Crabs all over the beach, use for bait?

[carpanglerdude]

There has got to be a way we can benefit from these. Supposedly, they are all over the surf too, swimming around. Think they would be good frozen, saved for bait later? Look just like crawfish.


http://www.ocregister.com/articles/crabs-651975-ones-balboa.html


More pictures:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/11685978/Mystery-as-thousands-of-crabs-wash-up-on-California-beach.html

http://patch.com/california/newportbeach/slideshow-red-crab-beach-invasion

[Homefish]

I don't know. I was fish'n Sunday morn'n, and the crabs were just start'n to arrive at the beach I was at. They were in the water swim'n around and then a few hours later they were get'n washed ashore on the waves & dying. I saw noth'n feed'n on them, no fish, no birds, no seals. It was weird, I thought something would be feast'n on them. I caught 1 small mackerel & my dad caught 1 Corbina & 1 BSP. That was it. Pretty slow.

[carpanglerdude]

Friend down at Dana Point saw the birds feasting on 'em

[Stormcrow]

I don't know. I was fish'n Sunday morn'n, and the crabs were just start'n to arrive at the beach I was at. They were in the water swim'n around and then a few hours later they were get'n washed ashore on the waves & dying. I saw noth'n feed'n on them, no fish, no birds, no seals. It was weird, I thought something would be feast'n on them. I caught 1 small mackerel & my dad caught 1 Corbina & 1 BSP. That was it. Pretty slow.


I can tell you that the bluefin are gorging on them...thats why they wont bite but are everywhere....

[smokehound]

Pleuroncodes planipes, a species of Squat-lobster. they're not actually true crabs, but much closer to hermit crabs, mole crabs, and spider crabs.


I don't see why not, but because of how they breed, most of the fish around there are probably stuffed full of em and don't need to eat for a while.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator_satiation