Any crab rigging experts out there?

[Jesse Lockowitz]

The last handful of ocean caught cobia ive seen cleaned, were absolutely STUFFED with crabs, both blue and big tan spotted crabs.

Now, obtaining big legal size blue claws is not a problem, what has me pondering through my mind, is how to rig them so that i get a natural presentation, but most importantly the best hookup rate possible.

ive heard some rig them with a rubber band etc, how about circle hooks vs j-hooks, im 100% confident in both, so thats not a worry to me either.

Im hoping that somewhere in the vast wealth of knowledge we have on SFC, SOMEONE has fished with live crabs before and is proficient at rigging them.




Jesse

[gottaflylee]

Jesse, I'v always rigged them off the point of the crab, not to much to it, I do remove the claws though...

[Jesse Lockowitz]

Jesse, I'v always rigged them off the point of the crab, not to much to it, I do remove the claws though...

thanks lee.



Jesse

[Dave Sikorski]

I agree with Lee, remove the claws first.

Then snell a gami octopus circle...8/0ish to the leader of your choice. Put that sucker through enough of the point of the crab to make it hold. Lob his ass out there and wait for old Mr. Brown Suit to come a chompin.

The same technique works well for tarpon, permit(smaller hook) and other crab eaters.

-D

[HOLWACHAGOT]

I always hook em through the base of one of the swimmers(back leg), I cut the points off to get the juices flowing into the water. Smash the claws and leave them on if they don't fall off when you smash them. Good luck Jesse.
Holwachagot

[Jesse Lockowitz]

I always hook em through the base of one of the swimmers(back leg), I cut the points off to get the juices flowing into the water. Smash the claws and leave them on if they don't fall off when you smash them. Good luck Jesse.
Holwachagot

thanks,geoff, as soon as i hear reports of some cobes getting pulled from the cape, ill be in my kayak driftin a live crab/menhaden somewhere :-)



Jesse

[Honey Hole]

I'll take claws off... legs are left on (most of the time). If they're left on, I'll hook up through the apron and out the top of the shell, or through the tip of the shell (breaking the tip off the opposite side). I'll ALWAYS lay him on the deck and step on him (lightly) to get the juices flowing.

[Kahi]

I break off the claws, and use wire (monel) or rigging copper. I pass a rigging needle through the point, and insert the wire, I form an open loop by making a few barrel twists very close to the crabs body and on the under side or top depending what Im fishing for. Cobia should be hitting from below, not that it really matters with them. Then attach the circle hook through the wire twist, and wrap it till its snug but free swinging.

[WAHOONBOX]

WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SLOW THREAD AND NO ANSWERS IN SIGHT FOR JESSE JAMES HAS NOW BECOME 5 STAR IMO.............

THANK YOU !

[Jesse Lockowitz]

I break off the claws, and use wire (monel) or rigging copper. I pass a rigging needle through the point, and insert the wire, I form an open loop by making a few barrel twists very close to the crabs body and on the under side or top depending what Im fishing for. Cobia should be hitting from below, not that it really matters with them. Then attach the circle hook through the wire twist, and wrap it till its snug but free swinging.

kind of like a crab bridle, i like it. keeping the whole hook in the open for the hookset.


thanks for all the info guys :-)

now...all we gotta do is make a month and a half fly by, and the wind to calm down, i bet its gusting 30 right now here