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.
Photo courtesy of
HAPPY HOOKER
SPORTFISHING,
Berkeley.
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