![]() ![]() ![]() Some people use their necks and some people just use random meaty scraps. ChickenĪlthough it doesn’t seem natural, because chickens are of course not waterfowl, and don’t even like water for the most part, for one reason or another, chicken parts seem to work best for catching blue crab. So, what is some of the best bait you can use to catch blue crabs? 1. There is no solid proof either way, so it’s something that you may have to figure out on your own through some good old trial and error. Personally, we would recommend somewhere in between fresh and rancid. Some people swear that the fresher the bait the better, while others claims that nearly rancid or fully rancid meat works best. In fact, this is kind of all up in the air, as it really depends on where you go fishing for these crabs and who you ask. That said, although smelly meat is great, some blue crabs do like their bait to be relatively fresh, and many will tell you that it should not be rancid.Īs you might be able to tell, there is a fine line here between meat that has a strong smell yet is not rotten. Before we get into this in more detail, what does need to be mentioned is that smell is very important.īlue crabs have an impeccable sense of smell, so the smellier your bait is, the more likely it is to attract these colorful crustaceans from far and wide. Local waste management collection centers.Let’s take a quick look at the various options you have in terms of bait for blue crabs. An accurate count of different bycatch animals is the most important information to report. ![]() What if I cannot identify a bycatch species? What bycatch species are commonly found in derelict crab traps? Unwanted fish and other marine creatures caught during commercial fishing that cannot be sold or kept. No, live animals should be released back into the water. How do you determine if a blue crab is male or female?Ĭan I keep live crabs to sell or for personal consumption? No, all personal expenses are the responsibility of volunteer participants. Will I get paid or reimbursed for any expenses associated with the project? Once the trap is on the boat or land, fill out the data form on the app and take photographs. Then grab the rope and pull the trap on board or up onto the shoreline so it is entirely out of the water. Along tidal shorelines with permission from property owners.Īlways wear safety gear like gloves, a life jacket if working from a boat, and appropriate weather gear. Where do I look for derelict and abandoned crab traps?Īny tidal creek or river in Virginia where it is safe to navigate in boats or canoes and kayaks. You will also receive a Volunteer Participation Form that must be with you while you are retrieving derelict crab traps. Watch the training video, review the field guide, read and sign a liability waiver, and then receive instructions to download the Crab Trap App to a smartphone that can be taken into the field. Volunteers will locate derelict pots, use a smartphone app to document the location and take a photo, and remove the derelict pot from the water.įill out the 'Register to Participate' form below. What does the program ask volunteers to do? When and where does this program operate? This citizen science program is only for Virginia waters in the winter when the fishery is closed. Frequently Asked Questions What are the qualifications to participate? Want to Volunteer? Read More and Register below. The Virginia trap removal program now expands across a wide geographic area thanks to the collaboration of scientists, watermen, fisheries managers, students, and citizens working together. Registered community scientists are trained and authorized to use the app following a protocol required by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the agency responsible for managing the blue crab fishery. The next opportunity to participate starts in December. This citizen science program is only for Virginia waters in the winter when the fishery is closed. The students participated in a ‘Crab Trap App’ STEM Challenge to help develop a real-world application so that registered citizens can locate and record derelict trap data on their smart phones. High school students and volunteer community scientists recently joined the trap removal effort in Virginia. Commercial watermen have used their boats and skills to help locate and remove derelict blue crab traps to reduce economic impacts to the blue crab fishery. CCRM has been studying the ecological and economic impacts of derelict blue crab traps for several years and ways to reduce the problems. ![]()
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