Hank Parker Tip: The Perfect Rod

Crabs Anyone?

Today I was reading Jim Sutton's fishing report from this past Thursday in the St. Augustine Record.  Jim said that not enough folks crab.  This is something I have never done. Years ago, when I worked at Winn Dixie, the Meat Market manager and a retired Jacksonville Police Office use to crab all the time.  They would catch tons of blue crabs.

In this article Jim tells a little bit about how to crab, even if you don't have a boat.  So I have decided that  I am finally going to try my hand at this after all these years.

So how do you catch blue crabs without the use of a boat?

According to Mr. Suton, it's a pretty easy set up.  He states that you can get a star or pryamind trap. These can be purchased at any bait shop or outdoor store.  The one I have is about $10.00.  You need some rope to tie to the sides. (When you pull up the rope the sides pop up and trap the crabs inside.)

For bait, get some chicken necks and tie them to the bottom of the trap with wire.  The chicken necks will draw the crabs in.

Tie some weights on the trap and drop into the water and let it sit on the bottom.  About every 15 minutes or so, pull the trap up to check for crabs.

Once you have caught the crabs, you can keep them in a wooden bushel basket (can get this from the local grocery store) and place a wet burlap bag over the crabs.

One really important thing you are going to want to do before you get started is check with your state Fish and Wildlife Commission to know the laws in your state.

So, let's go crabbing.  After I go this coming weekend, I will post a report.

Tide Chart For St. Augustine Beach for July 9 to August 9, 2011

Hey everyone.  Here is a link to the tide chart for St. Augustine Beach for July 9 to Aug 9, 2011.
Good luck and hope you catch a lot.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jax/data.php?file=tides/Saint_Augustine_Beach

Welcome To The St. Augustine Outdoorsman

Welcome to our new blog the St. Augustine Outdoorsman.  Over the next weeks and months we will be posting articles, how-to's, videos, fishing reports from around the St. Augustine area.  So, stay tune!