| It's easy to learn how to go crabbing, and to | | | | fish. Chicken is also in their diet. Buy and cut up |
| introduce crabbing to your kids. | | | | the cheap pieces - backs, wings, necks and the |
| | | | like. Slightly "off" bait will work wonders - crabs |
| 1. First, make sure you know your areas crabbing | | | | locate their food by smell. |
| regulations, which species you are allowed to take, | | | | 7. Harvest your crabs from coastal creeks and |
| and what the catch limits are. You'll also need valid | | | | rivers, or just off shore in bay areas or off the |
| fishing licenses for adults and older kids. | | | | beach. A lift ring is perfect for learning how to go |
| 2. Your state's regulations will specify what type | | | | crabbing off a creek bank, or a pier. |
| equipment is legal - whether crab traps, seines, lift | | | | 8. Best times to catch crab are a warm summer |
| rings, cast nets, or hand lines. Or a combination of | | | | morning with a storm coming and on a slack tide. |
| techniques. You can usually get this information | | | | 9. Teaching kids how to go crabbing is easy. The |
| form your state game and fish department. | | | | tough part is the cooking. Steaming is a good way |
| 3. One of the easiest ways for kids to learn how | | | | to cook crabs. You'll need a big pot with a lid and |
| to go crabbing is by using a lift ring. It's basically a | | | | a steaming insert. Steamed crabs are done when |
| woven nylon net attached to 2 different size | | | | they turn red (about 20 minutes). |
| rings, with a rope for lowering it into the water. | | | | 10. Eating crabs is messy and fun. You'll have to |
| Bait the net, lower it into the water, have a little | | | | break open the legs, so have a mallet, hammer or |
| patience - supper on the table! | | | | claw tool available. You can eat the meat from |
| 4. For really small kids, make hand lines. It's like an | | | | the legs or the body cavity, but be sure to |
| old-timey fishing pole. Scavenge up a 4' long stick, | | | | dispose of the organs. |
| tie a 4' long rope to it. Tie a chicken neck to the | | | | With a little forethought, teaching kids how to go |
| other end of the rope and lower into the water. | | | | crabbing is easy. From buying the bait, to making |
| A crab will grab the chicken neck and hold on. Just | | | | or purchasing the equipment, to baiting theirr trap |
| gently pull him up and out. Use a pole net to | | | | of choice, to hauling in that first crabby critter, to |
| harvest him. | | | | cooking and (yum!) eating their catch, kids will |
| 5. Take a good lawn or camp chair with you, a | | | | have a great time - and generate fond memories |
| book for you, a fun game for the kids, and a | | | | for years to come about the time Dad and Mom |
| small cooler to put your catch in, in case the | | | | taught them how to go crabbing. |
| crabs aren't hungry and the action is thin. | | | | (c) 2010 Richard S. |
| 6. Use the right baits. Crabs like squid pieces, or | | | | |