What bait to 'capture' lobsters/crabs/fish/scuba divers?

[Bav34]

I want to do this:



I have the camera, a suitable container, weights/string etc but I don't know what sort of bait to use, what to wrap it in to stop it being ripped to shreds too quickly, and hopefully the wrapping will anchor it to the container.

Any thoughts?

Oh, also, is there a minimum depth that lobsters/crabs operate at?

There is a brilliant anchorage close to where we keep our boat in Brittany, you can see the sandy/rocky bottom but I've never seen anything crawling around.

Thanks.

 

[Pete7]

Bit of old fish attracts the crabs, which then attracts the lobsters. Depth doesn't matter, the old inner sea wall at Ballycastle next to the fish cleaning building was a great diving spot for lobsters which hid behind the conger eels in the crevices.

Pete

 

[FishyInverness]

Good old smelly fish for Lobster (Mackerel for Preference), Crab prefer a fresher bait.

Where I fish (Tarbat Ness), I see Lobster pots dropped not 30 metres from the rocks, though i'm not sure how quickly the shelf drops away there.

 

[humbug716]

I thought the lobsters' favorite was KiteKat!

 

[longjohnsilver]

As already stated, any old bit of fish will do. However more important is where you place the pot, ideally you want a reef type area rather than just a rocky seabed, crabs and especially lobsters like to have a front and rear exit to their holes, they don't seem to like the idea of being trapped with only one way out. This often means a substantial lump of rock is more likely to attract them. And make sure you leave the pit down at least overnight, that's when they are more likely to come out and move around.

As well as the pot, make sure you have a big enough pan on board to cook the beasts. Happy hunting!

 

[Bav34]

Thanks. Any thoughts on what I could put the smelly fish in to stop it just being carried away? Plassy bag NOK but ... ooh I wonder if a bit of netting would do ... yes, thinking aloud here :encouragement:

 

[FishyInverness]

Mesh Zip Pocket...like the little ones you get in sport rucksacks at the top foryour keys...

Or a bait bag, take your pick of any good creel retailer that sells them...

 

[Baku]

I have watched some kids in our marina have great success with bacon rind wrapped in muslin.

At low tide you could see the crabs running towards and fighting over it.

Some were a good size...although I suspect Marina crab from Portsmouth Harbour would probably be an acquired taste !

 

[Twister_Ken]

Love the way at 1m20s everything effs off sharpish, then a few seconds later a Vulcan bomber does a low flypast.

 

[Grampus]

A piece of bacon on a hook will catch some fine edible crabs.

Lobsters and crabs caught here down at low water on spring tides. Crabs seem to like fresh bait, while old fish, especially if it has been salted, appears to be a lobster's delight.

 

[agurney]

I want to do this:



I have the camera, a suitable container, weights/string etc but I don't know what sort of bait to use, what to wrap it in to stop it being ripped to shreds too quickly, and hopefully the wrapping will anchor it to the container.

Any thoughts?

Oh, also, is there a minimum depth that lobsters/crabs operate at?

There is a brilliant anchorage close to where we keep our boat in Brittany, you can see the sandy/rocky bottom but I've never seen anything crawling around.

Thanks.

- fresh fish in shallow water for crabs; mostly shore crabs down to 30', velvet swimming crabs and edible crabs below that
- rotten fish deeper water for lobster and fewer crabs
- rotten fish on a silty bottom for prawns (proper Dublin bay/langoustine)
- expect starfish anywhere, and dogfish on flat muddy bottoms

put the bits in one of the net bags that you get with citrus fruit to keep them together and make them easier to handle

Most life comes out at night, but I caught few very large edible crabs in 30' in a couple of hours off Kinuachdrach one day while anchored for lunch.

I used to think lobsters lived around rocks, however the biggest lobster I've caught was about 18" long in 15' in Fairlie while diving on a mooring .. flat muddy bottom.

 

[Bav34]

Top tips all, thanks.

I don't actually want to catch anything, I want to capture them on camera as per the video clip.

Mrs Bav has started a collection of the citrus fruit nets ... er, so that's one so far :encouragement:

 

[Highndry]

Use chicken wire mesh shaped around a jam jar to make a swim feeder. Drop the bait in, fold the top closed and frustrate the hell out of the fish!

 

[nigelmercier]

What bait to 'capture' lobsters/crabs/fish/scuba divers? ...

To bait a trap for SCUBA divers, anything shiny will work

 

[Gordonmc]

Stab a couple of holes in a tin of sardines-in-brine.
Ok, you may spend 50p or whatever for the sardines but it works... I get a dozen good sized langoustines in a fold-up creel.

 

[oldbilbo]

To bait a trap for SCUBA divers, anything shiny will work

SCUBA divers? Bait...? S'easy.....

or

 

[FishyInverness]

Stab a couple of holes in a tin of sardines-in-brine.
Ok, you may spend 50p or whatever for the sardines but it works... I get a dozen good sized langoustines in a fold-up creel.

Thanks for that, I like that idea for use in a collapsible creel when kayak fishing

 

[Garfish]

The mesh bags you can get for washing powder tablets are quick and easy. Put bait in bag along with a lead tied to line. Pull drawstring tight over lead. I often use this as a way of groundbaiting when boat fishing. If you want to attract crabs and fish in a marina environment use bread soaked in pilchard oil, liver also works well.

 

[agurney]

The mesh bags you can get for washing powder tablets are quick and easy. Put bait in bag along with a lead tied to line. Pull drawstring tight over lead.

+1 ... it beats my suggestion