Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3904 Feb 1-14 | Page 27

25 Jan 31 - Feb 14, 2020 VOL.39 • ISS. 4 Crab Snares, Part 3 S o now we are getting into the nitty-gritty about castable crab snares. This simple looking appliances have a number of limited nuances that can make a difference in its performance. The basic idea of a castable crab snare is that of a metal cage that holds the bait, and up to six lassoes attached to the cage such that when pulled tight, the lasso will snare one or more legs of the crab allowing you to haul it in. The cage itself will have some sort of door that will open up by which one can insert the bait, squid being the most popular, while also being rather inexpensive. Other popular baits such as cut up fish and fish parts, shrimp, frozen cat food, and chicken also work well. The cage itself can come in three basic shapes (that I am familiar with): Rectangle (like a brick), cube (like dice), and round (like a hockey puck). The most popular of these shapes is the rectangle shaped cage, as it displays the smallest frontal face and causes the least amount of drag and resistance while winding it in. The snare loops themselves are constructed with a water resistant filament such as lawn trimmer string and capped with a round electrical tip. Do-it-yourselfers make their own with stiff mono such as Mason Hard type leader material in 80 or 100lb. test and make crimped loops in caught. place of the round One last item I’d like to electrical tips. While this mention; don’t let your may be cheaper, the nylon snare sit in one place too mono material may get long. I have often seen soggy and lose its springi- people trying to work out ness, rendering the snare a “snag” while crabbing at useless until it is dried off the beach. There is nothing and regains its stiffness. for one to get snagged One tip that may be into when crabbing off the helpful and increase the beach; however, if you effectiveness of any snare let a snare sit too long, it by Steve is to lay the snare out flat bury itself into the “Hippo”Lau will on a flat surface, spread sand. This isn’t too big of the loops out so they cover a problem where you can the most area, then hot glue them into lift up on the snare, but try to pull that place. This will ensure that any crab snare horizontally through the snag that comes close to your cage will and it may end up tighter than a tick have the maximum chance of getting on a mangy dog. FISH SNIFFER COUNTRY Marshall landed a 3 lb. vermillion. We ended up with 27 limits of rockcod and crab Crabs and Sanddabs Offer for the 27 anglers.” “There are still Dungeness crabs in Winter Sport Pillar Point Harbor! Jump on the Huli Cat EL GRANADA - The rockfish season or one of the other charter boats,” said out of Half Moon bay ended on Tuesday, Mattusch. “If weather has the charter fleet December 31, but the swell kicked up, tied up, come down to the docks! Lots of bringing surfers to the area to work the commercial fishing boats selling off their huge waves and allow the party boats to boats. If you don’t want to cook them, take out observers. Princeton Seafood Company Market and It’s amazing how these big wave surfers Restaurant will cook them for you!” can drop everything and show up when The New Captain Pete out of the Half the conditions are right. Sanddab/crab or Moon Bay Sportfishing Center found top- crab only trips will fill the bill on the Huli notch crab fishing on December 21, ending Cat during the winter months. up with 180 Dungeness Crab for 18 anglers “The Hulicat finished the rockfish season on a crab-only trip. with good fishing. “We went combo fishing The anglers aboard the Queen of Hearts off San Gregorio,” said Captain Tom on December 29 found good rockfish and Mattusch of the Hulicat. “Enrico Gutierrez crab action. “It was another fun day on the landed a 10 lb .lingcod., while Robbie ocean. We had some nice mixed bags of dwellers and school fish and even a few Saltwater & Freshwater lingcod. Everyone left with plenty of crabs for their holiday get- HALF MOON BAY Full Time Charter Boat Since 2004 CONTINUED ON PG 26 www.BodegaBayFishing.com Fish ALASKA 3102 The 2019 rockfish season came to an exciting end on the Happy Hooker with limits of big rockfish hitting the decks. 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