Let's talk crab! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

tunaseeker · 05-24-2016, 09:20 PM

I never see anyone daytime crabbing but Sabaslayer.. I would like to do this more. So throw out your tips, tricks and good karma, so we can all learn about those tasty rock crabs! Especially in LJ!
Cheers all!
Todd

Dave Legacy · 05-24-2016, 09:39 PM

I have been wanting to do this. I skipped lobster season, because I simply wasn't properly outfitted and daytime is a better time for me in general as a novice. There's a couple things holding me back:

1. I heard that the only usable meat on a rock crab is in the claws and forearms. It feels a little wasteful for my liking if this is accurate.

2. I'm not looking forward to Eco-vigilantes assuming I'm poaching lobster. Does that ever happen to anyone?

King Saba · 05-24-2016, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Legacy

I have been wanting to do this. I skipped lobster season, because I simply wasn't properly outfitted and daytime is a better time for me in general as a novice. There's a couple things holding me back:

1. I heard that the only usable meat on a rock crab is in the claws and forearms. It feels a little wasteful for my liking if this is accurate.

2. I'm not looking forward to Eco-vigilantes assuming I'm poaching lobster. Does that ever happen to anyone?

Lol just eat like an Asian and eat the whole crab legs, body, and all. The roe and brown stuff (don't know the name

) in the shell makes for good sauce when mixed with lemon.

Out of curiosity, but does anyone know if we can break off the claws and just harvest that? Should be no right?

Phishphood · 05-24-2016, 11:31 PM

Can't keep just the claws. No way to verify size of the crab.

Dave-there's meat in the body but definitely takes some work. Much less yield than d-crab.

Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

tunaseeker · 05-25-2016, 06:48 AM

There is a fair amount of meat in the shoulder area. I normally go lobstering with a friend from the Philippines. We have a deal that he gets the heads I get the claws and some heads for the shoulder meat..

sharjak · 05-25-2016, 07:38 AM

Do you use regular lobster nets for crabs?

PapaDave · 05-25-2016, 08:03 AM

I asked DFW about just taking one of the claws and letting the crab go, like they do in Florida, but was told I had to bring the crab in and take the claws off on shore.

However, they didn't say I had to kill the crab, I figure if I keep the crabs alive, bring them to shore, take one claw, leaving one intact, I have fulfilled the requirements of the rule. There is nothing in the rules that say I have to take both claws or can't release them after that.

I could be mistaken on that though...

Mahigeer · 05-25-2016, 08:26 AM

It will take a long time to grow the other claw, if the crab does not die from starvation. I would keep the entire crab.

Spider crabs are great to eat.

If you do not have a lobster in possession, no one can fault you.

ful-rac · 05-25-2016, 08:36 AM

That being said usually the crab fishing is great but the past couple of years have sucked! They're still around but are probably running deeper than normal. When they are around, it's a crab bonanza! Nobody seems to care when they are though...which is great for they guys that want'em, like ME!

05-24-2016, 09:20 PM	#1
tunaseeker TB Metal Art Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 653	Let's talk crab! I never see anyone daytime crabbing but Sabaslayer.. I would like to do this more. So throw out your tips, tricks and good karma, so we can all learn about those tasty rock crabs! Especially in LJ! Cheers all! Todd

05-25-2016, 08:03 AM	#7
PapaDave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 1,473	I asked DFW about just taking one of the claws and letting the crab go, like they do in Florida, but was told I had to bring the crab in and take the claws off on shore. However, they didn't say I had to kill the crab, I figure if I keep the crabs alive, bring them to shore, take one claw, leaving one intact, I have fulfilled the requirements of the rule. There is nothing in the rules that say I have to take both claws or can't release them after that. I could be mistaken on that though... __________________ So long and thanks for all the fish...

05-25-2016, 08:36 AM	#9
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Yeah we hoop crab too once in a while... That being said usually the crab fishing is great but the past couple of years have sucked! They're still around but are probably running deeper than normal. When they are around, it's a crab bonanza! Nobody seems to care when they are though...which is great for they guys that want'em, like ME! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

05-24-2016, 09:39 PM	#2
Dave Legacy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 427	I have been wanting to do this. I skipped lobster season, because I simply wasn't properly outfitted and daytime is a better time for me in general as a novice. There's a couple things holding me back: 1. I heard that the only usable meat on a rock crab is in the claws and forearms. It feels a little wasteful for my liking if this is accurate. 2. I'm not looking forward to Eco-vigilantes assuming I'm poaching lobster. Does that ever happen to anyone?

05-24-2016, 11:31 PM	#4
Phishphood Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 346	Can't keep just the claws. No way to verify size of the crab. Dave-there's meat in the body but definitely takes some work. Much less yield than d-crab. Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

05-25-2016, 06:48 AM	#5
tunaseeker TB Metal Art Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 653	There is a fair amount of meat in the shoulder area. I normally go lobstering with a friend from the Philippines. We have a deal that he gets the heads I get the claws and some heads for the shoulder meat..

05-25-2016, 07:38 AM	#6
sharjak Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South OC Posts: 102	Do you use regular lobster nets for crabs?

05-25-2016, 08:26 AM	#8
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,897	It will take a long time to grow the other claw, if the crab does not die from starvation. I would keep the entire crab. Spider crabs are great to eat. If you do not have a lobster in possession, no one can fault you.