crab rings how to?

[b.dog]

i am thinking of building some crab rings.i have polypro.mesh netting 1"x1". was thinking of useing rebar for hoops and welding em closed. going to add little float off of line leads to keep them out of basket. any ideas on how big/ga. rebar? also how big in dia. top hoop? seems store ones i have are 18"DIA. i was thinking 30" dia. also about 20" deep. any ideas from past use as to improvments over store bought rings and size? thanks for ideas,b dog

[Antman40]

Be careful with your plans......

"(2) "Collapsible crab trap" means a manually operated, portable device:

(a) Having a flat bottom not more than 1 square foot, and not more than four articulated sides, each with an area not more than 1 square foot"

From MD regs.

http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/08/08.02.03.01.htm

Tony

[POLECAT]

3/8" rebar is (much) more than adequate. Anything heavier is overkill and tiresome. 18" dia for outer ring and 10" dia. for inner ring is what I would use. Bigger is not necessarily better. Basket depth of 8" to 10" is sufficient.
18" dia. allows storage of 30+ rings (and floats) in 35 gal plastic drum. Larger dia would need 55 gal drum or some other large container.
I haven't seen a Chesapeake Bay crab yet that wouldn't fit in an 18" ring.
MD regs do not limit size of rings, only collapsible traps and pots.

If I were building them from scratch like you propose to do I would try using 5/16" rebar if it is available. Plenty heavy enough to hold in a strong current. Might even resort to 1/4". Rings get heavy when a crab or two is in them and you're pulling them from the deep.

Post progress on your project.:)

[Antman40]

MD regs do not limit size of rings, only collapsible traps and pots.

I would have to disagree with this statement unless you can show otherwise.
As to the way I understand it, rings and traps are two of the same as far as the regs go.

Bdog, I don't want to see you get jammed up if you know what I mean......don't go by hearsay....read the regs good.

Tony

[firefighter1962]

i have 30 in rings and have never had a problem with DNR , i think the rebar might be to heavy though , like jerry said , pulling them with crabs can be quite an ordeal , i would recomend 1/4 in stainless if you can find it. i also like the bigger rings for baiting , i put 2 or 3 necks in 1 ring and its not uncommon to pull up 2 or 3 crabs . Tony i am taking your advice and getting ready for the upcoming season already , iwant to be ready to go as soon as the weather breaks. Dave

[Bob H.]

Be careful with your plans......

"(2) "Collapsible crab trap" means a manually operated, portable device:

(a) Having a flat bottom not more than 1 square foot, and not more than four articulated sides, each with an area not more than 1 square foot"

From MD regs.

http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/08/08.02.03.01.htm

Tony

(a) = 5 sq ft. when open
18" rings = 1.76 sq ft. laying flat

I'll keep my rings.

[POLECAT]

Tony,
Rings and traps are "two of the same" (as you stated) ONLY in respect to the total number of each or a combination of each that can be used by a rec. OR comm. crabber.
Traps are regulated in footprint size (not to exceed 144 square inches) by the DNR and the regs point this out. Whereas, no mention anywhere in the regs is there a size limit pertaining to rings.

Directly from the regs:
Collapsible Crab Trap, Crab Net Ring
MARR/COMAR Reg. 08.02.03.01I Structural Requirements1961 - PresentReg. VIII, adopted 2 Oct. 1961.Crab Trap: - Manually operated - Bottom 1 sq. ft. max. - Max. 4 sides, ea. 1 sq. ft. max.
Number Allowed
Unlicensed: per individual51972 - 1993Reg. VIII amended 1 Apr. 1972.101994 - Present21:6 MdR 466per boat251994 - Present21:6 MdR 466
Licensed: per license501972 - PresentReg. VIII amended 1 Apr. 1972.
Non-Commercial License: per license3019991998, Ch. 419; effective 1 Jan. 1999.

Unfortunately, for your benefit, I cannot "show otherwise" that which is not stated in the regs by the DNR.
Rings of any size can be used in the capture of crabs in MD waters. If there was a size restriction for rings it would be stated in the regs much the same way as it is for traps.

Tony, what fact or facts are you basing your disagreement on?

[Antman40]

We will start here.....

"The discretion pertaining to the issuance of a citation will be up to the Officer on the scene...." ANTMAN 1/12/07

"If a citation was issued and was challenged in court the outcome would be at the discretion of the Judge." POLECAT 1/12/07 "False Alarm"


Let us continue....

I've talked to dnr folks too......you say there is NO rule......they say that if it isn't defined in the "gear" it's ILLEGAL.....thus a crab "ring" with more than one ring would thus be ILLEGAL...


COMAR 08.02.03.01

"Crab net ring" means netting supported by a ring-shaped rim."

If you notice....it states...."A ring-shaped rim"....... not two or more rings.......thus, a device with an outer and inner ring is ILLEGAL no matter what size.....

Tony

[Krabaholic]

This may be a little off of the subject, but I am getting ready to buy some new traps and I wanted to get the opinion of the people that use ring traps. I currently use box traps and I was going to purchase some topless traps. However, I like the ring traps because they take up less room. Do the ring traps produce as well as the topless traps. If so what kind do you guys recommend.

[firefighter1962]

Krab , i like rings quite abit , however there is a trick to using them , you MUST pull the ring straight up out of the water or they tend to tilt in the water and the crab swims out , so basicly your boat better not be moving under power or your likely to lose your catch on the way up. Hope that helps. Dave