Pt Defiance Crabbing

Dogfish huh? I read on another forum that some folks like to eat em too. We enjoy the fight they put up but have never kept them. Always considered them more of a nuisance.

If they can be used for crab bait, perhaps they have more benefit than previously thought. I might try to eat them using the ice and milk soak method as well.
 
they are supposed to be deceptively good eating. I saw Andrew Zimmern eating them on bizarre foods the other day and I was actually going to keep them, but when we checked our crab pots the bait was near empty, so we used the dogfish.

I will keep and eat some this year. I've read you want to clean them quickly otherwise uric acid can affect the meat a bit, but otherwise they are supposed to make fantastic fish and chips.
 
localboy":1ufwzgfq said:
My buddy said he uses "clams". I gotto get more specifics.
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Attended a crabbing seminar at the 2013 Seattle boat show. The presenter said that clams were the #1 bait to use.

I however have neither an inexpensive or convenient access to said clams.
Dogfish on the other hand can be sourced while fishing for other things. I am definitely going to try eating the next one that should make its way onto our boat.
 
yeah dog fish and flatfish are easy finds for bait, I'm not sure I'd be willing to part with clams in exchange for crabs. To me that would be like using crabs as bait for lobster.
 
we use the eastern softshell clams for bait. they are the best bait we have here. I can go out and dig them on my property . there is a commercial company that has several large land leases in the Skagit bay and they harvest about 360 day a year. the clams are the most natural food for the crab.

on another note, the dogfish is good if properly prepared. the most important fact is that they must be bled as soon as possible to get rid of the urine . I was told that Some time ago, Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips restaurants used dogfish.
 
hey Roger, is gutting and bleeding it enough then and just throw it on ice like any other fish?

if I could dig up clams and use for bait I'd go that route. Right now I teach my 4yr old how to dig up worms before we go lake fishing ;)
 
His family has a beach "cabin" on Hat Island so he probably has access to clams. I have to call him and find out. Although, I agree; clams are delish to me.
 
we have dug clams before and used them and they do work good. we have clam beaches right down from the house. I find it easier to buy fryer chicken at .99$ a pound easier than timing a low tide and digging for bait.

not to sure on the dog fish eating. but we did put 5 kings and 3 coho on ice this weekend. and pulled the first batch of pinks off the canner last night. good start to the season so far.
 
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