Kayak Friendly Crab Net

Like most fishing or crabbing gear in the market, a crab net is not meant to be used on a kayak. So, I had to modify mine to make it kayak friendly. Two things need to happen: it needs to get shorter and it needs to float.



What will you need for this project?
- Measuring tape
- Pencil or a sharpie
- Hand saw or circular saw
- Drill with 1/4" bit
- Bicycle handle bar tape
- Pool Noodle
- Utility knife or box cutter
- Zip ties

Crab nets are meant to be used in roomy, high sitting boats. So their handles are long (6 feet). Since our kayaks sit low on the water, we don't need all that length. To cut a crab net's handle shorter is easy. But be careful, you don't cut it too short. You might want to lay the crab net across your kayak. So, it needs to be long enough to do that, yet short enough to make it easy to employ and stow away.

(1) Measure the width of your kayak. (2) Add six inches to the width of your kayak and mark the handle. (3) Measure twice and cut. (4) Sand off the edges. (5) Drill a hole and inch or two from the butt of the handle and add a lanyard. (Optional) Take a bicycle handle cork tape and wrap your handle for grip.

Now let's make this baby float. Having a floating net gives you a third hand when pulling up handlines. Plus, I am sure that you don't want to deep six your net if you take that unexpected spill.

(1) Take a pool noodle and cut it open. (2) Wrap the noodle on the hoop of the net. (3) Secure the noodle  with zip ties. (4) Test in shallow water.

     Voila! You got yourself a lean, mean, crab catching machine.