How to chase mud crabs

Even today, I pull my traps up with just as much enthusiasm as I did when I was 10 years old.

The feeling and pure anticipation never get old, which makes soaking a trap for crabs one of my favourite things to do whilst boating.

Boaters frequently chase muddies due to their incredible size and taste.

There are several types of traps at your local tackle store that are readily available.

I find the best for muddies are the round crab pots. They are easy to assemble with four simple PVC legs to provide the structure for the trap.

You can generally pick these up for less than $30 a trap. As with most things though, the more you buy, the cheaper it becomes.

I often see deals that let you buy four standard traps for $50, so shop around for a good deal.

If you are dealing with greater depths and strong currents, a heavy-duty trap will work best. These are heavier-built traps and sit well on the bottom in deep water.

They are collapsible, making them easy to store on the floor of your boat. I find the easiest way to store my traps is to lay them flat on the bottom of my boat and keep the floats and rope in a separate tub.

You can buy everything you need in one easy-to-use crabbing kit. These generally contain floats, rope, bait clips and the necessary equipment to attach your personal details to the trap.

The requirements for labelling your trap do vary from state to state, so be sure to check your local guidelines.

A crab ruler is a helpful tool that easily helps measure your crabs to ensure they are the correct size to keep.

As their name suggests, mud crabs are found in muddy areas such as mangroves and estuaries, and are commonly found buried in the mud at low tide.

When dropping pots off by boat, use a sounder to assist with the depth of the water. I try to get as close to the mangroves as possible without bottoming out.

I will often drop my traps in approaching high tide at a depth of around 2.0 metres. The same area can drop to just 30cm deep during low tide, making a sounder essential if you aren’t familiar with the area.

I find whole mullet to be the best bait. It’s basic, easy to handle and you can usually find it in most bait and tackle stores.

I like to cut a few slits into the side of the mullet to release a better oil stench. Fish frames and chicken also make for good bait.

When it comes to checking your traps, there is no right or wrong answer. I personally find checking my traps every few hours is effective.

I will always have more crabs in my pots if I leave them in overnight, but this does unfortunately put you at risk of potentially having no bait left in the trap and even worse, having your traps stolen.

Once on board, I find tipping the muddies out directly from the trap into a large tub works best. This way you can individually assess the size and gender. The females show a large, rounded flap underneath whereas the males have a V-shaped flap.

The best way to handle the crab is to pick them up with your thumb and index finger wrapped around the back swimmer legs. If you have a firm grip in this position, they are unable to grab you.

Put them to sleep humanely by placing the keepers in a saltwater ice bath for around 30 minutes.

Chuck them in a boiling pot of water with sea salt and a couple of spoonfuls of honey and you will be eating like a king in no time!