Castable Crab Snare - Unweighted

For decades, people fishing off the coasts and piers of California have had the dubious pleasure of crabs tangling themselves on one's lines when one wasn't being attentive to their outfits. 

Of course, this begs the question, "If this can happen accidentally, can this also happen on purpose?"

This was the question that was brought to mind for Joe Eichensehr of Pacifica, California.  Up until then, crabs were caught either in crab rings or traps, or when accidentally tangled on a fishing line.  One day, inspiration hit Joe and he created the CASTABLE CRAB SNARE.  In fact, he holds the patent on the design, patent #60/756.188.

Joe and his daughter Grace craft each CASTABLE CRAB SNARE by hand in their home in Pacifica.  Each cage of the snare is approximately 5"L x 2"W x 1.25"H.  As per California Fish & Game regulations, there are six loops attached around the trap.  The blue loops are not made from nylon monofilament line, as with many of his imitators.  Loops made from nylon monofilament absorb water and eventually soften to the degree that they no long spring open.  Joe uses a proprietary material that retains its springiness (and therefore its effectiveness)so that his crab snare can be used all day.

Many people who use his CASTABLE CRAB SNARE place a sinker into the cage for added weight.  Joe, however, prefers to add egg weights to the tether so that more bait can be placed into the cage, and so we also sell the weighted version of the CASTABLE CRAB SNARE.

Joe's CASTABLE CRAB SNARE allows you to catch crabs where you weren't able to before, places such as jetties, rock walls, the surf, and breakwaters.  It is recommended that you use heavy tackle when slinging these snares; 10'-12' surf rods such as the DAIWA BEEF STICK with 25 lb. test P-Line CXX Premium line are most popular.  This is because crabs don't swim (duh!) and when they are lassoed by a crab snare, you have to drag them along the bottom and their claws digging into the mud or sand causes a tremendous amount of drag.

There are many copies and imitators of Joe's CASTABLE CRAB SNARE on the market today, but this, his original, is still the best.