Crab fishing in Montenegro is another of the many exciting activities that can entertain you in this Balkan country. So when my friends showed me photos of deliciously cooked crabs and asked if I wanted to join them next time, my answer was unequivocal.
Crabs in Montenegro
With access to the Adriatic Sea, modern Montenegro has access to a huge amount of marine resources. And although the locals themselves are not accustomed to seafood for historical reasons, this does not change the fact that it is a good place for fishing.
The locals don’t understand what we’re doing with the crabs or why we’re catching them. It’s strange for us. But, as they say, that’s okay, we’ll get more.
How to catch crabs in Montenegro
Methods of catching crabs
If you decide to catch a dozen or two crabs for dinner, you need to do a little preparation. The simplest method described here is baiting.
There is also the option of fishing with a snorkeling mask, but it is more technically difficult and requires a certain level of physical fitness and swimming skills. The option of fishing at night with a flashlight, which attracts these creatures, is not an option because it is prohibited in Montenegro as poaching.
Therefore, the best option is the one I described. Especially since it allows you to release the crab unharmed if you do not intend to eat it and decide to follow the “catch and release” principle.
What you need to take for crab fishing
The minimum set you will need (in my experience):
- Bait. The simplest and most effective method is rotten chicken meat. I bought five chicken wings at the nearest store, wrapped them tightly in plastic wrap, and put them in the trunk of my car in the heat. After a day, it smelled so bad that I had to air out the car. The crabs could smell it from dozens of meters away.
- Rope or fishing line. You will need to attach bait to it. I forgot to buy rope, so I found some left behind by previous crab fishermen. In principle, any strong fishing line will do, but given the color of the water, I would now buy a green shade.
- A fishing net. You will use it to pull crabs out of the water. It should have a fine mesh made of durable material. Ideally, you should get a high-quality fishing net, but I didn’t have one on hand. So I just bought one at the nearest Chinese goods store for €6. The quality turned out to be terrible, but it will suffice for one or two fishing trips.
- A bucket. The deeper, the better. We will put the caught crabs in it. Any bucket will do, but a deep one is more convenient, as they cannot climb out of it and you can leave the bucket open. I bought a 20-liter plastic barrel with a lid for €4 at a KIPS hardware store.
- Gloves. I went on my first fishing trip without them, which I regretted. A week later, I am struggling to write this article, as it is not always possible to avoid being grabbed by a crab’s claws. Not only are they very strong and sharp, but they are also extremely dirty, which complicates the healing of wounds. Therefore, for my next trip, I took regular rag construction gloves. This makes fishing much easier, as I can pick up the crab if it falls on the grass or does not want to come out of the net.
All this is enough to go crab fishing.
The process of crab fishing
We arrived at the fishing spot quite late—around noon. Despite it being the end of September, the weather outside was wonderful. But the sun was mercilessly hot, so don’t forget your sunscreen and water!
We unloaded our gear from the car and headed for the shore. I found my spot right away. I was lucky with it. As it turned out later, their burrows were right under my feet, and sometimes I pulled them out with a net without any bait, while they climbed out and looked at me in bewilderment: what kind of elephant was stomping on their roof?
I filled a bucket with several liters of water and left it open. This is the main advantage of deep and stable containers. Thanks to the presence of their native water and access to air, they remained alive throughout the entire fishing trip. Many who used small buckets had to keep closing them, because crabs want to live and fight with all their might to get out.
Next, we attach the bait to the line. I didn’t try to be clever and tied a double knot in the rope at the joint of the chicken wing. It worked perfectly: not a single bait was lost all day.
You can tie several lures to one line. This will increase the “aromas” that your tackle will spread.
In addition, many people add weight so that the bait sinks faster and lies on the bottom. From my experience, I either use very little weight (1-2 nuts) or no weight at all. With a good sinker, it is much more difficult to feel when a crab has taken the bait.
That’s it, you’re all set. Cast your line far out and wait. You’ll know when a crab grabs the bait by feeling or seeing it. The line will start moving in a way that’s not typical for the current. If you gently pull it along the bottom, you’ll feel something dragging behind it. Immediately after that, the crab will most likely try to drag the bait away. Since they move sideways, the tackle will start to “move” sideways.
When you realize that the crab has taken the bait, slowly and carefully pull it toward the shore. Your task is not to scare it away. It holds tightly onto the bait with one claw, while biting off pieces with the other and sending them into its mouth.
At the same time, I prepare the net and bring it up from below. As soon as the crab with the bait is in the net, I quickly pull it to the surface.
Here, you must be prepared for the crab to behave in different ways. Some will pretend to be dead, while others will try to escape or resist desperately, clinging to the net with their claws and trying to injure you at the same time.
Bring the net to the bucket and turn it upside down. Most often, the caught crab will fall out on its own. Sometimes you have to help it by unhooking its claws. Thick gloves are especially helpful at this point.
Tip. If a crab grabs your finger, do not try to hit it or shake your hand. It will not feel the blows, and the “roller coaster” will only make it cling to your flesh more tightly. Gently place it on the ground. Feeling the surface beneath it, it will immediately let go of you and try to escape.
Caught crabs should remain alive for as long as possible. Once dead, they begin to release toxins within a few hours, making them undesirable to eat. For this reason, I do not close the lid to allow oxygen access until the return trip. Here, an airtight lid is useful, as you can safely transport the barrel in the trunk of your car without worrying that it will tip over and you will have to catch angry crabs all over the interior.
You can cast your bait many times in the same spot. If they bite quickly, it means there are a lot of them there. And while they are going for the bait, you need to take advantage of that.
Tip: Look carefully into the water. Sometimes you can see crabs with the naked eye. Then just carefully cast your bait a meter away from it and wait. In a minute, it will most likely happily grab the offered treat.
When you get home, you need to start cooking the crabs right away. To do this, I wash them thoroughly under running water, then boil them in two batches of water. I boil them for the first 3 minutes, then drain the dirty water, refill the pot, and put them back in boiling water. Another 7 minutes (already with spices, herbs, and bay leaves) and the crabs are ready! They can now be eaten or frozen in the freezer for future use.
Although boiling crab and removing the meat is the simplest thing to do, there are many wonderful recipes that offer exquisite dishes to suit every taste. Don’t be afraid to experiment.