I would think you might need a butterfly net or something like that.

Plenty of these fella's around but the kids would kill me if I suggested using one as bait.:)

John

I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......

Get a riggers glove and someone else to hold the torch. When ya see one run after it and grab it, they're fast but not that fast. Really easy to get, doesn't take long to fill a bucket.

Cheers Jay.

I'm a burst athlete, not an endurance one. Might take me a bit longer than you to fill a bucket.:)

Do you use them much as bait up that way?

John

I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......

I haven't used them much but I'm sure they're dynamite, the bigger the better. Expect to catch bluebone if you're using them around the pilbara.

easy mate go down the beach just on dark lob a bait out there just for good measure.throw one or two fish frames just above the high tide mark on the beach crack a coldy open .light a small fire well away from the fish frames.crack another coldy or ten .wait ,maybee even catch a fish..... wait ... when ya two thirds pissed. stagger down to the fish frames with no light and a coldy in one hand .once ya close to the frames turn on ya torch then prance and stagger around chasing the little buggers .dive onto a crab making sure you cover yourself in beer .also make sure you forgot to put on gloves so the ghosty draws blood ,swear and curse about spilling your beer while sucking on your now bleeding finger.

repeat above proccess until you either run out of beer or have enough crabs
cheers mitch
always in it just the depth that varies

You have had a bit of practice at this technique Mitch. I have tried it on the soldier crabs.

you could say that im a bit of an expert at the above proccedure.
and yes they do make good bait ive caught a few jacks and esturey cod on them while camped up just inside Coolgra point .some people call it third creek north of onslow.
while sitting around the fire with a few mates weve had ghosties run straight into the flames .
there are hermit crabs in the thousands there .they are dynomite bait .just chuck a fish frame just behind the mangroves in the shade .go for a fish .come back in about an hour and the buggers are everywhere fighting each other.grab a few of the big ones .its a bit tricky getting them out of there shell but once you got them out they are top bait
always in it just the depth that varies

Thanks for that info Mitch, I'll try the fish frame at night trick.

Are the crab numbers effected by the state of the tide or is that irrelevant?

John

I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......

im not sure bigjohn .but yep the fish frames work .just have to wait for them to smell it out .ive never used one as bait in the ocean .only in coolgra point creek .but like jay said i reckon the blue bone would smash them
always in it just the depth that varies

try burying a bucket with the top level with ground and whack some bait in that.i saw it on a program years ago when some bloke wanted bait for baldies.the plastic of the bucket makes it hard for them to climb out once theyre in.once again beyond the high tide mark and with plenty of coldies to sink while you wait

That sounds a bit easier bibs. I'll give both methods a go when I get a chance.

John

I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......

Hopefully turn them into some baldies Saturday morning.

Went the run and stun, bare hands for fun.:)

Good size as well, the buckets a 50 litre job.

John

I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......

http://www.smartmarine.co.nz/gulp-alive-peeler-crab-soft-bait-bulk-pot-selection385-gram-p-2320.html

More time for drinking without risk of spillage

 Al.

Got a feeling the real deal might work better in this case Al. Floating over some bombies, suspended under a cork, wriggling like crazy.:)

John

I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......

Your probably right mate but the gulp crabs are an excellent alternative if you get to smashed to catch the real ones.

Then again tho! if they are less effective there is less chance of spillage because you dont need to jump for your rod and put the beer down

I like my idea better, as on those long trips one cant waste beer

Priorities

Cheers, Al.