Fishing with fiddler crabs is not hard. It is quite easy to hook them on to your fishing line. Fiddler crabs are used to catch different types of fish and even other crustaceans. The best kind of fiddler crab to use is a male because they have much larger claws than the female fiddler crab.

What is a Fiddler Crab?

Fiddler crabs are another species of crab that are important to the ecosystem. They’re also known as a calling crab. Fiddler crabs are similar to stone crabs because they, too, can regenerate their claws if they lose them or break off in a fight with a predator.

Unlike the regular red coloring that most people recognize, the stone crab has a dark coloring all over its body while its claws can be colored white. They can also have brownish-grey coloring.

On average, the fiddler crab is tiny. They tend only to grow about 2 to 3 inches wide. This is a vast difference from other crabs whose claws are 3in themselves!

One crucial fact that you must know about the fiddler crab is that their claws are not the same size. The fiddler crabs have one giant pincer and one small pincer. Female fiddler crabs also have one claw that is larger than the other, but it is far less pronounced.

Like black stone crabs, the male fiddler crab has claws that are much larger than female crabs.

The fiddler crab can survive in saltwater tanks in a person’s home. Many people believe that these crabs can survive their entire life in freshwater, but that is not true. If they are kept in freshwater for too long, they will die.

Where to Find Fiddler Crabs

Fiddler crabs are a widespread type of crab, and they can be found all over the world. Not only does the fiddler crab live around West Africa, but you will also find them in Portugal. They do reside in the seas around the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Western Atlantic Ocean.

When you are searching for fiddler crabs, look for them around the entrances of rivers and gulfs. They live in brackish waters and prefer muddy waters and areas where there are many rocks. These crabs also can dig into the mud and fall asleep or use the muddy water to bury food.

How to Catch Fiddler Crabs

Catching fiddler crabs is easy; you just need to know a few techniques. They are easy to grab onto as long as you live in the area where they live. Be sure to hunt for fiddler crabs along the shorelines and inshore waters of the beach and Coast. 

Fiddler crabs like to live in muddy or damp areas where they can easily kick up dirt. They also enjoyed living among dead like fallen branches or locks. The best way to know if there is a fiddler crab in the area is to look for holes in the ground. The holes are tiny, and they can be either on top of the shoreline or down in the water.

Unlike other crab species, the fiddler crab is not very fast, so it will rely more on its strength and fighting ability. You should stay away from their face because of their strong claw. Even though they only have one claw, that does not mean that their strength is less than regular crab. Their claw is powerful, and you will be absolutely at its mercy if it pinches and holds on to you.

If you find one of their holes where they live, you can dig out the hole until you find them or shovel through the area to bring them out of their hole. When you do, be sure to have a tall bucket with you. Place any crabs that you find into in the bucket, so they cannot escape.

Can You Buy Fiddler Crabs?

Although many grocery stores and seafood markets will not sell the fiddler crab, they can usually be found online on many different websites. These websites sell them alive or dead and are known to sell other types of bait as well. Fiddler crabs are sold in packs of three or by the pound.

How to Make Fiddler Crabs into Bait

Turning fiddler crabs into fish bait is no problem. What you must do is take a fiddler crab while it is still alive and thread the hook directly through their body. Be sure to leave their claw on the crab’s body, so the crab is more noticeable to the fish underwater.

Also, if you are using a lure or a colored hook along with the fiddler crab, make sure what you’re using matches the fiddler crab’s color. Too many unnaturally colores may not attract fish. But if the line looks like there are two fiddler crabs nearby, then fish are likely to bite down onto the fiddler crab and onto the hook.

What to Catch with Fiddler Crabs

Since you’re planning to use your fiddler crab as bait, you must know what fish or predators are most likely to attract. 

Fiddler crabs are used as bait to capture a few different types of fish. These animals are known as the sheepshead fish, pompano fish, the pass crab, and the black drumfish. 

Most of these fish live along the coastlines of the North and South Atlantic. They can live as far away as Brazil and as close to parts of the United States like New Jersey and Florida.

Conclusion

The fiddler crab is a small species of crab that only grows two to three inches in size. They have one large claw and one regular claw, but only if they are males because the females do not have a large claw. Different types of fiddler crabs live throughout the world. These crabs are found along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and West Africa. If you are hunting a fiddler crab, look along the shore for small holes in the sand. This is where a fiddler crab lives. Fiddler crabs are also for sale bait shops and on online bait stores.