How To Catch Redfish With Cut Blue Crabs (Both Bull & Slot Redfish)
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
Cut blue crabs are definitely an underrated redfish bait.
Redfish of all sizes love eating cut blue crabs, but you need to match the size of the blue crab to the size of the fish you’re targeting and rig it so that it gets in the feeding zone.
In this video, Salt Strong Fishing Coach Austin used cut blue crabs in two different scenarios to catch two different size redfish.
Check out the video below to see how he did it!
How To Catch Redfish With Cut Blue Crabs [VIDEO]
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Best Way To Cut Blue Crabs
Redfish rely heavily on their sense of smell to find food, and cut bait (especially cut blue crab) is like a loud dinner for all the redfish in the area.
As for what size blue crab to use, that depends on what size fish you’re targeting.
If big bull reds are in the area, you could use half of a crab, or even a whole crab with the points of the shell cut off.
But if you’re looking for slot redfish, then go with a quarter or eighth of a crab.
To cut the crabs, use bait shears and cut along the natural lines in the shell for a clean cut.
You can also take off the top of the shell for extra scent, but if there are trash fish in the area you’re better off leaving it on because they’ll quickly clean your crab out.
Where To Use Cut Blue Crab
As you can see in the video, cut blue crab works for redfish of all sizes in all scenarios.
If you’re fishing in back creeks for slot reds, you can rig them on a jig head and sight cast to redfish, or soak them in a creek mouth or near a point or oyster bar.
If you’re fishing in inlets or passes, you can use a three-way swivel rig, like Austin did here, with a pyramid sinker and 40 lb. leader, and fish them on the bottom.
Conclusion
Whether you’re fishing for slot reds in the creeks and flats, or bull redfish in the inlets, cut blue crab is a great bait to use.
Just make sure to use the right size crab for the size fish you’re targeting and use an appropriately sized weight or jig head to keep it on the bottom.
Have any questions about using cut blue crab for redfish?
Let me know down in the comments.
And if you know someone who wants to get better at catching redfish, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Can you use frozen blue crabs to catch red fish?
I’ve only used frozen blue crabs once and didn’t have much luck. The meat gets very mushy and falls off the shell easily once it thaws. If you are sight casting to a fish or a school it can work, but if you’re letting it soak the meat will be gone quickly.
can i use cut blue crab to catch sheeps head
Absolutely!
Are those Barracuda bait shears or another brand? They look strong and made quick work of that crab!
Yes sir, those are Barracuda bait shears. I haven’t had them for very long but they do a great so far!
Awesome video brother. 💪🏼
Thanks Arturo!!
Thanks Austin. That was helpful! Nice reds too!
Thanks Mario, I appreciate that!!
Are you using medium or medium heavy rods when you target red fish?
I typically use a medium heavy but I have and use both.
Great tutorial Austin!!!
Thanks Wyatt!!