Picking Up Best Blue Crab Traps Of 2024: A Complete Guide

Scott Nelson By, Scott Nelson
Updated
Danielson 24" Fold-Up Pacific Coast Crab Trap | Vinyl-Coated Steel
Image credit: Amazon.com

Our Top Picks

1. Best Overall: Danielson 24" Fold-Up Pacific Coast Crab Trap | Vinyl-Coated Steel

Whether you're on the water catching crabs or just looking for a way to keep them out of your garden, this 24 inch long, 12-inch wide, and 13-inch high collapsible crab trap is an ultimate choice. It's a great size for taking with you on the water, and it folds up easily for easy storage. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: AirFly Castable Crab Traps for Dungeness, Rock and Blue Crab

These traps have a Double Ring design that is specially designed to entrap crabs, lobsters and other crustaceans. The trap has been specifically designed for ease in setting without getting caught on rocks or other underwater obstructions. Read Review

3. Best Easy Setup: Maryland Blue Crab Pot Trap, PVC Coated Wire mesh, Heavy Duty

Maryland Blue Crab Pot Trap is made of heavy-duty wire mesh. This trap is easy to operate, lightweight and best of all, it's built for Maryland State Regulation. Different states may need to check with local wildlife regulation before you purchase. Read Review

4. Best Design: 3 Pieces Crab Trap Bait Bags Outdoor Sports Style with 3 Pieces

The 3 Pieces Crab Trap Bait Bag Set features three 12.5 x 7.3-inch bait bags and one 2/3 inch mesh size, rubber locker. This small size is perfect for most fishing nets and can be used with various spoons. The bait bag is made from durable mesh material which will not rust or corrode. Read Review

Blue crabs are a prized catch for seafood lovers in the United States. They’re so special that the Atlantic blue crab has been declared the official state crustacean of Maryland. That alone should tell you how particular this crustacean is.

Though they can be found in abundance throughout much of the eastern coastline and Gulf Coast, it's only because they’re plentiful and easy to find. As with any fishery, it’s not always as rosy and blue as you might hope. To ensure a successful catch, you must follow some blue crab trap tips to ensure your catch is as large as possible. This article will cover everything you need to know about the best blue crab traps, from choosing the right one for your needs to setting them up properly and checking on them afterward.

Following extensive study and analysis, we've come up with the Danielson 24" Fold-Up Pacific Coast Crab Trap | Vinyl-Coated Steel with this collapsible crab trap in your fishing kit, which we hope will meet your demands. However, it is not the only thing on our list. We also show a complete buyer's guide, and options are available to help you find the most suitable.

Our Top Picks

  • FISH ACCESSORIES: The Danielson 24" Fold-Up Crab Trap is an exclusive fishing accessory that is trusted widely by recreational crabbers throughout the Pacific Northwest. With this collapsible crab trap in your fishing kit, you can enjoy crabbing with utmost convenience. This is a non-compliant trap for the state of California
  • CALCUTTA OUTDOORS: A leading manufacturer of consumer products for the outdoor sports and recreation market providing performance-driven products, including fishing rods, tackle, coolers, drinkware, outdoor apparel, paddle sports, and marine accessories.
  • QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: This foldable crab trap is manufactured of vinyl-coated steel wire, which is not just marine-grade but also utterly strong. This net can easily handle under water conditions and is not-at all bulky to save your extra storage space and carrying needs.
  • DIMENSIONS: This collapsible crab trap measures 24" in length, 24" in width, and 13" in height, making it an ultimate choice for recreational and professional crab enthusiasts. You can just fold this trap flat for easy storage and convenient transport.
  • EASY TO USE: This crabbing trap has four entrance doors and two escape rings, so you can easily catch small crabs. Featuring a fall-away rot-cord system, this crab trap is easy to disable in case you are not able to retrieve it.
TOP Choice #2 AirFly Castable Crab Traps for Dungeness, Rock and Blue Crab
Our Score:
9.7
AirFly
  • Ready to use from dock, pier, jetty, boat and kayak
  • Crab Net, 24” wire upper, 20" wire grid bottom ring, 50' Rope with Float, Bait Clip, Bait Bag.
  • Double Ring Crab Net with Harness, Bait Bag and Clip, 24 inch
  • Polyethylene netting measures 12" deep with 1.14 mesh
  • Designed for Dungeness, Blue crab, Rock crab and Lobster
  • This trap is built for Maryland State Regulation. Different states may need to check with local wildlife regulation before you purchase.
  • Maryland Atlantic blue crab, heavy duty, two escape ring, two TED(Turtle Excluder Device) meet regulation
  • **Easy to operate and store
  • **Catch your own fresh delicious crab for fun and save money
  • ** Eco-Friendly Bio-Degradable 6" EVA float will not absorb water
  • Using tips: sports style mesh bait bags can be connected with rubber hooks, and you can adjust the length of the bait bags; The bait bags can be tied up for easy hanging, which is very suitable for outdoor fishing and crab catching
  • Practical design: it is easy to tie up and use the rubber locker, keeping your bait stay in the bag, and then hook as required in the traps to make sure they will not get the bait from outside of the trap, helping you catch more fish, practical and considerate design for you
  • Appropriate size: the crab trap bait bag is 12.5 x 7.3 inch, stretched mesh size is 2/3 inch, and the rubber locker measures approx. 2 x 1.3 inch, suitable size for you to use
  • Easy installation: the nylon mesh bait bags added length is a nice way to stay sealed and easy to fill; You can wrap it around the pouch and secure it in place better when not in use; If a fish or crab gets in the trap, it can't clean out the bait easily
  • Sturdy and durable: made of nylon mesh, the bait bags are scratch resistant, sturdy and durable to use, making it easy for you to put small items in it, such as livers and crushed bait fish, bringing much convenience to you
  • The wire used is Stainless Steel to prevent corrosion and add years of uninterrupted service
  • All Economy Crab Rings include a Free Orange Polyethylene coated bait box to keep your bait where the crabs have to come in for a little nibble
  • The steel frame is coated in an extremely durable Blue Polyethylene coating to protect against all of the elements of the salt water
  • These pots are favorites of sports and commercial crabbers
  • Protoco also uses tarred netting to withstand the elements of the ocean
  • CRABBING , CRAB TRAPS , FOLDING CRAB CAGES
  • 【Sturdy Connected Rope and Hand Rope】Come with 2x33ft durable hand ropes, it ensures the crab trap deep into the bottom and the crab completely enters the trap. Sturdy connecting rope is attached to the crab trap and hand rope. It ensures that these crab traps will not be swept away by the strong current.
  • 【Portable Pop-up Crab Trap】 These collapsible crab traps are designed to pop up, which can take less room to boat or vehicle. Just pull up two buckles on the edge of the trap, these portable crab traps can be easily folded and unfolded. Space-saving crab trap can be folded flat into a small size when not in use, making it easy to carry and transport.
  • 【Multi-purpose Fishing Trap】Whether you’re after crab, crayfish, Minnow, Crawfish, Shrimp, Lobster, or Bait, this fish trap is for you. You can use these traps on the dock, shore, lake, river, or boat. Specification:
  • 【Heavy Duty Steel Wire Frame】Our crab traps are made of 1/5inch thick treated steel wire frame, providing a secure hold even in rough condition. Heavy-duty polyethylene coated mesh that can withstand the harsh environment of freshwater and saltwater.
  • 【Large Opening Design】Large opening allows for easy access to and takes out your catch. Large openings prevent crab from hurting you when you take out the prey. What’s more, large opening also makes it easier to clean the crab trap. Two Round entrances prevent the big crab from escaping.
8 CRAB TRAP STAR 16", Blue (JWB16)
Our Score:
8.8
Danielson
  • Made of steel wire with a blue enamel finish to resist saltwater corrosion
  • Measures 10-1/2" height and 16" x 16" floor size
  • Automatic Fishing Bait trap 8 Sides 8 Holes-No need to install, easy to use; as long as you pull the rope gently, the net will open automatically. It does not take up space and is easy to carry when you go out.
  • Protable Crawfish Trap -Zipper inverted fish mouth-makes fish retrieval more convenient and concise.
  • Conveniently snaps on and off for hook-up. It is easy to attach and remove from crab traps and pots.
  • Large end metal ring for mainline hook-ups and four nylon arms help secure trap during deployment and retrieval. Please note the ring is made of alloy, which is NOT RUST-PROOF, wipe clean after use to prevent rusting.
  • Four polished galvanized stainless steel ringed-eye marine snaps with extra heavy-duty crimps are corrosion-proof, durable. The spring snaps are well-made and hold up well with a good rinse after use. Upgraded 4 nylon arms are thicker and stronger, better load-bearing.
  • Strong snaps will give you confidence that they will hold up in strong currents and keep your bounty secure while lifting the traps from the bottom of the ocean. Designed for use with most crab traps, shrimp traps and pots.
  • All length is 84cm/33inch, the arm is 79.5cm/31.2inch. The snap opening size is 2cm/0.78inch.

What Are the Main Ways for Picking best blue crab traps, According to Our Experts?

Even during the shopping process, many things need to be considered. There are many different ways to access research material. Understand this. Our entire team is ready to lend you a hand, offer advice, and provide answers to your problems.

You should be able to access the best blue crab traps more easily with the tremendous rise of information sources. For you, our research ensures precision and objectivity thanks to our experts that work hard to get it.

Please follow the bellow points before selecting the best blue crab traps:

Construction

There are many materials that can be used to make crab traps. Steel traps are more resistant and have a protective coating that protects against corrosion and rust. A coating on a trap should be durable so that it doesn't crack. Some traps are also made of nylon, especially casting cages.
For easier handling, traps should be light in weight. If there's strong current, however, traps that are too lightweight won't be effective.

Storage

Your crab trap won't stay in use all day because you don't have the ability to crabbing constantly. Is the crab trap easy to disassemble or can it be folded for storage compactness? These traps often do. Some traps come with a carry bag that you can store the trap in and take it along.

Capacity And Size

Traps with greater physical dimensions can hold more crabs. If you intend to keep your trap for several hours, this is especially important. However, a bigger trap might be harder to pull up. You will also find it more difficult to store. Some larger traps can reach three feet in size.

Size Of The Net Holes

It is often forgotten that the size of the net holes can be crucial. It should allow the crab species you want to enter, but also not be too large for them to escape. You should choose the one that has enough entry tunnels and no exit routes. In choosing the right crab trap, it is important to consider the size of your crabs.

Durability

You don't need to spend a lot if you only plan on crab fishing once or twice per year. If you intend to fish regularly you will need the highest quality net and mesh. Galvanized or vinyl-coated wires are the best. These wires offer the highest strength, performance and durability. You won't have to spend a lot on repairs and maintenance when you use high-quality materials.

Traditional Trap Vs. Casting Cage

Although there are many types of crab traps available, they all boil down to the same two: casting cages and traditional traps. Before you spend your hard earned money, it is important to understand the differences.
Casting cages can be more durable than traditional crab traps. These traps are designed to stay in water longer. The trap works in a similar way to a lobster pot. Once the bait has been secured, it is lowered to seafloor. The bait is secured inside the trap and crabs can not escape. This type of trap typically includes a buoy system and rope system so that you can easily escape the trap.
Casting cages can be used in a similar way to fishing poles. Some of them even work with fishing rods. They are typically in the shape of a basket with bait in its middle. A rope is used to lower the basket over a dock, pier or bridge. The basket is filled with crabs, which you then lift up to get the crabs.

FAQs

Do You Need A License To Use A Crab Trap?

It all depends on the type of trap and where you intend to catch crabs. There are often differences between states and locations when it comes to crabbing regulations and licensing. You may need to be licensed if you catch crabbing in a specific area (ocean bay or tributary).

To find out the licensing requirements and regulations that you must follow, check with your local fish and wildlife authorities.

What Are Some Of The Tips For Crab Fishing?

Here are some tips for crabbing:

- Make sure to use the most effective crab trap that allows giant crabs into the trap. To prevent the crabs from running away, make sure that it is strong.
- When trapping crabs, chicken necks or fish heads make excellent baits. They are loved by crabs and will attract them to your trap.
- The crabs may try to escape the traps if they are left in the water longer than six-8 hours. To check whether the crabs have been caught in the traps, you can take them out periodically.
- Crab fishing can be done at night or early morning.

How Many Traps Ship With An Order?

Although the standard trap is only one, some ships out with multiple traps. This is great for family members and anyone who wants to catch more crabs.

What Is The Best Time For Crab Fishing?

Crab fishing at its best is done when there is water movement. Crabs will move towards shore when the tide is high to search for food. This is the best time to fish for crabs. When the waters become still, the crabs will return to the ocean, making it more difficult to catch them. Different states may have different crab fishing policies. To avoid getting on the wrong side, it is important to review the guidelines of your state.

What Kind Of Bait Should I Use In My Trap?

When it comes to crab bait, there is a universal rule that says the stronger the scent the better. A harder texture bait is more effective as crabs have difficulty breaking it down.
Popular baits include parts and fish head, chicken, liver and bacon.

What Is The Best Casting Depth For Crabs?

Each crab trap comes with a casting depth. Before you cast your crab trap, make sure to verify its casting depth. A trap that sinks below the surface of water is the best. The length of your trap rope must be sufficient to allow you to throw the trap towards the bottom. Your trap should be strong enough to withstand harsh underwater conditions.

In general, it's difficult to say who creates the best blue crab traps since each firm has unique qualities, features, and pricing points that set them apart from the competition. We only suggest products from the most outstanding manufacturers on our site, so you can rest assured about their quality.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require assistance with your problems. Wish you a happy shopping!


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About Scott Nelson

Scott Nelson

Scott Nelson is a freelance writer who specializes in camping and wildlife topics for CampFireHQ. He has written for several outdoor magazines and websites, and he enjoys nothing more than spending a weekend in the woods with his family. Scott is an experienced camper and backpacker, and he has also spent considerable time studying the behavior of bears and other large mammals.

Read Scott's full bio