How To Catch Blue Crabs with a Kayak Crabbing Trotline

While there are several options for kayak crabbing, from handlining to pull traps, a trotline is by far the most effective way to catch crabs and load your bushel basket. Aside from setup, kayak trotlining is not all that different than operating from a boat. In this video FishTalk Production Manager Zach Ditmars gives you a look at the basics on how to catch Maryland blue crabs by rigging and running a crabbing trotline baited with chicken necks from a kayak. Learn more at www.fishtalkmag.com/blog/how-...
FishTalk Magazine and www.FishTalkMag.com are dedicated to bringing Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic anglers the straight scoop on fishing techniques, reports, tactics, hotspots, and gear. We cover all kinds of fishing, from freshwater lakes to bluewater ocean canyons, in the Mid-Atlantic region.
#kayakfishing #kayak #crabbing #fishtalk #marylandcrabs

[@randallmuir5570]

Getting ready for a trip to the Eastern shore with our Native peddle kayaks. I have set trotlines many times from a boat for catfish. Have even successfully set a Trotline for cats a couple times using my kayak in the upper New River here in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia. Dealing with the weight and the current kind of scared the crap out of me. Given that experience I was wondering how I might use my kayak to set a Trotline for crabs in the tidal areas near Onancock VA where we will be staying for a week starting late July. When I came across your video, I suspected I had hit the bull’s-eye! And was I ever right! It was so well produced and crystal clear. I know I can come up with all of that stuff having worked for years at a plumbing wholesaler and being somewhat handy at using what I’ve got to solve problems here on the farm. Thanks so much for the entertaining and informative video! I watch a lot of KZbin videos when I want to learn how to do something, although I have never subscribe to a channel… Until now!

[@chuckerroo5977]

Great video man. You make it look easy!

[@moztheravensfan]

Great video

[@FishTalkMagazine]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@timelliott8871]

Another great video, as always fellas. Keep those kayak videos coming!!

[@FishTalkMagazine]

Glad you enjoyed it - and we will!!

[@trigger357]

The most Badazzz video I have seen in a long time! amazing work man

[@zachditmars9313]

Thank you man! It's more fun than it looks. Glad you enjoyed the vid!

[@God_of_Poets]

Bruh you made that look fun as hell!!

[@zachditmars9313]

A little bit of work and LOTS of FUN!

[@mrmagicjax]

Awesome

[@randallmuir5570]

Any chance that Zach could provide the dimensions of the PVC stick, so I don’t have to guess. I have some PVC schedule 80 and three-quarter inch which will be stiffer than the schedule 40 used in the video. Questioning whether I need to reinforce it with a wooden dowel. Also, any design improvements that came to mind after using it would be greatly appreciate it as well and I will try to incorporate those on the front end. Thanks again for a great video, Randy

[@FishTalkMagazine]

Hey Randy - we're glad you enjoyed the video!! Zach is out on the water right now but I'll make sure he sees your comments, give it a day or two for a more helpful response. Thanks - enjoy!

[@zachditmars9313]

Hey Randy thanks for watching and the feedback! I used schedule 40, one inch pipe, but I think it would have been fine without the dowel reinforcement. I just had the material and did so as a precaution as I tend to break other pvc constructions I’ve made (carts, etc.). The one big improvement to my design would be to add an elbow to the stick end that will enable me to pivot the pipe and enable on the water height adjustment based on the depth of water I am crabbing. Good luck and please send us a crab report when you hit the water!

[@josephgruber5476]

Great video - how do you make the loops in the trotline, is the whole line bungee?

[@FishTalkMagazine]

Hey Joseph - the mainline is not bungee, it's paracord, the bungee lines are crimped or tied on and usually folks just buy the trot line pre-tied with them.

[@oldnerdreviews]

I love that dual tripod you have! Where can I get one?

[@FishTalkMagazine]

On land we used a zomei tripod and on the kayak we used Railblaza mounts with a basic smartphone tripod adapter.

[@oldnerdreviews]

@@FishTalkMagazine Thanks ;)

[@srtsaddlehunter3285]

Hey man i enjoyed this video enough to try running a trotline with my yak late last year. Got a new yak and need to build a prop stick. How did you attach yours to your landing gear?

[@zachditmars9313]

Hey thanks for watching! I used RailBlaza TracMount hardware to secure the pvc to the track. YakAttack makes T-Bolts that would also work well.

[@srtsaddlehunter3285]

@@zachditmars9313 howd you attach the hardware to the pvc

[@zachditmars9313]

@@srtsaddlehunter3285 I just drilled holes through the end caps.

[@srtsaddlehunter3285]

@@zachditmars9313 hard to see that in the video but trust me im looking. How are you tightening the hardware down. Again im looking just not clearing seeing. Soory for all the questions

[@TheUrbanHousewife16]

When Kayak crabbing do you do better in big water or coves and/or creeks?

[@FishTalkMagazine]

We recommend crabbing in rivers and creeks away from boat wakes, wind, waves, etc. Pick flat areas near points, mouths of creeks, and areas of tidal flow.

[@billhudson2196]

Does the paracord sink on its own or did you have to put weights on it?

[@FishTalkMagazine]

Hey Bill, the trotline is rigged with 8lb mushroom anchors and a few feet of chain on both ends to keep it laying flat on bottom.

[@williamlonderee603]

What size main line rope r using?

[@FishTalkMagazine]

Less that 1/4-inch diameter. Having a thinner line enables you to carry a 600-foot in a 3 gallon bucket.

[@chevyjean1208]

What length,& brand kayak ya using

[@zachditmars9313]

Native Slayer Propel 13

[@Matty_K_525]

What kayak do you recommend?

[@zachditmars9313]

You can rig any pedal kayak to get out there and trotline. The older Native Slayer Propel 13 you see in this video works really well for me, specifically because the front tank well is perfect for holding the 3 gal. culling bucket. On other kayaks you would need to strap this down, and in my method I am constantly picking that up to measure and dump my crabs into my basket behind me. Another point to consider is that while a smaller 10-foot pedal kayak will work just fine, you are hauling a considerable amount of gear (bushel basket, culling bucket, anchor, chain, and 600- of line) and storage space on smaller kayaks can be quite limited.

[@Matty_K_525]

@@zachditmars9313 Great info, thanks so much!! I can't wait to get out there.

[@Pokemonballers87]

Where did you launch from?

[@FishTalkMagazine]

This video was filmed after launching at a community access point, not a public one, but there are several public launches in and around the area. See the DNR Angler Access Map, gisapps.dnr.state.md.us/coastalatlas2019/PublicFishingAccess/ for some locations. (The Spa Creek, Carrs Warf, and Galesville launches will put you in similar waters).

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Huge advantage of trot lining vs crab pots is you don't have to worry about poachers 👍🦀

[@brentlebo9763]

Where are you located

[@FishTalkMagazine]

Annapolis, MD