Tuna Crabs are Back - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Phishphood · 03-07-2017, 07:53 PM

Saw them when I was otw last Thursday. Birds and a few giant macs on them. Dove today off lj point to 40 feet, didn't see any crabs.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

DPevin · 03-08-2017, 06:02 AM

I hear people talk about catching them and using them as bait. What is the best way to do that? Just scoop them up and bait them on a hook like you would squid or cut bait?

stevie951 · 03-08-2017, 06:35 AM

Went out on the Dana Pride yesterday for a 3/4 day and they where all over the water column especially down south near the Power plant in San O... At times you could see them on the surface.. The Deck hands and Captain claimed it shut down the bite but I'm fully convinced now Dana Wharf has crap numbers for their local half and 3/4 day trips... Every angler got about 5 rockfish but can the tuna crab really shut down the rock fish bite 200 feet down?

octico · 03-08-2017, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevie951

Went out on the Dana Pride yesterday for a 3/4 day and they where all over the water column especially down south near the Power plant in San O... At times you could see them on the surface.. The Deck hands and Captain claimed it shut down the bite but I'm fully convinced now Dana Wharf has crap numbers for their local half and 3/4 day trips... Every angler got about 5 rockfish but can the tuna crab really shut down the rock fish bite 200 feet down?

Yes they can, i have seen it happen.

dos ballenas · 03-08-2017, 08:54 AM

FYI the red crabs never left..... have been here year round past few years. In fact they are spread all the way up to Oregon.

taggermike · 03-08-2017, 09:20 AM

Any big influx of food can impact the bite. Fish can get totally focused on a particular food item. I've seen yellows get on krill and tiny paper match sized dines and they would even look at any thing else. Can't really "match the hatch" with baits that tiny. Crabs may be the same. Mike

PapaDave · 03-08-2017, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPevin

I hear people talk about catching them and using them as bait. What is the best way to do that? Just scoop them up and bait them on a hook like you would squid or cut bait?

I was on an overnighter for rock fish last week and the fish were coughing up the crabs. I put one on a hook, sent it down and it did get bit.

Also, on a Colonet trip, the fish in 150' were stuffed full of crabs and didn't want to bite, while the fish at 250' were hungry and bit like crazy. So yeah, the crabs can shut down a bite.

King Saba · 03-09-2017, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPevin

I hear people talk about catching them and using them as bait. What is the best way to do that? Just scoop them up and bait them on a hook like you would squid or cut bait?

I thread a mosquito hook through their tails or just simply hooked the end of the tails. They're not the most durable bait, but damn do the bass love em'!

goldenglory18 · 03-10-2017, 07:03 AM

Anyone have a picture of these things or a scientific name? I tried to google tuna crabs and the results were very NSFW...

- KT

Denis_Ruso · 03-10-2017, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

Anyone have a picture of these things or a scientific name? I tried to google tuna crabs and the results were very NSFW...

- KT

Pelagic Red Crab

goldenglory18 · 03-10-2017, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

Pelagic Red Crab

Awesome. Time to go buy some plastics!

chris138 · 03-10-2017, 09:31 AM

No crabs in LJ brah

GregAndrew · 03-10-2017, 10:51 AM

I can't remember a day otw in the last couple of years that I have not either seen, video'd or metered them. Sometimes on the surface, and sometimes on the bottom. And they can be stratified at any depth of the water column. Sometimes they are spread thru the entire water column.

03-08-2017, 06:35 AM	#3
stevie951 Lurker Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Riverside Posts: 431	Went out on the Dana Pride yesterday for a 3/4 day and they where all over the water column especially down south near the Power plant in San O... At times you could see them on the surface.. The Deck hands and Captain claimed it shut down the bite but I'm fully convinced now Dana Wharf has crap numbers for their local half and 3/4 day trips... Every angler got about 5 rockfish but can the tuna crab really shut down the rock fish bite 200 feet down? __________________ "A Reel expert can Tackle anything " ~Malibu Stealth-14 ~Malibu X-13

03-08-2017, 08:54 AM	#5
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	FYI the red crabs never left..... have been here year round past few years. In fact they are spread all the way up to Oregon. __________________ ____________________________________________

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-07-2017, 07:53 PM	#1
Phishphood Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 346	Saw them when I was otw last Thursday. Birds and a few giant macs on them. Dove today off lj point to 40 feet, didn't see any crabs. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

03-08-2017, 06:02 AM	#2
DPevin Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Dana Point Posts: 96	I hear people talk about catching them and using them as bait. What is the best way to do that? Just scoop them up and bait them on a hook like you would squid or cut bait?

03-08-2017, 09:20 AM	#6
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Any big influx of food can impact the bite. Fish can get totally focused on a particular food item. I've seen yellows get on krill and tiny paper match sized dines and they would even look at any thing else. Can't really "match the hatch" with baits that tiny. Crabs may be the same. Mike

03-10-2017, 07:03 AM	#9
goldenglory18 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Seattle Area Posts: 861	Anyone have a picture of these things or a scientific name? I tried to google tuna crabs and the results were very NSFW... - KT

03-10-2017, 09:31 AM	#12
chris138 donkey roper Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 968	No crabs in LJ brah

03-10-2017, 10:51 AM	#13
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	I can't remember a day otw in the last couple of years that I have not either seen, video'd or metered them. Sometimes on the surface, and sometimes on the bottom. And they can be stratified at any depth of the water column. Sometimes they are spread thru the entire water column.