Crabbing & Prawning Gear

To get started with crabbing or prawning, you’ll need traps or pots, bait, rope, floats, and a way to retrieve your gear. Many setups also include bait jars, scent attractants, and measuring tools to stay within regulations.

Crab traps are typically wider and designed to sit on the ocean floor in shallower water, while prawn traps are built for deeper water and often have tunnel-style entrances to target prawns more effectively.

Oily fish like herring or salmon carcasses are commonly used for both crabbing and prawning. Pellet bait and scent attractants can also help improve results, especially in deeper water.

Yes, a valid tidal waters fishing license is required for crabbing and prawning in British Columbia. Regulations, limits, and seasons vary, so it’s important to check current rules before heading out.

Prawn traps are typically set in deeper water, often between 200 and 400 feet depending on location and conditions around Vancouver Island.

Crab traps are usually checked every few hours, while prawn traps are often left longer, commonly overnight or for several hours to improve catch rates.

Trap setups require durable sinking rope sized to your depth, along with clearly marked floats for visibility and compliance with local regulations.

Yes, our crabbing and prawning gear is selected for local conditions around Vancouver Island and the Pacific Northwest, including saltwater durability and reliable performance in changing tides.