Crab Trap Question

I'll be trying my luck at crabbing for the first time. Just bought a few Promar Traps and wondering if it's necessary to add weight to the trap before lowering it to the bottom. If so, how much? Will primarily be crabbing in Monterey Bay.

Thanks
Ben

i think it all depends on conditions, if there is a larger swell and more of a current, then weight would be needed to keep them from walking, make sure you have some slack in the line to account for the rise and fall and everything should be ok, it easy to check wether they moved or not by marking a way point on gps and when you go back out see if they are still in same spot, yesterday was pretty windy and a good drift, i set with no weight and they only moved a few feet from original spot, hope this helps, cameron

I picked up one of these to try out  http://www.promarnets.com/promar/Products.aspx?Cat=7&Item=140

Anybody try one of these yet?    I think I will definately rig up a few weights to the bottom.  Ive even seen people use barbell weights just to hold them down.

im gonna zip tie some rebar along the sides for weight.

Bought a bucket of these at a yard sale guy said he got them at a place that sells gutter supplies, work great zip tied to the bottom corners

I picked up one of these to try out  http://www.promarnets.com/promar/Products.aspx?Cat=7&Item=140

Anybody try one of these yet?    I think I will definately rig up a few weights to the bottom.  Ive even seen people use barbell weights just to hold them down.

Those new ProMars are the bee's knees. Fast to set up and stow as well. We put a five pound weight belt in each one and they held great in the ripping outgo. One actually  sanded in a bit and Patrick really worked to get it free.

I heard somewhere  rebar and other "bare" steel set up a "current" or some other disturbance that the crab dislike. Might be a tale.....

i was even thinking about just a small piece of flagstone.   The mesh material is pretty sturdy.

It's no voodoo, using uncoated steel in a metal trap does create a "hot trap" that crabs will avoid.  Either dip your weights with a rubber coating or wrap them with rubber.  I think you can add zinc bars to counter act the electric current?  I use barbell weights made of concrete and coated with plastic, I think around 14lbs.

For the Promar ones we all just got I didn't really see a need for added weight. I suppose if you were doing an overnight soak and had a big swell you may wanna add some weight. Otherwise its just more energy wasted pulling them up. For my non yak traps I filled some pvc with cement to add some weight

I would like to give crabbing a shot, maybe over Thanksgiving week or Christmas break. Anyone crab out of yak out of Trinity or Eureka? or it too rough out there. I have been looking for Promar TR 102 W or TR 632 locally... no luck up here in Redding CA. Looked on online with no luck? Any suggestions out there. Thanks!

Ben, I was planning to ziptie some rebar to my traps. But it sounds like Timojam has some good advice. How do we coat/dip the rebar? Maybe just wrap it with that rubber-tape stuff they use on the big commercial-style traps?

im gonna try diiferent set ups on differ traps.

Here's a article that talks about the different metals http://www.crabbingtips.com/crabbing_news.htm

I have been looking for Promar TR 102 W or TR 632 locally... no luck up here in Redding CA. Looked on online with no luck? Any suggestions out there. Thanks!

Karen at Hook1 will set you up. I just got a few along with a NCKA discount. Hoping to soak them soon.

http://kayakfishinggear.com/gearinfo.aspx

Ben, I was planning to ziptie some rebar to my traps. But it sounds like Timojam has some good advice. How do we coat/dip the rebar? Maybe just wrap it with that rubber-tape stuff they use on the big commercial-style traps?

that would probably work, as would plasti-dip i imagine.  i did not weight mine last weekend but we were shallow and there was not that much current.