Fiddler crabs are social animals. These 2 to 3-inch creatures live close to the waterline of sandy beaches. Some species live in freshwater like river water. Fiddler crabs are used as bait for shepherd fishing or fishing redfish, black drum, pompano, and permit. But the question is how to catch them. However, fiddler crab catching requires some specific knowledge and skill. So, in this article, we will explore how to catch fiddler crabs.
Understanding their Habitat
It’s really important to know their habitat to catch them. They can find coastal areas around the world. They make burrows in the sand or mud, which they use as a shelter to live. These burrows seem easy to spot. Fiddler crabs live in colonies because they are social creatures.
Whenever you want to find them, always look for areas where they are burrows. They need certain types of environments to live like temperature, water quality, and salinity. So, that means they may not be present in certain areas at certain times. First of all, to maximize the chances of catching fiddler crabs, try to find a location that meets their environment.
Search for areas where you can find mud flats or sandy beaches and burrows. Understanding the fiddle crabs’ habitat helps you to find them and catch them.
The best time to catch them
To successfully catch fiddlers you need to know the best time to catch them. During low tide, they come out of their burrows to feed and mate. So, this time consider the best time to catch them. Now the question comes as to why the low tide is the best time.
Mainly at high tide, the water level is high and at that time crabs are often underwater. But in low tide, the water level recedes and fiddler crabs come out of their burrows. This time makes it easy to notice them scurrying and scoop them up on the trap.
Fiddler crabs may not be active during certain times of the day like early morning and late night. So, consider the timing before you come to catch them. One more thing, always check the weather wherever you go to catch them. They need a certain type of atmosphere to live.
Where to find fiddler crabs
To catch them you need to find them. They can be found in soft sandy or muddy shorelines and also in freshwater. Fiddler crabs are tiny and have good structures. As per their living method, they can be found in grass, tree limbs, roots, mangrove trees, docks, etc.
There can not be any places where more human activities such as regular footsteps, noises, or vehicle sounds can be found. They try to conceal themselves in the above areas. In different seasons they are found in different places. Like in summer, they like to roam around the sea shoreline. So it is easy to catch them.
But in winter, fiddler crabs like to hide in holes on the beaches near the seawater. This time it was hard to catch them.
Different ways to catch fiddler
Here are some techniques that can help you succeed in catching fiddler crabs. Let’s discover them together-
1. Stalking your prey
Take a slow and steady approach to catch the fiddler crab. Try to move slowly and quietly toward them and always make sure not to startle them. Scan their movement when you spot a crab. Position yourself to catch them and scoop them with your trap
2. Using baits
This is an easy way. You can use a bucket or a fishing line with baits in their area to catch them. You can use chicken as their bait. In the fishing line, there is a problem that you can only catch one fiddler crab at a time. But using a bucket will solve this problem. Bucket helps to get more fiddler at a time
When the fiddler crabs get busy with their baits try to catch them.
3. Fiddler crab home invasion
Fiddler crabs are known to live in sand or mud near the coastal area. They make burrows to live. This makes them easy to spot being dug up. When you see the burrows dug 5-inch down and bring up the fiddler. This is also an easy way to catch them.
4. Use a net
Another effective way to catch fiddler crabs is by throwing a net on them before they can escape. Fiddler lives in colonies. So it’s easy to identify their presence and throw the net according to their presence. Try to use a fine-meshed cast net so that they can’t escape through the net.
5. Using a rake
You can use a rake to catch the fiddler crabs. Where fiddler crabs are active use this rake gently on the surface of the mud or sand. This rake will disturb the crabs and cause them to scuttle out of their burrow, and quickly scoop them with a trap before they get away.
6. Knowing their hidden place
Fiddler crabs usually live between the low tide mark and high tide mark which is called the littoral zone. When low tide occurs the small crabs leave their burrows. But in high tide, they move into their burrows. So, whenever you come, check the places according to the tide.
These techniques will help you to find and catch the fiddler crabs. Always keep patience to catch them. You may have to wait for a while before spotting any crabs. Keep trying and don’t be discouraged. Be gentle and careful to catch them. Follow the local regulations on crabbing.
Follow the local regulations
Catching the fiddler crabs is always fun. But you should remember the local regulations before catching them. This regulation ensures that we are not harming the environment or the crabs. Some areas may have restrictions to catch crabs or may require a license.
Before heading out, check the local rules. But here a question comes: why do these regulations come in? Well, fiddler crabs play an important role in the ecosystem. They serve as food for many animals. Fiddlers help to aerate and fertilize the soil which is important for the growth of plants.
For responsible crabbers, it is essential to follow the rules.
Wrap up
For crabbing, it’s easy to find the fiddler crab but hard to catch. Before you go crabbing, familiarize yourself with the rules in your area. I hope this article will help to find and catch the fiddler crab. Finally, I would say “Happy Crabbing’’
