Presentation of the wart crab
The wart crab, Eriphia verrucos it is present in the Mediterranean and on the Atlantic coast. It is sometimes called pustule crab, fioupélan or simply hairy. It is a large species of crab which can exceed 10 cm in width.
A belligerent looking crab with oversized and fearsome claws. Its brown to yellow carapace is flattened and it appreciates crevices. A crab of the rocky zones that can be found as well on the edge as on deeper submerged rocks.
Collection techniques
Its large claws erected when it has to face a possible predator, do not necessarily engage the fisherman to seize it with the hand. However, with a bit of practice, it is not difficult to grab it with a full hand while keeping its claws stuck to the body. Even if the big subjects have claws that can cause real injuries, they are not the hardest to catch. On the contrary, smaller fish are more dexterous and will quickly pinch you.
It is still possible to attract and catch this uninviting crab with scales or baskets, by offering them a bait (sardine or piece of cephalopod). You can even use a crab hook to dislodge them from rocky cracks.
Use
Because of its size and the hardness of its shell, the wart crab remains a bait that targets large predators or those with a formidable dentition. It is a famous bait for sea bream and big sars.
Even if it can sometimes be used alive (for the smallest subjects) it is preferable to use it as bait once dead under penalty of seeing it drag your rig under a rock. Whole, it will not resist to the teeth of a beautiful gilthead bream. Cut in pieces or in sections, it will attract sars by sea.
If you want to keep it alive, do not mix it with other species of crab, as it will quickly tear them apart with a pinch.
A bait of choice for surfcasting or jigging to target the best specimens. The use of hooks of size N°1/0 to 4/0 very strong of iron is necessary to fish species able to feed on such a bait.
