Any tips for catching blue crabs?

Rowing Tips eg. NOT catching crabs?

• Hey guys, I have just started rowing for my school. It's been pretty good fun so far but I would love for you blokes to help me out. I caught my first "actual" crab today, came as a bit of a shock because I wasn't expecting it, but it kind of whacked me in the face and blew up my nose and stuff. So anyway I kept rowing, but I was definitely not rowing with anywhere near as much confidence. Every stroke instead of focusing on going fast and technique, I was just thinking negatively and hoping not to catch another one. Well of course, this train of thought led to me doing it again, fortunately this time it was pretty minor and was alright. But I'm just hoping on some tips to in future help NOT catch a crab, and anyway to help build my confidence. Cheers fellas (and gals)

• Answer:

  So bow pair is lower in the water, and statistically you'll catch more crabs there. As you know, this happens to everyone. The best way to avoid it is to stay loose. People worrying about crabbing often tense up, and that added rigidity more often than not leads to catching a crab. As far as technique goes, you outside hand should be about two-three inches above the gunnel in the eight when you are feathering, this will help keep the set, and should keep you from crabbing. Rolling up from the feather to the square slowly, being squared by about 3/4 slide, as opposed to flip-catching right at the catch, will also help prep you safely.