Advice Snorkelling for crabs
Submitted by chris raff on Mon, 2010-12-20 10:02
Hi guys...my young bloke wants to try snorkelling for crabs down mandurah we usually scoop ...however if its a bit windy thought snorkeling might be the go ...I know I have to buy snorkel goggles flippers and welding gloves....but once you catch the crabs do you just put them in a netbag of sorts and swim with that...I know its not rocket science but any small tips and techniques on snorkelling for crabs would be appreciated... thanks in advance
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“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
easy
milk crate + floaties = crab carrier. chuck a rope onto it, and pull it around with you.
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
Thanks Scotto...I presume I
Thanks Scotto...I presume I could get away with the ole babybath tied around waist as per scooping...just thought it might get in the way or tip over...just use a longer rope I guess...cheers
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
Dicey
Posts: 912
Date Joined: 23/07/10
Baby tub for diving under 1.5
Baby tub for diving under 1.5 metre of water is fine but over 2 metre i would change to those tyre tube and bucket, as those babytubs dont like to be dragged around with abit of current.
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
I havent done as much
I havent done as much snorkelling for them as some of the guys here, but do enjoy getting out for them. I've only every done them at night though.
Make sure you get a mask, not goggles though (cant equalise with goggles). With the bags, I use a standard spring opening catch bag. You could probably use a simpler type of bag, but they wont be nearly as easy or as quick to use. My technique is to shake the bag if any crabs are near the opening, then open, put your hand and crab in, close, then let go of crab and withdraw hand. Hence why the springloaded bit helps.
You can come up behind a crab and grip them so they cant pince you, but its much easier grabbing from the front with thick gloves. You can also make them grab a bit of wire.
If you're wearing a wetty, then get some weights+weightbelt to neutralise your bouyancy. Slightly positive is good (exhale and you can sink). If you have to keep swimming to stay down, its going to suck. If you're doing it at night, you can also put a glow stick on your back so you can spot your fellow crab divers (or if you're watching your son from the beach/boat).
Overall, if you can stay down at 'crab level' without floating, its not that hard. Just gotta practice.... and not be afraid of getting pinched, lol.
Dicey
Posts: 912
Date Joined: 23/07/10
One time we forgot the
One time we forgot the welding gloves but went for them anyways, always grabbed them face first that way they always pinch the wrist area of the welding gloves and its just faster because they sit there watching you with claws up ready to attack, not fun having to catch around 8 of them with no gloves.
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
I just use my standard
I just use my standard neoprene diving gloves. Yes, it hurts when they pinch you but you get over it :p. (just less stuffing around than trying to grab them from behind).
Remember you can pin them down too. E.g. wooden dowel (back end of scoop) or with your fins if you need to come up for air.
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
no gloves Dicey bugger
no gloves Dicey bugger that....ouch...
... always a good laugh... when someone gets taken out by a hostile crab latching on to their fingers or ankles...except when its me
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
Gricko
Posts: 109
Date Joined: 09/07/10
I always snorkel for crabs,
I always snorkel for crabs, tow around a butchers tub, heavier duty than a baby's bath and floats better, couple of meters of rope on it and doesn't get in the way ( too much ). I also carry along a mini gidgi I made because you will come across a lot of flounder.!
All this working keeps getting in the way of fishing!
beau
Posts: 4104
Date Joined: 24/01/10
We used a spring opener bag
We used a spring opener bag the other day when we were in the sound. Easy to use and light-weight. Should be able to buy them from tackle stores and dive shops. Used fishing line to tie the crab measure to the catch-bag, used your regular snorkell and goggles, and I just used my bodyboarding fins. Keep it simple, some people make it way too hard for themselves. And when you go down to grab them, dont hesitate, dive straight down at them and pin the body to the bottom and grab em, dont stuff around trying to get em from behind or whatever..
The other day was the 1st time i had ever done it, was good fun and we all had a laugh, especially when i tried grabbing a cuttlefish and got inked on underwater haha! Your young bloke will have a blast im sure!
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
If you get a spring loaded
If you get a spring loaded catch bag, see if you can get one with a zip on the bottom. Makes it heaps easier to dump out the crabs (or crays) when you're finished.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Hmm just another point of
Hmm just another point of failure :P
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Everything is a point of
Everything is a point of failure, some are just quite unlikely to fail ;). Never had any problems with the zip on mine (and its really useful). Just make sure you do it up :p
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
I've heard of people being
I've heard of people being towed slowly behind a boat on a body board with snorkel gear on to catch crabs? Saves swimming about too much. Just dive down off the board when you see a crab.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
ADDICT- dUFFMAN
Posts: 426
Date Joined: 29/05/10
a great way
to do it, heaps effective as you cover so much ground
winner winner chicken dinner
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
Reckon I'll give the tub and
Reckon I'll give the tub and bag a run...Wazzbat the young bloke says that a great idea..lol
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
welding gloves
I dont use welding gloves, but leather riggers gloves. The leather disperses the pressure over a larger surface area and doesnt hurt as much. Ive seen tools wearng elbow length welding gloves, way to heavy, to much resistance and just not required.
Neoprene diving gloves are useless. The claw points go through them like a hot knife through butter.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Can't say I've ever really
Can't say I've ever really had a problem with crabs and neoprene gloves
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Not sure which neoprene
Not sure which neoprene gloves you are using, but I haven't had an issue with them.
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
Well I have tried several pairs over the years
From thin to thick/good to cheap. Anyway I find that if a crab does manage to get a serious nip, the part at the end of the claws where the two pincers come together and touch, goes straight through the glove and into me. Also in the end one pair of gloves was tearing in the spots that were frequently nipped. Not life threatening, but not pleasant. With the riggers gloves if the same thing happens, no penetration. Just my experience, everyone in my family uses riggers gloves.
A bit of a moot point. I too have been caught out with no gloves and been lured to going commando after the buggers, and I would go without gloves than without crabs anyday.
Reefmonkey
Posts: 711
Date Joined: 22/09/08
KISS
Keep it simple, you shouldn't need weights if you intend to just go the peel/harvey estuary as you'll only really be in 1-1.5m depth which should almost be arms reach. If you already have a bathtub use what you've got if not go for a catchbag and with gloves we only ever use the $2 gardening gloves from bunnings, we wear them over neoprene but you should get buy with just gardening gloves if not wear two pairs if they fit for $4!!
Could end up costing up to $200 or $300 bucks if you go for all the bells and whistles on top of having to buy 2 snorkelling sets just for a feed of crabs.
It doesn't have to be complicated at all but man its fun! the buggers are bloody gutsy for their size and will happily stand their ground with claws up which only makes it easier:) just go in from the front and grab em or better yet they grab you and straight in the bucket or catch bag! By far the easiest and most fun way to catch blues!
One hint tho also, Depending on the visibilty also look as far forward for them as you can.If your only looking down the coward crabs will see you first and bury into the sand and they camoflage quiet well, that is until they realise they've been spotted and its all claws in the air and hand to claw combat commences!
Dave J.
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
I thought welders gloves were
I thought welders gloves were the norm...i see your point though ...they would be cumbersome...I'll checkout some different types
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
Dicey
Posts: 912
Date Joined: 23/07/10
Gardening glove they can
Gardening glove they can still sometimes get you above where the glove ends, has happened before, but yes is a very good cheaper alternative, weldings gloves the one i used was pretty flexible at the time, all im really doing is pushing the crab from the front and then grab it, the other hand has a torch in it, no hinderance whatsoever to me and sometimes i have a gidjee as well with me.
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
If you're doing it at night
If you're doing it at night and the visibility is crap, if you keep your torch at arms length under or to the side, you'll get less annoying backscatter of the light which can make it easier to spot the crabs (especially ones at the edge of your vision like Reefmonkey says)
Dicey
Posts: 912
Date Joined: 23/07/10
Yup that is what i do all
Yup that is what i do all the time now from experimenting in the merky water and plus if something infront that i cant see the torch hits it first like rocks that suddenly appear in shallower areas , have found the crabs like to hang around more to boat and yacht clubs if there is any nearby.
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Btw, last year, I had two
Btw, last year, I had two torches. Night super bright one in my hand attached to a strap (so you can drop it and sort out the crab) and one strapped to my mask (so I can use both hands and still have light). Might have to try strapping my torch to my forearm though. Might not be super KISS, but it works better for me :D.
garethgkr
Posts: 317
Date Joined: 16/12/09
how much does an underwater
how much does an underwater torch cost?
nothing too fancy enough to see through the water.
Dicey
Posts: 912
Date Joined: 23/07/10
Cheapest rechargeable i saw
Cheapest rechargeable i saw on ebay was $150 and its for a 900 lumens model the guy is in australia, if however the water is super clear the small 200 lumen model is all you need that should be the backup torch anyways, there are also HID torches but that is slowly being obsolete.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
http://www.piranhadivemfg.com
http://www.piranhadivemfg.com/category/LED-Lighting-Products-68
Scan down to "Penetrater 220" for $52US. These are exceptionally good torches, just run them of 6 enerloops.
HIDs are not obsolete, try buying a canister led with adjustable focus ;)
Dicey
Posts: 912
Date Joined: 23/07/10
The thing with HID its a
The thing with HID its a more spread beam, with LED its more focused at one point, was comparing led and hid with a friend on a wall and even he agreed that the HID was lousier was a 24w hid pistol grip, but in saying that its still crazy bright, will still be a while but LED will take over HID in the not so distant future.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
No, you can get adjustable
No, you can get adjustable focus canister HID, you can't buy adjustable focus canister LED because its a collimated IIRC.
That means you can change the focus on a HID from 6-24°, you can't do that on a LED. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but it sure helps dealing with backscatter.
Reefmonkey
Posts: 711
Date Joined: 22/09/08
Night
Yea would be a different game diving for em in the dark, Never tried it in the swan. If you guys are ever doin a fishwrecked river mission at night and your after numbers give us a shout. would love to give it a crack wen the vis clears up. my main buddy wont do cold or night:(
Dave J.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18040
Date Joined: 11/03/08
very interesting tips
very interesting tips amongst this lot. some i would have never thought of. might come in handy for me
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together