Hermit Crabs. short term storage.

[WhaleFart]

Hey guys,


turning to help, I am finally taking a vacation day tomorrow and plan on doing some blackfishing. I am picking up some hermit crabs after work, as i hear they are like crack cocaine for these blackies.

I read a few posts about long term keeping of hermits, but how would I best store these over night, and throughout the trip.


Id hate to wake up, get to the boat, and find a bunch of dead crabs.


Appreciate every response in advance!

Will be posting a report after the trip tomorrow.


WhaleFart.

[tropics]

When you pick them up ask them how they keep them.

[fishfetchr]

Also ask about getting that special shucking knife to get them out of the shell.

[hookset]

If you are just keeping over night put in fridge they will fine! Bring a hammer and a board to smash them on! Good luck tight lines

[Boston Pete]

Whalefart, I'm not trying tio piss in your Cherrio's but personally I'm not a fan of hermit's, i've only used them a total of 10 - 15 times but have been on boats where others were fishing them...I never seen them shut a bite down like whites do to greens. But I have seen them catch fish when the bite shuts down so if I did have em them that's when I would use em.


To me they seem like alot of work only to be eaten by a bergal or small blackfish. I've never seen a big fish come up on one. To me it seems like porgy fishing, you don't get that awsome blackfish crunch as you do with crabs.

Give me white crab anytime, more durable, better bite & easier to keep alive. To me the big thing about blackfishing is the bite, maybe that's why I don't like hermits so much.

One day down south I was on the S_______ & the Jersey boys were using hermits all around the boat..... 1st time I ever saw anyone fishing them from what I heard about them I thought I wouldn't catch a fish ......I ended up pulling an 18lb fish on a green crab and limited,


Good luck, I hope you smoke em.

[Togman316]

I agree. I've never seen any big fish on them. Definitely use a double hook and if the bergal life is very active it will be tough. You need to swing almost immediately with hermits. Good luck.

[Blackfish Bobby]

Here Here......I second that.... definitely not a game changer. Little toggies and gizzy's take the sweetness off the hook before the big boys come to play.
There is a little trick but I will save that for another time.....:eek:

[Kelli84]

Reach out to the Shrimpman, he keeps is "pets" alive all Winter.