hermit crab

[gazzawill]

any one ever used hermit crab for bait on northeast coast. ive just aquired a load for free and freezing them .i know they do well off boats but never tried of shore. all info appreciated lads and lassie\'s

[Edited on 15/2/2006 by gazzawill]

[Billzo]

good bait off the shore 2 gazz, but have 2 tell u m8t much better alive m8t, problem is keeping them alive. ive been after some, keep asking the pot blokes 2 keep me some but they keep 4getting
so ive just give up.
i know lads that have had cracking fish on them, fresh.
the theory is the hermit is in the shell all its life protected, the only time
it leaves its shell is when it needs a bigger home. so in them few mins it is helpless. so trust me m8t when a fish see\'s 1 hold tight 2 your rod because they hit like an express train lol
a m8t of mine just about lost rod & reel off the sumps ( seaton sluice)
his rod was in his rest & when he looked up his rod & rest were bouncin down the rocks. they r not suposed 2 freeze down well m8t because they r full of water so they crystleize. but a little tip i use, even 4 my crab is to rap them in cling film & freeze them between 2 sheets of steel plate, just keep the steel plates in the freezer all the time but apart lol. done this way the crab freezes faster & stops the crystals forming.
hope this helps gazz.
bill.

[Billzo]

oh & freeze the hermit on hooks & snoods m8t & carrie them in a food flask frozen, take 1 out at a time. if left 2 defrost they just turn 2 mush.
bill.

[jamcod]

i used to get them a few years ago had a lot of success off cresswell carrs with them , i freeze mine and take them fishing in a flask and put them on semi frozen and let them defrost in the sea , jamcod

[sless]

super bait
i had a cod of 8 lb 6 oz from north row ends a few years ago
on hermits

[tony.codling]

i was waiting how long it would take
for it

[sless]

i cant get any now though

[sless]

thats

cod and hermits
hahaha

[gazzawill]

i can get loads of it :P :P

[gazzawill]

cheers for the replys lads much aprechiated

[Billzo]

no worries m8t,
i wish i could get my hands on them

[gazzawill]

ive 40 frozen sless keeping them for the comp might have some freash to ill share out between the southern lads iff i get a load

[sless]

[alan]

I\'ve tried freezing hermits and they just turn to mush once defrosted,I\'ve also tried freezing them to my hooks as well,problem is the hooks always came back clean,so the bait was either falling off or the fish were taking it,just used mine up with cocktails,lashed them to other baits,excellent fresh if you can get it

[Seasonalsortofguy]

OK Frozen if you crack them from the shell whilst they are still alive. You can also get them to come out the shell by covering them with a damp cloth and leaving them somewhere cool and dark.

Basically my experience of them is they will fish anywhere where a worm will catch a fish. Excellent over sandy ground and in lug/rag cocktails.