Fishing w/ Soft-Shell Crab Bait Experiment: Did NOT Expect THIS!

Quick Overview

The soft-shell crab bait experiment yielded mixed results, catching a small Bluefish and a small Bonnethead shark on the soft-shell crab, but the angler ultimately decided to stop fishing after repeatedly catching small fish and realizing the bait was too effective at attracting undesirable catches.

Key Points: The angler used soft-shell crab pieces as bait, noting they were purchased for about $10 for 10 pieces, making them an expensive but potentially effective bait. The angler caught a small Bluefish and a small Bonnethead shark while using the soft-shell crab bait. The angler noted that the small fish, like the Bluefish, were tearing off the soft-shell crab bait very easily, sometimes eating the entire piece in 30 seconds. The angler was fishing on a beach near a jetty/rock structure, using two long surf rods set up in rod holders. The angler used a Deeper PRO+ 2 portable castable fish finder which mapped the underwater topography, showing a significant drop-off near the rocks (from 20 ft to 15.2 ft). Due to the constant small bites and the ease with which the bait was being stripped, the angler decided to stop fishing and re-rig. The angler was initially excited about the new jetty location and the potential for bigger fish, but the constant action was from smaller species.

Context: The video documents a surf fishing session by an angler attempting a bait experiment using pieces of soft-shell crab on a newly explored section of beach near a rock jetty. The angler, equipped with modern surf fishing gear including long rods and a portable fish finder (Deeper PRO+ 2), details his bait preparation and fishing strategy. The session highlights the effectiveness of the soft-shell crab as bait, although it primarily attracted smaller fish like Bluefish and juvenile Bonnethead sharks, which often stripped the expensive bait quickly.

Detailed Analysis

The video begins with the angler preparing to fish on a new, unexplored stretch of beach near a rock jetty, noting the excitement of trying a new spot. He highlights his bait: soft-shell crab pieces purchased for approximately $10 for 10 pieces. He demonstrates how he cuts the soft-shell crab into quarters to use as bait, noting the bait is very soft and squishy. He also sets up two long surf rods using specialized rod holders stuck into the wet sand near the surf line. During the session, the angler uses a Deeper PRO+ 2 castable fish finder, which creates 3D underwater maps of the area, revealing a significant drop-off structure near the rocks, ranging from 20 feet deep to about 15 feet deep where he was casting. Despite the promising structure and bait, the fishing action involved catching several small fish, including a small Bluefish and a small Bonnethead shark, which were able to strip the soft-shell crab bait very quickly, sometimes eating it entirely in 30 seconds. After catching several small fish, the angler expresses frustration with the small catches and the rate at which the bait was being consumed, deciding to stop fishing and pack up. He concludes the adventure was fun but perhaps not the big catch he was hoping for at the new location.