Edible Crab

smokie said:
Can someone explain the reason it is illegal to use
edible crabs as bait ?
Click to expand...

simply that the sea fisheries commission say it is and they have bye laws to go with it. It has always been illegal to use edible crabs as bait unless they where of the legal minimum size, that is why some anglers got knabbed. One of the main reason is that stocks of edible crabs have crashed and they are wanting to try and get the stocks up, obviously anglers using undersized edibles for bait has had an effect as well. they also want to stop the crabbers using crinkly or soft edibles as bait in there pots, what used to happen was, if a pot had a egged, soft or crinkly crab in it, it went back in the pot as bait at certain times of the year this would be a lot. There are also size limits and number restrictions on velvate and spider crabs. However everything is different in each sea fisheries area, so be sure you know the rules, and don't think you will get away with saying you brought them with you, you will still be knabbed.
 
Thanks for the replies. Must of missed those posts.

I wasn't going to use edibles for bait, (Well my bait, Yes, but not fish bait)

Was just curious.

Is there anything else that it's illegal to use as bait ?
 
matchman said:
Edible crabs have a membrane under the hard shell, so in effect you can remove the shell and have the soft meat underneath....sort of 'like' a peeler if you like...

Now here's the interesting bit....you can go to virtually ANY FISH QUAY and buy live edibles over the counter.....so now can somebody tell me why they're banned in matches etc....
It's a legit bait bought from a legit source....

anyone...??
Click to expand...

A very valid point matchman. Are you saying cart is illegal to use as well.
 
Nothing illegal in selling cart (which is made from parts of edible crab, caught quite legally), only illegal to use it as bait in the prohibited area covered by the bye-law (where the use of any part of edible crab as bait is forbidden). Therein lies the dilemma!!!:confused:

Gary :)
 
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g-force:thumbup:

. Prohibition on Use of Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus) for Bait
(1) No person shall use any edible crab (Cancer pagurus) for bait and Section 17(2) of the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967, which affords a defence to a person charged with an offence under Section 17(1) of that Act, shall not apply within the district.

(2) Nothing in this bye law shall prohibit the use of cooked crab offal as bait.

This bye law was put in place because of a loophole in the Shellfish Act as below,

(2) A person shall not be guilty of an offence under subsection (1) of this section if he satisfies the court that the edible crabs found in his possession or alleged to have been sold,exposed for sale, bought for sale, or consigned to any person for the purpose of sale, were intended for bait for fishing.

Then of course you must have a permit to fish for them White tag 5 pots
yellow tag 800 pots, notice the words "shall fish for or take"

13. Permit to Fish for and Sell Lobsters, Crabs, Velvet Crabs, Whelks and Prawns

(1) No person shall fish for or take any of the following shellfish, namely Prawns (Nephrops norvegicus), Lobsters (Homarus gammarus), Crabs (Cancer pagurus), Velvet Crabs (Liocarcinus (= Necora) puber), or Whelks (Buccinum undatum) within any part of the Northumberland Sea Fisheries District, except under a permit issued by the Chief Executive to the Committee and in accordance with the following conditions:


So it is to protect commercial interests.
This is for the Northumberland coast I believe the NESFC is similar.
Les
 
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i understand that edible crab can be used as bait ..as long as its the offal used..

offal is part of crab leftover after from preparing a legitamate size crab for human consumption
so remove and boil the claws for yourself... use the rest for cart..
processed crab is legal as a bait ... i am told..
but to make sure maybe contact with the the north east sea fisherieswould clarify the matter...
cheers
Paul
 
I just put a pan of slightly salted water on the stove, bring it up to 45 degrees Far, put it in for 5mins and that's all there is to it. :D
 
when they make cart they dont cook the crab as far as im aware they just smash the back off and blend it all together then they freeze it in ice cube blocks once froozen they wrap finger bandage around it or tights
 

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