Just read a crab pot problem I seem to be having

[DoubleJ]

I have a Danielson crab trap like this one:



I've noticed on 6hr soaks, I am pulling 6-8 crabs in my pot and the bait is still there but on 24hr soaks, I am only getting 1-3 and sometimes 0 and most or all of the bait is gone.  I was reading a website that said the current could be blowing the doors and keeping them open and to add strips of lead to the doors to make them heavy enough to stay shut in the current.  Anyone do anything like this?

[robodad]

Yep weighted doors is a must, either wrap a few inches of pencil lead on the cross piece or drill out some egg sinkers and pound them onto the bottom pegs that hit the bottom of the pot !!

[CP]

I have a couple of pots that came with weighted doors but I don’t leave my pots out long enough for the crabs to get disinterested and leave.  Leave the pots down too long and starfish get in anyway and crabs hate starfish.

[NRA4LIFE]

Most Reds can easily get out of the Danielsons.  I rarely soak mine for more than 4-5 hours.

[DoubleJ]

Just got 6" lengths of 1/2" rebar to add to the doors.

I have had star fish in the pots before.  Big ones.  one was 2' across.

Leaving pots for 24hrs is a must for me in most instances.

[MP123]

I don't see a bait cage in that pot, they really help keep the bait around so the crabs don't run off with it.  Try chicken or trukey legs or something with bones in the bait cage, that will hold up overnight for sure.

[h2ofowlr]

You can get replacement weighted doors or wrap with pencil lead.  It is a must!

[lokidog]

Tried posting earlier.... 

If you hang your bait from a hook or in a mesh box, the little isopods, that look kind of like sow bugs, will not be able to get to it.  They are small but they are abundant and eat a lot.

Also, as mentioned, the bait box will keep the crabs from pulling chunks of meat off.

[DoubleJ]

That's not my pot.  I have a bait bag zip tied to the bottom of the pot and have a bait cage suspended with zip ties from the top.  When they have completely destroyed the bait bag, I'll remove it and not replace it.  It is still serviceable so it is being used along with the suspended cage.