How to Build Box Crab Traps
- 1). Cut the PVC pipe into four 2-foot long pieces, and then eight 1 1/2-foot pieces. If you feel you need a smaller trap, cut these pieces shorter by half a foot. If you want it bigger, add another foot on. The size is up to you, just keep the number of each different length the same as shown here.
- 2). Connect the PVC elbows to the PVC pipes so that you make a box. The four 2-foot- long pieces will be the lengths, going down the sides of the top and bottom, while the eight shorter pieces will be used to make the ends. Use four of the shorter lengths to make a square, with the PVC elbows on each corner (make sure the offshoot of the elbow--the other open connection--is sticking the same way out for each of the corners). Do this twice, once for each end. Out of these open connections, place the four longer pieces of pipe. At the other end of these long pieces of parallel pipe, place the other assembled square end. Connect the PVC elbows and pipes with the PVC glue and allow it to dry for a couple hours. You now have a frame for your trap.
- 3). Cut out four 1 1/2-foot by 2-foot rectangles of chicken wire with your snips. Then cut out a 1 1/2-foot by 1 1/2-foot square. Set the rest aside, as that will be used for the trap entrance.
- 4). Take the chicken wire and fashion it around the sides of the box. Don't place any yet over the two ends, but make a tight skin for the trap. Use the galvanized wire to secure the chicken wire to the PVC pipe by twisting and tying it around both.
- 5). Place the small chicken wire square over one of the open ends of the trap, and hinge it from the top with zip ties. Leave the bottom unconnected for the time being.
- 6). Fashion a funnel out of the remaining chicken wire. This funnel will be used to allow the crab in, but once it's in the trap, it won't be able to find its way out. This step will require some cutting, shaping and forming of the chicken wire to get it to the design you want.
- 7). Place the cone into the trap. You want the large opening of the funnel to be at the end of the trap, and the smaller opening pointed toward the inside. Secure the funnel to the sides of the PVC pipe with more galvanized wire.
- 8). Drill four holes in the corners of the top of the trap, and add the eye bolts to them. The eye bolts should be secure, and pointing upward. Don't drill through the chicken wire as this may weaken the strength of the wire.
- 9). Cut the rope into three pieces. Two should be 4-feet long, while the rest should just be the remainder of the rope (the length of rope you choose for this should be determined by how far down into the water you plan to place the trap. For example, If the ground is 20 feet below, don't use a 10 foot rope).
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Tie the two four-feet long pieces of rope to opposite, diagonal eye bolts on the top of the trap. Do the same with the other two eye bolts. The ropes should criss-cross at the center of the top of the trap. Secure your carabineer at this meeting point so that it holds both ropes through it. - 11
Tie your long length of rope to the carabineer as well. This length can then be tied to the dock or buoy so that you can pull it up. - 12
Place a small piece of bait (eel or shad works well) into the mesh bag and secure it to the bottom of the trap with zip ties. Place it on the opposite end of the trap from the funnel (place it near the hinged end of chicken wire that you have yet to secure) - 13
Secure the bottom of the chicken wire on the end of the trap with zip ties.
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