Catches of swimming crabs using fish mince in “teabags” compared to conventional fish baits in collapsible pots

Fishing trials were conducted in a pond using collapsible pots containing fish mince inside a “teabag” or cut fish baits. Scomber japonicus was minced (100 g) and packed in a teabag or cut in half; non-baited pots served as controls. Baits were placed inside box-shaped pots (2.3 cm mesh size) with two slit entrances. Trials consisted of 100-pot hauls/bait type using a 1-day soaking time. The crab catches of Charybdis japonica and Portunus pelagicus from “fish” and “mince teabag” baits were not significantly different, but differences were found for total catch and damselfish Chromis notata. Trials using 80 g of mince and 20 g of sugar as the “teabag” bait lowered the catch of C. japonica, Thalamita sima and Thalamita prymna but not P. pelagicus when compared with fish bait. Results indicate that the mince in teabags is as suitable as fish bait, and that adding substances to the mince might be used to make selective crab baits.