Any of you guys ever use blue crab pieces as bait for redfish?

Just curious, I've heard about it, but never tried it.

If so, does it work well, better than say shrimp or the other natural and/or livebait options?

Hey Gnbass...sorry for the "canned" answer, but it is from the handout for the "KayakFishing Newbie Seminars" that I give periodically, with help from some of my best fisherman buds in here:

Blue crabs are the BEST bait for bigger reds.... NO questions asked!! KayakMike, and HP, and IS2001, and I have fished with Capt. Don Dingman, and he only uses crab chunks, two of us caught 44 bull reds the first trip, and three of us caught 66 the second year!! NONE WERE LEGAL!!!
All were 32-49” long…

Big reds just love them!! Take off the top shell and cut the pinchers and legs off and use both for chum. Slip a big and strong circle hook thru one of the leg holes and/or the bottom shell…and hold on!!
You may not catch many....but they will be bigguns!!
JohnYaksJax

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure what you meant by "canned" and the other thing. (I guess that there were no responses) But once again, thanks for the info, just curious as to how many fish this way.

JYJ usually gets his crab mean out of a can from Publix

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Hobie Pro Angler 12

Like JYJ stated, big Redfish love blue crab. Do I use em all the time?? No. But if I catch a crab while fishing, and I can get it to the boat...... Its bait. A 1/4 piece or 1/2 piece will do...........

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After extensive, diligent, and scholarly research, there is NO evidence that life should be so serious.

The Original HP Outback

I agree! I use a pair of stainless steel kitchen shears with built-in bottle opener I bought for 99 cents at Harbor Freight. Makes it easy to cut the crab into quarters and trim off the legs. Then, I use the bottle opener to crack open the claws. I've had them for about a year and they've only rusted a little bit. Not bad for about a buck.

And I also agree with JYJ... use a BIG circle hook.

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2012 Native Mariner 12.5 Propel (Camo) ~ 2012 Native Mariner 12.5 Propel (Sand) ~ 2011 Native Ultimate 14.5 (Sand)

Thanks guys....I forgot about the 1/2 or 1/4...

I also bought some cheap, but not THAT cheap kitchen shears....very useful in the yak, and mine are about 3 years old....I WD-40 them once in awhile....JYJ

PS: gnbass.....you may not catch as many reds as on shrimp or mudminnows...but your chances of a LARGE RED improves greatly!!

I carry a pair of sissors with me. When I get one I cut off his legs, then pulloff his/her sex organ, then I cut into qtrs with the sissors. Hook the cran through the hole. Dont worry about the crab as this procedure doesnt hurt. Great bait for big reds

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Winner and Champion of the 1st annual "2008 BOOB- A-Q Trout Shoot Out"
Voted Outstanding "Zilch" Player Pellicer Creek 2007/2008
Undisputed and Undefeated Washers Champion Pellicer Creek 2008
JaxKayak Freakin Moron - Pro-Staff

Doesn't hurt my a$$ No wonder you can't get anyone to fish with you anymore

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Hobie Pro Angler 12

I seen lots of remarks that crab bait catches big ones. I use 3 to 4 poles each time out. So it doesn't hurt to rig one up with a 1/4 crab. I've only nailed one 20" Red on that setup so far in the past year and a half, but I'm still attempting it every time I get a crab that hags on all the way to the Yak. I carry a rather wide and 3' long net. If you keep it deep enough as you pull in the crab it will not see the net until it's too late. I carry a rather rusty pair of heavy duty scissors too! Now I don't knock crab for bait either! I've caught my biggest Sheepshead using it too! 22"s @ 7#s!
I bet Reds hear the ocean as big as the ones JYJ mentioned love crab more than any other bait.
As a matter of fact most of my Reds when gutted have baby rock crabs in their stomachs. The gray claws are direct fact as to what they are but I hear fiddler crabs are loved by them too. It's a natural food chain source for then too. They have strong throat muscles for crushing the crabs once ingested. So those are the facts.

The preferred bait for Reds I consider to be live shrimp. So invest in a saltwater sealed aerator and spray the inside with WD40 to make it last a little longer. Get a zippered coozy and frozen bottle of water to keep the tank cool on these hot summer days too. Then you don't have to drag it along the Kayak all day, to keep it on-board.

Here's some proof of my Live Shrimp catches also using a #10 swivel, 1/8 oz bullet weight and a single Red Bead!

viewtopic.php?p=145421#145421
http://www.jacksonvillekayakfishing.com ... hp?t=18332
viewtopic.php?p=139093#top
http://www.jacksonvillekayakfishing.com ... hp?t=17725
http://www.jacksonvillekayakfishing.com ... hp?t=17643

PS! In my humble opinion Lady Fish ham steaks work better than crab for Reds too.

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2007 Hobie OB SUV "Papaya" Bow modified for BIG Reds, with Turbo Fins. I can stand and scout, move on fishing hands free! Throw a 4' cast net 10' away wide open standing too!

Ok, if you turn a crab over there is a flap to the rear of the crab. I have been told that this is the crabs sex organs. If you remove that flap it is much easier to cut the crab with the shears or sissors. Jeeez. lighten up quake.
btw, talk about a topic going south you talk shizz about crabs and then spend the rest of the post extolling(Quake...extolling is when...awe never mind) the use of shrimp and then regal us with pics of some reds you have caught with shrimp.

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Winner and Champion of the 1st annual "2008 BOOB- A-Q Trout Shoot Out"
Voted Outstanding "Zilch" Player Pellicer Creek 2007/2008
Undisputed and Undefeated Washers Champion Pellicer Creek 2008
JaxKayak Freakin Moron - Pro-Staff

[quoteJeeez. lighten up quake.
btw, talk about a topic going south you talk shizz about crabs and then spend the rest of the post extolling(Quake...extolling is when...awe never mind) the use of shrimp and then regal us with pics of some reds you have caught with shrimp. [/quote]

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and on the 7th day GOD created Fishing!

><))))•>....:''><))))•>__..;><))))•>

Thanks for the great info guys, it's always interesting to see how everyone differs in their fishing styles, preferences, ideas, etc. (and personalities) I think the only way to improve is to collect info from others and always be open-minded while out to adapt and find new patterns to be more consistent overall.

I plan on trying out the blue crap pattern while around some of the "deeper holes" that I feel may have some larger fish waiting for a meal while on one of my usual trips. I will keep you all posted as to how it goes.

Look forward to meeting you guys on the water oneday, until then, tight lines to all!!

P.S. And Cheers to all for the holiday weekend.

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Hobie Pro Angler 12

Yes, blue crabs are truly redfish crack. Don't mind Quake he's a legend in his own mind. Big reds will go to a crab before a shrimp anytime, but I take shrimp as a primary bait and scoop up a couple crabs on the edges of creeks for fun.

I crush the pinchers which causes the crab to eject them. THen I use scissors to trim the legs off - pulling them off takes out meat. Next remove the sex organs as proscribed above, then pull the shell. Next cut or chop it down the middle and trim it up so no shells stick out that will make it spin. If it is huge you can quarter it, if not go with halves. Finally put it on the hook by inserting the hook through a strong leghole and out the softer side. Cast and wait for the hookup.

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