![]() Kept out of direct sunlight, they'll be fine for several hours. To keep your freshly caught crabs alive and lively, put them in an empty bucket and set them in the shade. (FYI: Your catch must be alive at cooking time. In a small bucket of water, they quickly use up all the available oxygen.In a creek, a stream, a bay, or any other large body of water, there's plenty of oxygen for the crabbies to breathe.I know that seems odd. Water is a crab's natural habitat, after all. The difference is: Now, how do you keep them alive until cooking time? Don't leave your blue crabs in a bucket filled with water!!! They'll drown. What You'll Need: Chicken parts, heavy string or fishing line, dip net, measuring device, bucket.It all depends on how wet you want to get! Tip: You can do the chicken-on-a-string thing from stream banks, from fishing piers, from rock jetties, from a canoe or kayak, or by wading into the water.Slide the net under your bounty and scoop it up! With your net at the ready, very sloooooooowly ease your bait - with the crab still hanging on - up toward the surface. That's the crab, grabbing hold and chomping on your offering. In no time, you'll feel a little tug, tug, tug. Now, let your bait settle to the bottom, and take up the "slack" from your line. Then toss the chicken into the water, holding tight to the other end of the string/line, of course! Just tie a hunk of raw chicken (we use legs, others prefer necks) on the end of a long piece of heavy string or fishing line. This chicken on a string thing really works! Take your dip net or fishing net, wade to the edge of the current flow, and wait for the crabs to come floating to you. To catch 'em in the current, head out to a tidal stream or an inlet where the current is moving. although I'll admit, it's not quite as sporting as the walk-and-stalk method. This is my favorite way of catching blue crabs. You'll stay dry, and it's easier to sneak up on them when your feet aren't making a ruckus in the water. Optional: You can also use this method from a kayak, canoe or small inflatible boat. ![]() And wearing the right crabbing attire is always a good idea, too! What You'll Need: A dip net, a bucket, and a measuring device (to be sure crabs are legal size to keep).The real trick is anticipating which way it'll go and having your net in the right spot! Oh, and don't forget - when a crab scoots off, it goes sideways. That means treading as quietly as you can through the water, and slowly easing your net down into the water so you don't spook the little guy. Tip: To be successful with this method, you need to be very stealthy.
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