Crabbing probably isn’t the first thing you think of when considering the Florida keys, but it’s an inexpensive family activity that even little kids will enjoy. Blue crabs are abundant in the keys. The sweet, mild, and delicate flavor of crabs makes them and a universally adored seafood. Catching, cooking, cracking and eating crabs is becoming a lost art.

In the keys, blue crab season lasts all year and the limit is 10 pounds, per day, per angler – (which you’ll never reach anyway). You can have up to five traps in the water at any given time.

Crabs are pretty easy to catch. All you need is a good spot, traps, the right bait and a little patience. You can purchase inexpensive triangle traps online, at Bass Pro Shops or local bait and tackle stores. You’ll also need the following: a five gallon bucket and some chicken necks and backs.

Crabbing is best off a dock or pier in shallow brackish water. There are some really great spots in Key Largo off the Card Sound road bridges. You can also ask the nearest bait and tackle shop for suggestions.

Crabs like crusty pier pilings, brackish water, silty mud and stagnant or shallow water. They may also be abundant around docks where fishermen frequently discard carcasses.

They are attracted to decaying matter. if you are using chicken parts, be sure to thaw them. It’s preferable to let the chicken bake in the sun a bit before tying it into the traps. You can also use leftover bait. If it stinks and attracts flies, it will catch crabs.

That’s all you need to know, lower your traps,  and throw some fishing poles in the water while you’re waiting.