Ambush nets on kayak?

Hi all.

Searched the forums but didn't find anything on this. I'm used to using old flat ring nets on the kayak, and can easily stack four of them, with bait, lines, and floats in front of me on my paddle kayak (Viking Profish). Seems like everyone is going over to the ambush nets, which makes sense to me in terms of somewhat constraining the crabs in the net.

A couple questions:

• Is it easy to stack the ambush nets on a kayak with ropes, floats, bait? Not quite sure how all that interacts with the raised ring portion. I assume with the bottom (third) ring section it can nest down somewhat?
• Are people using the 32" or 36" off a kayak? I assume the smaller one? My crabbing is typically in 25-40' of water.

I stack mine on the front or back of my PA14, if on the front, I put at 1/2" PVC pipe in the mast mount of the kayak - not sure if yours has something like that - it just helps to keep them in place.

fwiw, I use a mix of 'flat' and Ambush nets....I've not seen any difference between the two, sometimes the big pulls are on the flat hoops, sometimes the big pulls are on the ambush.

if you're getting good results with the flat, I'd probably stick with that.

32”

I've been playing with different combinations now for 2 seasons.  Flats stack better on the yak, but Conicals hold crab better.  I now use 3 flats and 3 Conicals and that combo is working well. I cycle the flats every 20 mins and use them to prospect, while I let the Conicals sit longer. Hope that helps.

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I'm a little bummed that they are opening commercial crab, but still prohibiting rec crabbers from using traps.  I would love to use a couple traps to allow for a longer soak time, so I can fish a little longer between pulls.  That said, I've been doing OK with the hoop nets. 

I feel that it is easier to get the crabs out of the ambush hoops. I have used flat hoops, traps, and the 32” ambush. I only use the ambush now.

Funny i've been using ambush hoops for a long time, way before they were all you could use    I do miss the traps, as I would usually set one trap, then work three hoops twice, and check the trap and usually have a limit.  I end up pulling three times three traps and still get enough crab to give some away each time.

I love how everyone has a different strategy! 

I've been using two hoops, but I feel like I need to pull every 20 minutes or so to be most productive.  I would like to try traps to allow a little longer between pulls. 

I was at Dicks a few weeks ago, looking at hoops and traps and stuff, and this guy tells me that he uses a snare from his boat.  Drops it down from a rod, gives it aboutt 30 seconds, then reels it up.  He told me he catches more crabs like that than with a hoop net or ambush trap.  I haven't tried that yet, but seems like a good way to find the areas with the densest crab population.  Will definitely give it a go my next time out.