How to Make a Bait Box for a Crab Trap

The purpose of bait box is to entice a crab into the parlor, or upstairs, portion of a crabpot where it's nearly impossible for it escape. A typical bait box is made out of a fine eelpot mesh that protects the bait from a crab's grasp. As a result, the bait inside a bait box will last a long time, luring many crabs into the same trap. Constructing a bait box is straightforward, arguably the easiest part of building an effective crabpot.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 feet of eelpot wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Standard galvanized crabpot staples
  • Pliers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the eelpot wire 25 squares long and 12 squares wide with a pair of wire cutters.

    • 2

      Bend the wire, bringing the longest ends together, to form a long cylindrical shape.

    • 3

      Fasten the two edges together with a standard galvanized crabpot stables and a pair of pliers. Do this by placing a staple onto the two mesh edges and bending it closed with a pair of pliers. Apply a staple every square to make a solidly sealed tube.

    • 4

      Press the edges of the frayed end of the tube together. Seal the pressed edges together with crabpot stables to make a long tubular basket.

    • 5

      Place the bait box inside the crabpot, open end down against the bottom of the trap so the bait can't escape.