Tie the thicker poly cord to the thinner cord in a manner that the trap will hang evenly (near the mid-point). I just used another clinch knot (looped it around the two thinner cords, and around itself a few times and back through the loop).
Remember most areas will require a fishing license to retain crab, and there may be size and additional restrictions as well (do your research and learn more about what you are catching, as there are so many varieties. My experience is mostly with Dungeness and Red Rock crabs, where we keep male crabs only where the top of the shell from point to point measures no less than 6.5 ” and 4.5″ for the Red Rock variety. Some other varieties seem to do crazy things such as dropping claws and so forth, so please learn how to handle what you are catching.).
If you built the bait holder, you should be able to put the bait directly into this pocket, and then tie or wrap it up so the meat cannot be removed in one piece. Otherwise, tieing the bait in whatever means to the center area of the trap should work. This should be done just before dropping the trap into the water. If you are on a boat, people will typically use a float at the end of the line to identify where the trap is and a means to pull it up. From a dock, same idea, just swing the trap out to the desired location, and tie the end of the line to a railing or anchor point.
After some time (5-15 minutes is usually all that is needed if there are crabs in the area as crabs are VERY efficient at consuming and removing the meat, you do not want to leave the trap unattended for more than 15 minutes), pull the trap up (once you start pulling, pull hard and fast hand over hand to prevent any from escaping) and check it for crabs. Remove crabs, and repeat.
When handling crabs, they can typically be picked up from the very rear where the claws cannot reach. I do NOT recommend holding them by the hind legs as this can easily damage the legs. If you are uncomfortable or new in this area, consider wearing some thick gloves.
Note: Please remember, these are very important creatures for the marine ecosystem, are living creatures, and despite having a hard exoskeleton, they should still be handled with care and placed back in the water on release without damaging any of the crabs appendages. Respect the laws in your location, and this should be a sustainable fishery for all.
When you catch a keeper, it is wise with most species to keep it alive until you are ready to cook it, as some release toxins if not kept alive. I suggest taking some water from where the crab was caught, this will not only keep the crab at home in breathable salt-water, but can be reused in a pot for boiling. I suggest a large stock pot on a rolling boil with salt water, cooking one crab at a time such that the temperature does not decrease substantially as they are added. Other varieties may require additional pre-cooking prep, once again, please learn about what you are catching in your area as there are many differences.
Good luck!
