The Best Blue Crab Bait

Wondering how to catch blue crab bait? And possibly the best blue crab bait to use while at it?

Well, crab fishing by the sound of it is quite dreadful. This is because crabs are known to be ferocious, fast, and overly hard to catch. Blue crabs, in particular, are more ferocious and lighting fast. They grow so big up to 200 pounds, a weight that can back a grown man into a corner.

On the bright side though, crabbing can be a fun activity for both family and friends. Besides, it can prove to be a suitable means of survival for kayakers, sea divers, etc.

Edible crabs can be found on many shores around the world. They love shallow ends which means that with good bait and a proper crabbing technique, you can quickly catch as many blue crabs as you possibly can get.

So,

What Is The Best Bait For Catching Blue Crabs?

Crabs can’t smell. But despite this, they do detect their food through ‘smelling’ microscopic organisms in the water.

This means that anything with a strong smell in their breeding zones will attract a cast of crabs. You should know that crabs are scavengers by nature. They do eat anything that comes their way. So this plus their love for strong odors make crabbing one of the easiest types of fishing.

The bottom line is, to catch blue crabs, stinky meats will do the trick. Raw chicken parts, rotten fish, bunkers, eels, etc. can help get you a crabby snack/dinner.

So that said, here are;

What Is The Best Bait For Catching Blue Crabs?

Crabs can’t smell. But despite this, they do detect their food through ‘smelling’ microscopic organisms in the water.

This means that anything with a strong smell in their breeding zones will attract a cast of crabs. You should know that crabs are scavengers by nature. They do eat anything that comes their way. So this plus their love for strong odors make crabbing one of the easiest types of fishing.

The bottom line is, to catch blue crabs, stinky meats will do the trick. Raw chicken parts, rotten fish, bunkers, eels, etc. can help get you a crabby snack/dinner.

So that said, here are;

The Top 3 Best Blue Crab Baits You Should Try This Time

1. Rotten Small Fish

You may ‘yuck’ or even ‘pyuk’ at this, but crabs do go mad for rotten fish.

The rotten smell of fish makes them go crazy.

You can buy rotten fish from any fish vendor, or from the bait shops along the shorelines. You can also get fresh fish and store them for a very long time to get that rotten smell going.

These work so well in catching crabs.

  Pros

• They are soft and have the right smell to attract blue crabs
• Smaller fish are easy to secure to the trap
• Rotten fish are easy to buy/get as they are often sold as waste, even thrown.

  Cons

• Very pungent, you’ll have to wash your hands thoroughly after crabbing to rid yourself of the rotten fish smell
• Rotten fish tends to be too delicate; crabs easily tear through the meats
• Don’t last long on the trap

• Very pungent, you’ll have to wash your hands thoroughly after crabbing to rid yourself of the rotten fish smell
• Rotten fish tends to be too delicate; crabs easily tear through the meats
• Don’t last long on the trap

2. Chicken Parts

Chicken parts are an excellent second choice when it comes to blue crab fishing.

When I say chicken parts, this could be anything from chicken liver, legs, necks, etc.

You shouldn’t have a hard time finding these parts. Supermarkets, butcheries, and chicken farms are the right places to get them.

Note that there are differing opinions on whether you should use fresh or rotten parts. Well, I say the choice is yours. Fresh or rotten both do an excellent job of attracting blue crabs.

  Pros

• Chicken parts especially the legs and necks are medium soft and hard. This makes them excellent choices for crabbing since the crabs can latch on them real fast and long enough for you to get them out of the water.
• The skin on chicken is also advantageous as it tends to get crabs’ claws stuck on.
• Chicken parts are easy to find and are cheap too
• thumbs-up their smell is not that pungent unless rotten
• thumbs-up chicken parts, i.e., legs and necks are easy to secure to the trap

  Cons

• Some parts of the liver are not tough enough to get the crabs latched on
• Chicken parts do not last long on the trap

3. Bunker

Also known as menhaden, bunkers are small saltwater fish used as a bait for blue crabs.

You may not know this yet; but they (bunkers) are the smallest, worst smelling fish you’ll ever come across.

Interestingly though, crabs tend to love the oily odor of this fish. They do make excellent baits for crabbers.

You can find bunkers at tackle/bait shops along coastal lines.

To increase your chances of crabbing using a bunker, cut it in half to increase its smell in the water.

  Pros

• Affordable and easy to find
• Their oily scent attracts crabs fast
• They are small, delicate and soft perfect for bait fishing

  Cons

• While their delicate and soft self makes them ideal for bait fishing, it is also a disadvantage in the sense that crabs may rip through them easily and getaway.
• Their stinking smell can get you gagging and retching.
• Do no last longer in the trap

To see these steps in action check out the following video:

Well, crab fishing is truly fun and you know the crab itself is tastier. So in as much as the whole fishing thing may sound horrifying, the end result should be your motivation.

Remember to carry along the right bait the next time you go crabbing. The above rundown consists of three of the best blue crab baits. They are time time-tested and are actually the most recommended blue crab fishing baits in the angling world.

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