Finding the right bait baskets for cray pots can actually make or break your weekend out on the water. There is nothing more frustrating than pulling up a heavy pot, expecting a haul of crays, only to find the bait completely gone and the pot empty because a swarm of leatherjackets or small fish picked the bones clean in twenty minutes. It's a common headache, but it's also one that's pretty easy to solve if you stop relying on flimsy mesh bags and start looking at more durable options.
A good basket does more than just hold the fish heads or chicken carcasses you've thrown in there. It acts as a timing device. You want that scent trail to keep pumping out into the current for hours, not just a quick burst that vanishes as soon as the tide turns. If your bait isn't protected, you're essentially just feeding the local baitfish and leaving nothing for the crays you're actually trying to catch.
Why a Solid Basket Beats a Mesh Bag
Most of us started out using those simple green or orange mesh bags. They're cheap, they're easy to find, and they work—until they don't. The problem with mesh is that it's far too easy for small fish to peck through. Once they get a little hole started, they'll strip a salmon head to the bone in no time.
When you switch to rigid bait baskets for cray pots, you're putting a physical barrier between your bait and the "pickers." A thick plastic or wire basket allows the scent to escape through the holes, but it keeps the bulk of the bait intact. This means when a big lobster finally crawls over, there's still a reason for him to stick around and try to get into the pot.
Plus, those mesh bags are a nightmare to clean. Once you get some old, rotting fish skin stuck in the weave, it stays there forever, smelling like something died in your garage—mostly because something did. A solid plastic basket can be hosed out in seconds, which your nose (and your family) will definitely appreciate.
Choosing the Right Material
You've generally got two main choices when looking at bait baskets: heavy-duty plastic or stainless steel/galvanized wire. Both have their fans, and honestly, it often comes down to personal preference and how often you're getting out there.
Plastic Baskets
These are probably the most popular choice for recreational fishers. They're lightweight, they don't rust, and they're usually pretty cheap. The trick is to find one made from UV-stabilized plastic. If you buy the cheap, brittle ones, the sun and the salt will turn them into crackers within a season. You want something with a bit of flex that can handle being banged against the side of the boat.
Wire Baskets
If you're serious about your crabbing or you're fishing in areas with lots of seals or particularly aggressive leatherjackets, wire is the way to go. They're much tougher than plastic and can take a real beating. The downside is that even galvanized wire will eventually start to rust, especially if you aren't rinsing your gear with fresh water after every trip.
Size and Hole Density
One thing people often overlook is the size of the holes in the basket. If the holes are too big, the small fish still get a free meal. If they're too small, the scent doesn't disperse well enough to draw the crays in from a distance.
I usually look for something with holes around 5mm to 10mm. That seems to be the "Goldilocks" zone—enough water flow to carry the smell out, but small enough that a fish can't get its head in there to take a chunk.
As for the size of the basket itself, bigger isn't always better. You want enough room for a decent amount of bait, but you don't want the basket taking up half the floor space in your pot. A medium-sized basket that can hold two or three good-sized fish heads is usually plenty for an overnight soak.
What to Stuff in the Basket
Now, you can have the best bait baskets for cray pots in the world, but if you're putting rubbish bait in them, you're still going home empty-handed. Crays aren't particularly picky, but they do love high-oil content.
- Salmon heads: These are the gold standard. They're oily, they stink (in a good way for crays), and they last a long time in a basket.
- Chicken carcasses: A classic backup. They're cheap and easy to get from the local butcher. Just make sure they're fresh.
- Tuna heads: If you can get them, use them. The oil trail from a tuna head is like a neon sign for every lobster in the area.
A little tip I've learned over the years: try mixing your baits. Put a bit of oily fish in there for the scent, and maybe a piece of salted blue mackerel or chicken for longevity. The combination of a strong immediate scent and a slow-burning food source works wonders.
Securing the Basket Properly
It sounds like a no-brainer, but I can't tell you how many times I've seen people lose their bait baskets because they used a weak cable tie or a dodgy piece of twine. When that pot is bouncing around on the seabed in a big swell, there's a lot of force pulling on that basket.
Use heavy-duty cable ties or, better yet, stainless steel clips. You want the basket positioned in the center of the pot, ideally suspended or raised slightly off the floor. If it's sitting flat on the mesh, the crays can sometimes pick at it from underneath the pot without actually entering. By keeping it central and slightly elevated, you force them to climb in and get right over the top of the basket to get a sniff.
Maintenance and the "Stink" Factor
Let's be honest, cray fishing is a messy business. If you leave your bait baskets for cray pots sitting in the sun with some leftover fish guts inside, you're going to regret it pretty quickly.
After every trip, give the baskets a proper scrub. A stiff-bristled brush and a bucket of soapy water will do the trick. Don't skip this part. Old, rotting bait doesn't actually attract crays as well as fresh, oily bait does. In fact, if the bait gets too sour, it can actually act as a repellent.
Check for cracks or loose lids too. Most baskets use a screw-top or a clip-on lid. Over time, the salt can build up in the threads, making them nearly impossible to open. A quick rinse and a check-over will save you a lot of swearing when you're out on the boat trying to bait up for the next run.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, upgrading your gear doesn't have to be a massive investment. Swapping out old bags for solid bait baskets for cray pots is a small change that makes a huge difference in your catch rate. It's all about efficiency—keeping the "rubbish" fish away from your bait so it's still there when the crays come out to play at night.
So next time you're at the tackle shop, grab a couple of sturdy baskets. They'll last longer, they're easier to clean, and most importantly, they'll help you actually bring home a feed instead of just feeding the fish. It's one of those rare cases where a few extra dollars spent on gear actually pays for itself in lobster dinners pretty quickly.