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HERMIT CRABS – FROZEN SEA FISHING BAIT
Hermit crab is a seriously underrated natural sea bait, particularly when targeting fish that naturally feed on crabs and other crustaceans. Once removed from the shell, the soft crab body produces a strong natural scent and makes a superb bait for smoothhounds, bass, cod, rays, wrasse and other bottom-feeding species.
This isn't a bait that needs to be made enormous. Hermit crab works best when it's presented neatly and naturally, either on its own or combined with another bait.
HERMIT CRAB FOR SMOOTHHOUNDS
This is one of the standout uses for hermit crab.
Smoothhounds are specialist crustacean feeders, so hermit crab is exactly the sort of natural food they're looking for.
Use a whole crab body or a good-sized section and secure it carefully with bait elastic.
Fish it on a Running Ledger or Pulley Rig with a Wrigglers Chinu Hook for a compact presentation or a Wrigglers Octopus Beak Hook for a larger crab bait.
Keep the hook point completely exposed.
HERMIT CRAB FOR BASS
Hermit crab is an excellent option for bass around estuaries, rocks, harbour ground and areas where crabs form part of their natural diet.
A whole smaller hermit or section of a larger one makes a compact, highly scented bait.
Fish it on a Running Ledger when you want a natural presentation or a Pulley Rig where stronger casting is required.
Wrigglers Chinu Hooks are particularly well suited to these compact crab baits.
For a larger offering, move up to a Wrigglers Octopus Beak Hook.
HERMIT CRAB FOR COD
Hermit crab can also produce cod, particularly over mixed and rough ground.
Fish the crab on its own or combine it with worm bait to increase the size and scent of the presentation.
A Pulley Rig with a Wrigglers Chinu or Octopus Beak Hook makes a strong general setup.
For a larger cod bait, try hermit crab with black lug or lugworm.
HERMIT CRAB FOR WRASSE
Around rocky ground, hermit crab makes a very natural wrasse bait.
Keep the rig simple and the bait compact. A section of hermit crab on a Wrigglers Chinu Hook gives you a strong but relatively unobtrusive presentation.
This is one situation where there's little benefit in turning the bait into a huge cocktail — the natural crab itself is the attraction.
HERMIT CRAB FOR RAYS
For rays, increase the bait size.
Use several hermit crabs together or combine hermit with another bait to create a more substantial offering.
A Pulley Pennel or Up & Over Rig is suitable for the larger presentation.
Use a Wrigglers Octopus Beak Hook, or a Wrigglers Mutsu Circle or True Circle Hook when using a circle-hook setup.
PREPARING HERMIT CRAB
The shell isn't the bait — the crab inside is.
Remove the hermit crab from its shell and use the soft body and legs to form the bait.
Because the flesh is soft, secure it with fine bait elastic. Bind it enough to survive casting, but don't crush it into a hard ball.
The finished bait should remain compact with the hook point and gape completely clear.
For short-range fishing, particularly around rocks or estuaries, you can often get away with considerably less elastic than you would for a powerful beach cast.
HERMIT CRAB COCKTAILS
Hermit crab is good enough to fish on its own, but there are several useful combinations.
Hermit Crab + Black Lug — a strong natural combination for cod and bass.
Hermit Crab + Lugworm — useful for cod and general bottom fishing.
Hermit Crab + Peeler Crab — an extremely crab-rich presentation for smoothhounds and bass.
Hermit Crab + Squid — squid adds toughness when you need to cast a soft hermit bait harder or further.
For the larger cocktails, use a Wrigglers Octopus Beak or Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank Hook and match the rig to the size of the finished bait.
BEST WRIGGLERS HOOKS FOR HERMIT CRAB
Wrigglers Chinu Hooks — probably the standout choice for neat, compact hermit-crab baits. Particularly suited to bass, smoothhounds and wrasse.
Wrigglers Octopus Beak Hooks — better when using a whole larger hermit, several crabs together or a substantial cocktail.
Wrigglers Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank Hooks — useful when building a larger crab-and-worm or crab-and-squid bait.
Wrigglers Mutsu Circle & True Circle Hooks — options for larger bottom-bait presentations where the angler wants a circle-hook setup.
DON'T OVERLOAD THE HOOK
This is particularly important with hermit crab.
Because the bait is soft, it's tempting to keep adding crab and then wrap everything heavily with elastic. That can leave you with a solid lump of bait surrounding the hook.
A smaller, properly presented hermit crab bait with an exposed hook point and clear gape is usually the better presentation.
COMPLETE YOUR SETUP WITH WRIGGLERS TACKLE
Pair hermit crab with Wrigglers Chinu Hooks • Octopus Beak Hooks • Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank Hooks • Mutsu Circle Hooks • True Circle Hooks • Pulley Rigs • Pulley Pennel Rigs • Up & Over Rigs • Power Swivels • Rig Line • Clips • Bait Elastic & Rig Components.
TOP TIP
If you're targeting smoothhounds, don't automatically reach for a huge fish bait. Hermit crab is a natural crustacean bait, so concentrate on fresh scent, a neat presentation and a hook that isn't buried in the bait.
For harder casting, add a strip of squid or carefully elasticate the crab rather than simply wrapping more and more elastic around it.
NATURAL CRUSTACEAN BAIT • SMOOTHHOUNDS • BASS • COD • WRASSE • RAYS
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