Do crab really work on the west coast or is it misconception

[sea serpant]

Just wondering does anyone "swear" by or consider peeler a sought after bait on the west coast?? I'm from Dublin I do most of my fishing on the east and south coasts where 80 percent of the time I do offer up fresh crab baits as my no 1 bait to catch fish its very rare I'd go on a trip without them but once sometimes twice a year for the last 15 years I travel to Kerry my base being tralee and every time I bring a stack load of crab with me but I'm really starting to question why because it has never been a successful bait in that part of the country for me anyway ! I know the species vary from the east to south coast but I do catch ray bass and flatfish on the east coast to crab yet never in all the years I've been going to Kerry has crab been a successful bait for me with sandeel mak lug etc being used mostly ! I've tried using crab for bass Ray's etc in Kerry with no real results except the odd flounder yet it's my no 1 bait on the east coast why ? Has anyone else noticed this or am I imagining it

[tight lines]

I have had ray in clifden and connamera on crab but never in kerry

[sea serpant]

Ye they dont seem to be as effective for bass either ive fished them in Kerry in perfect conditions with nothing while my friends lug baits were getting smashed

[Last Cast]

On any of the beaches or rock marks in west Cork that I would fish with crab, lug or razor, peelers would never be as good as any of the other baits. Mussels as bait would even out fish crab.

[sully]

Hey lads I'm from Tralee and fish all over the county. There is certain marks I wouldn't fish without crab. For example when targeting Stingray crab is tops or in the estuaries around tralee Bay /dingle or the cashen. On the surf beaches Lugworm and sandeel/mackerel are king. The ballan love crab too on the rocks but at a euro a piece there is cheaper alternatives. Hope this helps. I got this stinger on crab https://youtu.be/pepb36Y93Lc

[tight lines]

That is some fish sully 40lb cracker

[Hooker]

I wouldn't be without crab on the Shannon estuary marks I fish. Have actually noticed a difference between catch rates on Wexford Vs Kerry crab odddly enough. I have never had bass on any other bait at a couple of marks while catching plenty of ray on fresh Mack Sandeel etc. But my biggest thornie has also come to crab on bass gear. I have also found fresh frozen local Sandeel brilliant in Tralee bay. My dad and I either caught (painted, undulate and thornies) or witnessed (stinger and plaice) 4 species of ray and a plaice landed in a day. Try Atlantic Chris @ Atlantic tackle if down that way for bait and advice.

[sea serpant]

Hey lads I'm from Tralee and fish all over the county. There is certain marks I wouldn't fish without crab. For example when targeting Stingray crab is tops or in the estuaries around tralee Bay /dingle or the cashen. On the surf beaches Lugworm and sandeel/mackerel are king. The ballan love crab too on the rocks but at a euro a piece there is cheaper alternatives. Hope this helps. I got this stinger on crab https://youtu.be/pepb36Y93Lc

Cracker mate

[corbyeire]

I wouldnt go out of my way to get peeler for connacht, but i have caught bass on crab in galway mayo sligo - and clare!
lug covers you for most and fish baits for the other species
hardbacks for bigger wrasse
so in a word if you get them handy bring them, but i wouldnt be forking money out for them

[Woulfec]

Fresh lug produces best results in clare beaches

[Go Big or Go Home]

Fresh lug produces best results in clare beaches

Is the success rate much different when comparing fresh and frozen?

[corbyeire]

Fresh nearly always better for bass cod and big flats
if you are really scratching in quiet conditions then sometimes the wraps come into their own

[gearoid mc s.]

Mackeral & Squid are king in the Shannon, crab I wouldn't go out of my way with crab for general fishing.

Useful for Bass & Flats but nobody seems to bother fishing for them much.

While crab will pick out the ray you would lessen your chances of Conger and Huss which would seems counter intuitive

[Woulfec]

Fresh lug produces best results in clare beaches

Is the success rate much different when comparing fresh and frozen?

There's a big difference. The juices off 3 fresh lug on a hook is hard to match.. Barely any juice off the frozen ones when iv got them. No1 for bass dunno about any other species though

[Paul c]

I am heading down to Kerry tmw I have fresh peeler and lug I will let ya know

[Go Big or Go Home]

How did the peeler go? I used it in kerry last year. Haw no mass in it since.

[baitdigger]

Mackeral & Squid are king in the Shannon, crab I wouldn't go out of my way with crab for general fishing.

Useful for Bass & Flats but nobody seems to bother fishing for them much.

While crab will pick out the ray you would lessen your chances of Conger and Huss which would seems counter intuitive

Much the same as my experience on the Shannon and Clare, fresh mackerel seemed to be the number one fish taker with just about every species willing to take it. Squid for rays huss and conger, the bass seem to like it as well.

I have heard that crab would be an advantage for the sting rays as a cocktail with king rag but the only stingers I ever caught were on mackerel.

As for the bass they seemed to change preference from location to location and also weather conditions. After a bit of a storm live razor was pretty good but most beaches fresh lug or sandeel always worked well. I stopped fishing for them with bait because I preferred trying to take them off the top with lures.