How to Use Blue Crab for Bait: Cutting and Rigging Tips
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
Blue crab is an incredibly effective bait for redfish and black drum—they’re addicted to it! It can be intimidating if you don’t how to use blue crab for bait, though.
Before you blow it off as something only guides and advanced anglers do, take a few minutes and see how easy it can be. In this video, I’m going to show you the right way to cut blue crab into halves or quarters and how to rig it.
If you have any questions, leave a comment below—I’d love to hear from you!
How to Use Blue Crab for Bait: Cutting and Rigging Tips
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Key Takeaways
- Start by removing the legs of the crab. You can twist them off with your hands.
- To use half a blue crab, use a pair of quality shears to cut it from back to front. Slide your hook through one of the leg holes and push it through the shell.
- To use a quarter blue crab, separate the bottom and top sections of the shell by pulling them apart. Cut the meatier section in half from back to front and then side to side. Run your hook through a leg hole and through the outer shell.
- Note that a quarter crab exposes more of the meat and makes it easy for bait stealers to pick it apart quickly.
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Awesome video Tony
Thank you Donn!
Great video! One question tho – why is it necessary to remove the shell to use a 1/4 crab. Can’t you just leave it on and cut each half with the shell on like you do when you cut a whole crap in half?
Thanks John! With those pieces being fairly small the shell won’t stay on either way. You could cut it with the shell on but its easier without it.
Awesome video Tony and thank you for sharing the information about using crab for bait … it worked out well and one beautiful Redfish too… !
You’re welcome Thomas, and thank you!
Hey Tony! Great video and thanks for the great tips. Nothing like showing live results of the tips actually working. Tight Lines!
Thank you for the great feedback Joseph!
Thanks Tony, I never considered using blue crab as bait. Now I’m intrigued. I usually steam blue crabs for dinner 🙂
You’re welcome! They’re good cooked as well! Haha
Thanks tony. I did not know how to rig a crab.
You’re welcome John!
Thanks Tony, I always wondered what was the best way to rig a crab.
You’re welcome John!
I will be giving that a shot. Were they fresh or frozen or does it matter?
Thanks for all great information.
Hey Mel!
They were fresh. Frozen blue crab doesn’t work as well from what i’ve experienced. When you cut them up and the meat thaws out it falls right out of the shell.
That was very helpful. I assume that was a fresh crab. Could you keep some frozen and use them as needed?
Hey Richard! Yes they were fresh. Frozen doesn’t tend to work as good. Once it thaws out the meat just falls out of the shell and is very mushy.
I really like this crab hooking technique – thx!
You’re welcome Joe!