# Bait Stealers Caught Red Handed!

**URL:** <https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/bait-stealers-caught-red-handed/466848>\
**Category:** Pier/Bank fishing and Surf Fishing\
**Created:** [August 30, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/bait-stealers-caught-red-handed/466848 "2020-08-30T19:23:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ScubaChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@ScubaChris](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/u/ScubaChris)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://forum.bigfishtackle.com/t/bait-stealers-caught-red-handed/466848/1 "2020-08-30T19:23:50Z")

</div>

Today I Lost ALL My Whole Crab Baits!

The day before i collected 9 large sand crabs so i could use them today. Unfortunately i kept getting hits that resulted in stolen crabs until i brought in 3 of the culprits in a row. Burr Fish. Part of the Porcupine Fish family of Puffers. So i released all of them back. Lost all 9 of my crabs so switched back to Arrowhead Squid.

Some anglers will kill the Burr Fish so they won’t catch it again. What a waste! If you’re not going to eat it, release it. It’s their home you’re invading. I did get a huge hit that lasted only 10sec on a crab, but the leader line got cut. Most likely a shark.

When a Burr Fish eats a bait they usually swallow it. Most fish will tend to swallow baits & for artificial lures it tends to hook itself in the mouth. They won’t pull or run like like most fish when hook. So i attach a bell & keep my line taunt. You’ll often hear a light “jingle” & will see the rod tip vibrate. Not what we want but it’s apart of fishing.

Okuma Rigs I Used This Day-

1. HCS 9’6" experimental plugging rod w/a 6K experimental spinner.
2. 12’ Rockaway Rod w/a Blue Azores 6K spinner.
3. 12’ MH Cedros Surf Rod w/a Azores 65 spinner.
4. 11’ H Cedros Surf Rod w/a Surf 8K spinner.

[https://youtu.be/2ndfvrQYVfQ[![](https://i.ibb.co/pyG6FRK/Screen-Shot-2020-08-30-at-9-18-51-AM.png)](https://youtu.be/2ndfvrQYVfQ%5B!%5B%5D(https://i.ibb.co/pyG6FRK/Screen-Shot-2020-08-30-at-9-18-51-AM.png))]([Screen-Shot-2020-08-30-at-9-18-51-AM hosted at ImgBB — ImgBB](https://ibb.co/pyG6FRK))