Website design By BotEap.comCoastal crabs exist year-round and are generally classified as a pest due to their bait-stealing behavior. As winter turns into spring and the water temperature begins to rise, shore crabs will begin to peel or burst. When crabs begin the shelling process, they are probably the most productive bait preferred by sea fishermen.

Website design By BotEap.comMany crabs are skinned 3 times a year, usually in their juvenile life stages. Peeling is when a crab sheds its current shell to allow it to grow. Crabs do this by drinking and storing large amounts of seawater, which in turn swells the inside of the body, forcing the shell to crack, revealing a new, smooth underneath. They do so under the protection of undergrowth or in a safe hiding place, as this is when the crab is most vulnerable to predators.

Website design By BotEap.comSkinner crabs are generally harvested from the beach when the tide is out. They can be found under rocks, around breakwaters, walls, and pillar struts.

Website design By BotEap.comThere are several ways to tell if a crab is a peeler. First is if it is losing its shell, has a dull color, and is brittle, which is prone to cracking. Another way is to rub your back with a small amount of pressure to see if the shell begins to crack. If the shell has not yet burst, you can remove the last segment from the 2nd to the last leg. If a fully formed leg segment remains, then it is a skinner crab. If all you get is a white strand of slime, then the crab is not peeling and has been repositioned.

Website design By BotEap.comTo keep your skinner crabs in top condition, ready to use as bait. Peeler crabs should be kept refrigerated and checked daily. Store the peeler crabs in a container as ice cream, keep them in the refrigerator at all times and cover them with seaweed soaked in fresh seawater, this should be changed 3 times a week. Another method is to use shredded newspaper placed in a safe tub and spray it daily with fresh seawater just to keep it moist.

Website design By BotEap.comThe presentation of the peeler crab is as important as collecting and maintaining them, they can be used as bait on their own or as a tip with a rag or barb, larger peeler crabs can be cut in half and used on smaller hooks.

Website design By BotEap.comTo prepare a peeler crab, you must first remove the legs and the hard parts of the shell. Do this, buy by twisting the legs at the leg joint, turn to one side and then the other side, carefully pull and try not to twist the joint or you will break the body meat.

Website design By BotEap.comAttach the bottom of the main body with your fingernail, lift the top edge of the tail plate. Now locate the top of the center body plate, it is the V shape that intersects the mouth guards, gently pull up and then work down lifting the entire plate.

Website design By BotEap.comCheek side plates are the next to remove and are often the easiest part to remove on the entire crab. On the mouth guards, twist and pull gently, don’t worry if it doesn’t come off all of it or you end up pulling a bit of the meat.

Website design By BotEap.comLast bit! Flip the crab over so the top and back are gently facing the finger or thumbnail underneath the back lip of the top (main) layer and apply a slight amount of pressure to the meat below with the other. hand and lift the cape. pivoting on the leading edge with the eyes.

Website design By BotEap.comIf you are going to freeze the crab, you will have to remove the lungs or fingers of the dead one. They are the bits of brown / pinky feathers on the crab’s side.

Website design By BotEap.comAnd that’s it, you have a juicy crab bait that can be cut almost in half and set upright and tied with the bait elastic. Remember that the peeler crab can be used to remove rags, ears, and other baits.