How to Fish: Crabbing in Vancouver

For more fishing video clips, please visit: www.fishingwithrod.com
In this fishing video tutorial, we look at crabbing in Vancouver. Rick Clark and Rodney Hsu discuss the equipment and techniques you need for crabbing, as well as regulations for this popular family activity.
For more information on Pautzke Bait's Crab and Shrimp Fuel, please visit:
www.pautzke.com
Subscribe to go Fishing with Rod!
/ @fishingwithrod
Facebook: / fishingwithrod
Instagram: / fishing_with_rod
Twitter: / fishingwithrod
Guest Instructor: Rick Clark
Camera: Rodney Hsu
Editing: Rodney Hsu
Music: Alexis Messier
Copyright: Fishing with Rod Production

[@onewontdo]

Really helpful! I never fished in my life but me and my friends are hoping to go this season. Thank you!

[@FishingwithRod]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching and good luck!

[@branchc22]

Really great video Man! Thanks for sharing

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks for watching!

[@skate446]

Hey rod do you have any suggestions for sockeye and spring fishing off the shore in the Fraser? Thanks! Love the videos

[@coopw101]

Good info thanks do you have lobster there also.

[@SuperFuzzypuppy]

Great info Rod!

[@FishingwithRod]

Colby Wouters Thanks!

[@dannyhero2536]

Thank you so much helped me so much watching this

[@FishingwithRod]

Thanks for watching!

[@dannyhero2536]

Still have yet to get any

[@timknudsen7788]

hey rick remember me tim from l and m

[@sushinfish8584]

please do more underwater videos

[@minhtoan67]

how many crab you could take a day?

[@FishingwithRod]

This depends on the area you are crabbing in. Generally it is four, but definitely check the regulations for your area before heading out.

[@crazylegsmurphy]

Just a few things to note. His float is not legal. According to DFO you must have your float marked with your name and phone number. It must also be no less than 7.5cm in height. Regulations in BC state that no fish fit for human consumption may be used for bait. Fish parts, such as heads, fins, backs are fine, but the fish shown in the bucket would not be considered legal. Other bait that can be used, and will works as well if not better than the "Fuel" is chicken parts (the backs and such that can't be eaten), and cat food. If you use cat food, do not use anything that is "in gravy" as it doesn't work. Simply open the can half way and put in your bait box. They didn't talk about it, but traps must have a legal size hole for smaller crab to escape, plus a rot cord that will deteriorate if the trap is lost allowing all crab to get out. The legal size for Dungeness Crab is no less than 165mm (6.5 inches) from point to point on the shell. They can only be male and can not have soft shells. Where I live in Sooke, BC, I see too many people removing undersize crab. The limit is 4 crab (of any species) per 24 hour period. This means you can have any species of crab, but only 4 at a time (2 Dungeness + 2 Rock or 3 Dungeness + 1 Rock and so on.) The sinking line in the video does not sink because of the density. It sinks because it has a lead wire braided into it. This is required to stop the line from becoming entangled in motors or harming other creatures. By law the crab must be returned to the water with minimal harm/stress. This means you are not allowed to throw crab from docks or moving boats, remove limbs to get the out of traps, or kick them back in. Throwing crab can shock and damage them, especially the females carrying eggs. Finally, they didn't talk about it in the video, but according to scientific testing by the humane society, boiling crab alive (the most popular method) is considered inhumane as the crab can live up to 6 minutes in boiling water. The most human methods are considered to be electric shock and food safe anesthetic. Because most people don't have access to these, the best method is to sever both nerve centres as quickly as possible. This is done by taking a knife and mallet, and very quickly chopping the crab in half. The goal is to hit both nerve centres at the same time. One is located in-between the eyes, and the other at the top of the abdomen. www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/farm/hsus-the-welfare-of-crustaceans-at-slaughter.pdf Below is the Canadian DFO website for more information on crabbing. I notice a lot of people taking a kind of blasé approach to crabbing where size, regulations, and such are sort of casually dismissed by most people. Crab, like any creature of the sea must be respected and maintained. They may be ugly little jerks that will take your finger off without a second thought, but they still require protection and respect. www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/points/shellgear-eng.html#crab

[@vitaminmark1470]

How long did it take you to type this up

[@marylight9700]

Bet you're fun at parties..

[@YevhenRawrs]

Good for you bud. Good for you.

[@FoundationElectronics]

about the bait thing, I've searched ALL over the BC fisheries site and Google as well, and I can find nothing about what bait to use and not to use (just on what is the best bait to use to get the most crab), could you send me a direct link about the "legal bait" to use plz? greatly appreciated thanks

[@mikeymaiku]

@@TheAlexdx7 so u like you cull crabs

[@441rider]

I have been under water on north shore and Chevron used to do a slick once a week, there is thousands of gallons of live aboard waste and heavy liquid dumps from freighters. Don't eat crab in shippjing lanes, uhhhh. It will get ya,

[@Cat39391]

when i lived on the island i use to put hip waiters on and go out at low tide with a fishing pole net and catch tons hahaha and the islanders use to laugh at me ...but i was laughing when i caught thous taste buggers hahahah

[@FishingwithRod]

Susan Dyck Awesome. :)

[@adammiller4879]

Laws may be different I live in west oregon but I thought using game fish like salmon were illegal to crab with? *****

[@FishingwithRod]

Adam Miller I have no idea what the regulations are in West Oregon, that's why we titled this video "Crabbing in Vancouver" as most of the information is only relevant to residents and visitors in British Columbia.

[@crazylegsmurphy]

Adam Miller You're correct. In Canada it is illegal to use bait that is fit for human consumption. You can use scraps (tails, fins, backs, heads), but using bait like in the video is considered illegal in Canada. Chicken backs and cat food can be used as alternatives to fish, but if you want to use fish, make sure they are actual scraps. Plus, I'm not sure why anyone would use a perfectly good piece of salmon to catch crab that can be caught using much cheaper bait.

[@1DerfulSniping]

lol you could get a star trap for like 5 bucks and its just as good even better in some situations why spend 30 bucks on a trap?

[@FishingwithRod]

Peter Truong That'll work too and in fact better in some situations like from a pier, but for durability the bigger cage trap is definitely a better investment.

[@BennnnyBoooom]

Should have shown a bit more crabbing..

[@crazylegsmurphy]

In response to the question below about trap stealing or poaching from traps. It is illegal to hide or submerge your float in Canada. The DFO must be able to see and check the trap/float. It is annoying for sure. Just a few weeks ago I had a trap stolen. The reality is that as crab becomes more expensive the likelihood of traps/crab becoming stolen will rise. Currently there is no failsafe way of protecting traps. However, I have been looking into mini-GPS devices that can record depth and movement. These devices are so small that they can be attached to the trap and even braided into the rope.. Unfortunately some have limited range and some are quite expensive. I am hoping to find one that will allow me to know if my trap is being disturbed. I could also follow the signal as long as it wasn't removed. The only real way to protect your traps is to keep an eye on them. Dropping them close to where you're fishing, or spending a few hours reading a book while it soaks in a place you can keep an eye on it is the only way.

[@sandraastley5179]

Wheres the crab!!! 😂

[@FishingwithRod]

🦀

[@hejiahan]

This is my first time watching at your videos and the only thing that strikes me was that in this certain video you periodically stared at the camera. You should have respected your fellow fishermen and paid attention. Unless you were filming with a go pro and was trying to keep it safe, then disregard my first comment. Greatluck with your channel!

[@FishingwithRod]

There's a good reason for that. We had problem filming most of that day because the camera was shutting itself off from time to time. I was checking periodically to make sure that it wasn't doing it.