the middle, its your call wether you leave the legs on or not, I like to or at least a couple legs as it looks natural in the water. If its distance your after, cut all the legs off but leave the back paddle on and rap your bait cotton all the way down the body of the crab to the paddle so its shaped like a torpedo.

The lemons caught above are pretty small ones but would have no trouble what so even smashing back halve a big crab. 5/0 circle hooks insure very little escape the strike. and if you struggle to bait up with on hook use a second sliding keeper say 2/0 circle to hold it in place. dont be stingy with the bait elastic,

use the leg holes to thread your hooks through, take the time to place your hooks with plenty of barb exposed as most fish will run with it in there mouth before before they deal to it.

bait presentation is important.

[fishsnatcher]

Is there any store where you can get bait elastic or bait cotton? It would be kinda handy if it were down at The Warehouse or Rebel sport….

I know i can get it on tackle tactics but it would be cheaper and easier to buy down town

[yellowfin]

I’ve seen it at the warehouse.

[Author]

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