Crabbing and Tides

I’ve read that the incoming tide is best for crabbing. Do you notice much of a difference? Do you go out of your way to only work the incoming tide? Do you get good results during an outgoing tide? I haven’t gone enough to have an opinion. I use ring traps so I can’t leave them overnight. What is your experience?

I caught them in both income and outgoing tides.

Soaked 4 traps for 4 hrs on the incoming at Doran yesterday for 1 legal and about 4 undersized!  What a bummer

I know it’s not always possible, but I’m convinced I get more crabs with an overnight soak.
Thinking about doing that this sat!

Scotty

I know it’s not always possible, but I’m convinced I get more crabs with an overnight soak.
Thinking about doing that this sat!

Scotty

I wouldn't doubt that. For some unknown reason ring traps can't be left unattended longer than 2 hours. Have you ever noticed a difference in numbers between incoming and outgoing tides?

I know it’s not always possible, but I’m convinced I get more crabs with an overnight soak.
Thinking about doing that this sat!

Scotty

2nd overnight...

Ditto that on overnight.

I have heard from people that it is better crabbing on an incoming tide. I usually drop and pickup when I can so I have not payed attention on tides. I will start making notes and see what the results are in a while, but I usually drop overnight.

A friend of mine said crabs run like pigs, they move around to locate food and hang out when they find it, then move on. It makes sense it would be easier on an incoming tide just like when halibut take advantage of an incoming tide??? Who knows...

I always do best when my the pots soak through the incoming tide and the high slack. Even better if that happens overnight

I went ahead and gave it a try. It was slow just like last week. It seemed like maybe things picked up a little bit after the incoming started but I did catch them during the outgo. I ended up catching 8 which is twice as many as I got last week. That could simply be that I started out trying spots that produced last week. Still, 8 crabs is a worthwhile day no matter what the tide is.