crab rings how to?

[b.dog]

i am thinking of building some crab rings.i have polypro.mesh netting 1"x1". was thinking of useing rebar for hoops and welding em closed. going to add little float off of line leads to keep them out of basket. any ideas on how big/ga. rebar? also how big in dia. top hoop? seems store ones i have are 18"DIA. i was thinking 30" dia. also about 20" deep. any ideas from past use as to improvments over store bought rings and size? thanks for ideas,b dog

[Antman40]

Be careful with your plans......

"(2) "Collapsible crab trap" means a manually operated, portable device:

(a) Having a flat bottom not more than 1 square foot, and not more than four articulated sides, each with an area not more than 1 square foot"

From MD regs.

http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/08/08.02.03.01.htm

Tony

[POLECAT]

3/8" rebar is (much) more than adequate. Anything heavier is overkill and tiresome. 18" dia for outer ring and 10" dia. for inner ring is what I would use. Bigger is not necessarily better. Basket depth of 8" to 10" is sufficient.
18" dia. allows storage of 30+ rings (and floats) in 35 gal plastic drum. Larger dia would need 55 gal drum or some other large container.
I haven't seen a Chesapeake Bay crab yet that wouldn't fit in an 18" ring.
MD regs do not limit size of rings, only collapsible traps and pots.

If I were building them from scratch like you propose to do I would try using 5/16" rebar if it is available. Plenty heavy enough to hold in a strong current. Might even resort to 1/4". Rings get heavy when a crab or two is in them and you're pulling them from the deep.

Post progress on your project.:)

[Antman40]

MD regs do not limit size of rings, only collapsible traps and pots.



I would have to disagree with this statement unless you can show otherwise.
As to the way I understand it, rings and traps are two of the same as far as the regs go.

Bdog, I don't want to see you get jammed up if you know what I mean......don't go by hearsay....read the regs good.

Tony

[firefighter1962]

i have 30 in rings and have never had a problem with DNR , i think the rebar might be to heavy though , like jerry said , pulling them with crabs can be quite an ordeal , i would recomend 1/4 in stainless if you can find it. i also like the bigger rings for baiting , i put 2 or 3 necks in 1 ring and its not uncommon to pull up 2 or 3 crabs . Tony i am taking your advice and getting ready for the upcoming season already , iwant to be ready to go as soon as the weather breaks. Dave

[Bob H.]

Be careful with your plans......

"(2) "Collapsible crab trap" means a manually operated, portable device:

(a) Having a flat bottom not more than 1 square foot, and not more than four articulated sides, each with an area not more than 1 square foot"

From MD regs.

http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/08/08.02.03.01.htm

Tony


(a) = 5 sq ft. when open
18" rings = 1.76 sq ft. laying flat

I'll keep my rings.

[POLECAT]

Tony,
Rings and traps are "two of the same" (as you stated) ONLY in respect to the total number of each or a combination of each that can be used by a rec. OR comm. crabber.
Traps are regulated in footprint size (not to exceed 144 square inches) by the DNR and the regs point this out. Whereas, no mention anywhere in the regs is there a size limit pertaining to rings.

Directly from the regs:
Collapsible Crab Trap, Crab Net Ring
MARR/COMAR Reg. 08.02.03.01I Structural Requirements1961 - PresentReg. VIII, adopted 2 Oct. 1961.Crab Trap: - Manually operated - Bottom 1 sq. ft. max. - Max. 4 sides, ea. 1 sq. ft. max.
Number Allowed
Unlicensed: per individual51972 - 1993Reg. VIII amended 1 Apr. 1972.101994 - Present21:6 MdR 466per boat251994 - Present21:6 MdR 466
Licensed: per license501972 - PresentReg. VIII amended 1 Apr. 1972.
Non-Commercial License: per license3019991998, Ch. 419; effective 1 Jan. 1999.

Unfortunately, for your benefit, I cannot "show otherwise" that which is not stated in the regs by the DNR.
Rings of any size can be used in the capture of crabs in MD waters. If there was a size restriction for rings it would be stated in the regs much the same way as it is for traps.

Tony, what fact or facts are you basing your disagreement on?

[Antman40]

We will start here.....

"The discretion pertaining to the issuance of a citation will be up to the Officer on the scene...." ANTMAN 1/12/07

"If a citation was issued and was challenged in court the outcome would be at the discretion of the Judge." POLECAT 1/12/07 "False Alarm"


Let us continue....

I've talked to dnr folks too......you say there is NO rule......they say that if it isn't defined in the "gear" it's ILLEGAL.....thus a crab "ring" with more than one ring would thus be ILLEGAL...


COMAR 08.02.03.01

"Crab net ring" means netting supported by a ring-shaped rim."

If you notice....it states...."A ring-shaped rim"....... not two or more rings.......thus, a device with an outer and inner ring is ILLEGAL no matter what size.....

Tony

[Krabaholic]

This may be a little off of the subject, but I am getting ready to buy some new traps and I wanted to get the opinion of the people that use ring traps. I currently use box traps and I was going to purchase some topless traps. However, I like the ring traps because they take up less room. Do the ring traps produce as well as the topless traps. If so what kind do you guys recommend.

[firefighter1962]

Krab , i like rings quite abit , however there is a trick to using them , you MUST pull the ring straight up out of the water or they tend to tilt in the water and the crab swims out , so basicly your boat better not be moving under power or your likely to lose your catch on the way up. Hope that helps. Dave

[b.dog]

hey firefighter1962, did you make your rings or buy them ? if so where? i may hunt for some 1/4 ss rod ,depends on cost to .

[Water_boy]

I've been using (30) 18' cheapo rings with cotton mesh in addition to the trotline for a few seasons. I rarely use them all and only when the trotline is very slow. They have an outer and inner ring, I'm ceritan they are 100% legal. They're effective in shallow water where there isn't much tide but even with extra weights added they're not heavy enough to hold bottom if there's much current and if you don't pull them up fast enough you'll see plenty of crabs climb out, who knows how many you don't see. I've seen guys with larger rings, I acn only immagine it would take a lot of effort to pull them up fast enough to avoid losing crabs, especially in deeper water.

I'm going to switch over the the topless traps this season, will probably start with 10 and build from there. I mainly use them to scout an are and mark a drop off before I lay my line and work it hard.

[JimRockfish]

The gunwales on my fishing boat are too high for trot-lining so I use Foxy topless traps and I'm used to them. The boat is spacious but you are right that they take up room. A friend gave me some rings and I never did well with them but after reading the last post, now I know why. Tidalfish iis great.

[Clark W. Griswold]

Jim, with a prop stick that's set up for your boat, you should be able to run a trotline off any boat that you can pull traps with. I used to run a trot line from a 20' C-Hawk with no problem. We actually switched to trotline instead of traps when we got that boat. The sides were to high to pull traps without grabbing each float with a boat hook. Just a thought.

Jim

[JimRockfish]

Good to know and I use a boat-hook but it'a pain by myself. Can you describe the set-up? Thanks, Jim

[Clark W. Griswold]

I unfortunately don't have the problem of having a boat with high gunwales, I'm currently using a 14' Sears Gamefisher. I still prefer trotline over traps since I crab either by myself or with my 5 year old. What kind of boat do you have? How wide is the gunwale? I used to use a prop stick made out of pvc (still do on this boat). It just slipped over the gunwale and we tied it off to the aft cleat to make sure we didn't lose it if it fell off. (It never did)

I'm assuming your boat has wide gunwales, so a picture of my prop stick wouldn't do you much good. I can draw a pic of what we had for the c-hawk and scan it when I get back to work on Tue and then post it or pm it to you. Until then, I'll drink a couple more beers since I just got back from some very good seats where I watched the Ravens lose to the f-ing colts.:mad:

[JimRockfish]

Man, they never got untracked. What a shame. At least you were there and the weather was good but that's all that was good. Nice of you to offer to send a drawing but no need, I thought about it and know how to make one from PVC. I'll give it a try this year. THanks.

[firefighter1962]

bdog , they were given to me , but the gentleman who made them has passed away . if i run across anyone who can get them i will post on TF. Dave

[Bob H.]

I've been using (30) 18' cheapo rings with cotton mesh in addition to the trotline for a few seasons. I rarely use them all and only when the trotline is very slow. They have an outer and inner ring, I'm ceritan they are 100% legal. They're effective in shallow water where there isn't much tide but even with extra weights added they're not heavy enough to hold bottom if there's much current and if you don't pull them up fast enough you'll see plenty of crabs climb out, who knows how many you don't see. I've seen guys with larger rings, I acn only immagine it would take a lot of effort to pull them up fast enough to avoid losing crabs, especially in deeper water.

I'm going to switch over the the topless traps this season, will probably start with 10 and build from there. I mainly use them to scout an are and mark a drop off before I lay my line and work it hard.

To keep the ring planted when the current is ripping go to a tire shop and ask for old wheel weights. I trim them at the clamp edge and attach 3 around the outer ring. One problem with cloth rings is that the cloth offers a lot of resistance when pulling and some bigger crabs can get out if you don't pull fast enough. I'm slowly switching over to the wire mesh rings as I can find them. The wire mesh rings come up fast and don't wear you out.

[b.dog]

thanks firefighter , i was just wanting to check out the design features. if i build them i would like to avoid as many mistkes as can .i hope my mesh is not going to be to tight and make it easy for crabs to climb out. 1'x1' diamond shape.

[firefighter1962]

Bob , the last time i checked tochermans had some in stock , im working tommorrow so i will stop down and check with Tony or Dee, if they dont have them i will ask them to order some , i need to pick up about 10 myself. P.S. Do i need to get my superbowl tickets from you in advance or will they be at the door. Dave

[Krabaholic]

Thank you guys for the input. I think I am going to go with the topless traps