In article , fox66
wrote:
I read everywhere that peeler crab is the bait to have.

More a spring/early summer bait. The problem usually is keeping the small
fish and less desirable species from taking them before the ones you want...

Down here it's a mistake to use them once the sun is up or wrasse nick the
lot.

Could anyone tell me
if other crab is as good the hard backed ones i mean. If they are how would
you fish them?

It's the scent trail that does it. Temptation wise, to a bass peelers are
the equivalent of smoked bacon sizzling in the pan.

If you can get a lot of damaged hardbacks (trawlers usually have a few
buckets full to shovel over the side) pulp them in a steel bucket with a
heavy stick and use as groundbait. Fish another damaged hardback among that
and it's at least as good.

Cheerio,

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