Crab Bait while travelling

[NormC]

I'm about to head off on a lengthy fishing trip (12 to 14 weeks) along the Qld East coast for a couple of weeks, then several weeks (or more ) in the Gulf, both NT and Qld.

Will be taking four crab pots with me and was wondering about advice on bait when I don't have some of the usual fish frames etc.

When at home, I usually freeze a few fish frames and use them for crab bait. If I don't have any, the local fish shop gives me some or charges about $2 for a bag.

Although we have a small freezer in one of the two 12 V fridges we carry, I think I'll be in trouble if I fill it with fish frames.

What other options do I have? How do cans of cheap cat feed go with a few holes punched in them? Any other ideas?

Norm C

[RCG008]

Cheap can of cat tuna with some holes punceh in it. It does work good. And over xmas it out crabbed fish frames 2 to 1. Have used in Qld with success. I spose just be responsiable when disposing of empty tins.

And dont drop any juices in the boat.... I have and I hate tuna smell..

[Chezzy13]

Hi Norm, yep cans of tuna, cheap cat food, EG pilchards,or dog bones work good, they like fresh bait, we use sausages and the absolutley love them..Just chucked back 3 tonight, undersize bucks and a jenny, fresh bait is the key In My experience.
Good luck and enjoy your trip, sounds great..

Chez.

[dazza]

hi norm,
as others have said, cat food tins would be ok.
shouldn't be too hard to get bait if you have a cast net (check reg's in the NT) or usually the catfish are in plague proportions, half an hour or so of baitfishing should see plenty of fresh catfish
cheers
dazza

[NormC]

Cheezy, are you talking plain old beef sausages? Raw I assume? Haven't heard of that one befoe. If that is a good bait, I can manage that at times. We always carry a fair bit of cryovaced meat (don't see town for 3 or 4 weeks at a time), so I can include a couple of extra packs of sausages.

A couple of sausages per pot?

[trueblue]

I agree with Dazza. Use a cast net, or line fish for catfish - they are a great crab bait. If you get a lot of small fish in a cast net, just chop them up a bit and put them into some of Kingtins bait pots made out of 90 mm pvc tube with holes drilled into it. They are a great idea for smaller baits for crabbing

Cheers

Mick

[Chezzy13]

Cheezy, are you talking plain old beef sausages? Raw I assume? Haven't heard of that one befoe. If that is a good bait, I can manage that at times. We always carry a fair bit of cryovaced meat (don't see town for 3 or 4 weeks at a time), so I can include a couple of extra packs of sausages.

A couple of sausages per pot?

Yep Just ordinary plain beef sausages, works a treat for me, Iv caught huge bucks with them, they like them fresh IMO, and yea not cooked, raw, if you have a small to medium sized bait bucket or burley bucket, put them in there, stops other little bait pinches getting to it too, last longer aswell, about 2 sausages will do it..
Give it a go, where I am they love it.

[Chezzy13]

Heres is a Picc of my Burley Bucket in the pot ..

[samson]

ROAD KILL plenty of that up north

[Reef_fisher]

Yep, tin cat food, you catch the stray cats on that and then put the cat in the pot for the crabs.LMAO.

[NormC]

Thanks guys. Normally I'll be able to get some fresh bait, but otherwise I'll try cat food and suasages. If I can't catch any cats with the cat food I'll try it on the crabs.

Hoe to get so sick of crab that we won't need to bother for a while.

[Chezzy13]

All the best Norm..Hope ya get heaps, take some piccies too if ya can..Good luck, and enjoy...