Crabbing with traps

[nushagak]

Fellow WestEnder's -

My extended family rented a place on the West end of Galveston for next week. I'm Thinking It would be fun to buy a half dozen crab traps and put em out in the bay and go check them with my young nieces/nephew throughout the week. Never done this, but I think it will be great fun for the family.

Anyone have suggestions on best places to purchase recreational crab traps in and around Galveston?

I'm hoping to get some suggestions from the West Enders on the types of areas one should think about setting their traps (not looking for anyone's special spot)? Near marsh drains? Near reefs? On the edges of channels? In the middle of coves?

I have done a little bit of research so I dont cause any trouble or break any laws - Obviously you wouldnt place traps in areas that would hinder navigation of other boats, and it is illegal to place in a navigable channel. I have read the regs and we wont be harvesting undersize crabs, nor crabs with eggs, nor stone crabs (except the big pincer).

Any thoughts or bits of advice are greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone.

[Ibtsoom]

Academy sells em - so does buccees generally. They're about 35 dollars a piece I think. You are only allowed so many as a recreational angler - they used to have to be tied to your own property but I'm not sure if that's the same anymore. Make sure you look at the TPWD regs on em before you drop them out somewhere. Chicken parts a probably the easiest and best bait to use. Make sure they sit on the bottom with the entry throats closest to the bottom - if the trap is upside down it wont fish well.

[Russ757]

Weve done well in the past placing them along shorelines and grass flats in south shoreline coves. Havent done nearly as well these past few years but we used to get tons of crabs and always have a feast of them the last day we were there. Id say its worth a shot! We always used cheap chicken or fish guts for bait. (Although game fish guts are technically illegal to use as bait)
Russ

[Robalo]

WestBayCrabber may pull em and take em!! He's been messing with my neighbor's traps in Jumbile Cove-both are commercial licensed.

[Baby Tran Cat]

WestBayCrabber needs a ***** whuppin

[Curmudgeon]

WestBayCrabber needs a ***** whuppin

Lol! Yep!


Curmudgeon only pawn in game of life.

[mgstei1]

WestBayCrabber may pull em and take em!! He's been messing with my neighbor's traps in Jumbile Cove-both are commercial licensed.

Poor ol small business man trying to make a living!! (Takes a ton of heart to say that!!) He has the right and the license to go where we all go.
I used to cuss the push boats and potlickers and speed boats and skiers. Now, damn if I don't believe they make the fish bite more or that's what my grandsons theory happens to be. He always baits up fresh when a pushboat comes by or any other distraction. And damn if we don't get a bite going.
Personally, it probably more fun for kids and younsters to use a dip crab net and a chicken neck on a string instead of a sitting crab trap.

[Robalo]

I made no disparaging remark about one's ability to 'work' or where one can 'go' to work; however, the crabber I mentioned has ILLEGALLY stolen my neighbor's traps as a way of limiting competition-very similar to one POS POTUS currently housed at 1600 Penn Avenue that ignores the laws also, blames others for his failings and preys on the ignorants-very much the way WestBayCrabber acts.

[Ibtsoom]

Nushagak please pay no mind to these guys ...

Guys-- ease up on the political stuff outside the corner.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program about crabbing advice.

[JT]

When you harvest stone crabs from traps you find out in the bay(like west bay crabber); and once you remove the right claw are you suppose to put the crab back in the guys trap out of courtesy?

[Moonpie]

I thought all you had to do was mark your traps with your name,etc.

Who is this West Bay Crabber and why all the hate?

[Robalo]

When you harvest stone crabs from traps you find out in the bay(like west bay crabber); and once you remove the right claw are you suppose to put the crab back in the guys trap out of courtesy?

Yes, always replace what you steal (or partially steal in the case of stone crabs).

[JT]

Yes, always replace what you steal (or partially steal in the case of stone crabs).

That's what I've always thought. Thanks!!!

[H.Maier]

Don't put them in Jumbile cove or I'm going to get 'em.

[nushagak]

Don't put them in Jumbile cove or I'm going to get 'em.

Dont worry H.Maier.... I will stay away from Jumbile. Been looking at a map that somebody on 2Cool drew up for me. I got some spots picked out that they suggested in Zephyr Cove. Only problem is you have to walk through parts of Hall's Bayou Ranch to get there.