Looking at another post about crabbing I saw some variations on what guys were using in thier rings and/or pots for hood Canal dungie fishing.
I've seen people use everything from fish heads to chicken backs marinated in WD-40 to time release capsuls emmitting certain scents at a predetermined rate per hour. I've even come across guys who swear by putting an aluminum can in the pot or a cyalume lightstick for "visual attraction" (not sure how good a crabs eysight is compared to sense of smell, but most likely not anywhere as keen). My personal fav. for pots is one bait container full of chopped up herring (or squid) that allows a scent trail to get flushed downcurrent the whole time the pot is fishing. This bait can't be torn up and consumed by the crab BUT use it in conjunction with an old salmon or albacore carcass that they can nibble on... Wire this to the pot (or ring) and give them some fast food to hold thier attention. Works well for me. Basically give them anything that emitts oil and scent AND IS FRESH....I've come across alot of people whose misconception is that crab like "old rotten stinky stuff". Its got to be fresh to fish effectively.

My old summertime favorite thing to do ... my best bait was always a tupperware container drilled with holes with a mess of smashed up cockles and horse clams

If someone in the house did'nt clean their plate after eating turkey legs, give those a try . They will hold up a bit longer than chicken. I personally just end up eating the whole damn thing.

Turkey Legs and when you can find it frozen Mackerel.

Herring

Greenling/quillback head and gut that have been left out in a bag for a day or two...ps bring rubber gloves or you well have a crab for a wife

Any old fish parts work for me. But some pots just outfish others. If a starfish has been in the pot spray the pot down with WD 40 and give him a ride someplace else. Cover or git rid of any bare metal...

First choice: shad

mackeral and herring close seconds.

If the pot stays out overnight clams and squid work well too.

Turkey and chicken only make good soup...

Turkey Legs. Period.

A lot of people swear by chicken or turkey, but everything I have read on the subject, and my own experience shows fresh fish or other natural sea baits is a lot better. Last summer in the San Juans I dropped Chicken parts and fairly fresh slamon carcases in the same area, to test. The salmon won out with more and bigger crabs.

We usaully freeze salmon or steelhead carcases (after the filleting is done, of course) and that's what we usually use.

Turkey legs & Herring.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I throw a can of minced clams with some holes poked in th top along with a turkey leg wired to the pot. clams get them there and turkey leg hold their intrest.

I've tried everything from chicken to shark! Nothing works better than fresh clam meat. I guess when you live on a saltwater mud bottom what's the most common food you get your mandibles on? clams clams yum yum!

BD

My three favorite baits are Shad Shad and Shad. If there are any crabs around, they'll come to shad. cut up pieces and place them in a bait container and then lash a shad or two to the bottom of the trap. Make sure they can't get to the whole shad from the outside of the trap. You will get some exercise pulling the heavy pots from the bottom.

1st choice: salmon carcass left over from fileting
2nd choice: rockfish carcass from commercial fishermen
3rd choice: mackerel, tuna
4th choice: turkey leg, after it looks "used" take a bait knife to it and repeat
5th choice: squid, when fishing is not going well and there is a lot of bait left

Seal Meat

Anything the seafood department at your grocery store will give away for free. Usually salmon heads, backbones, and tails.

Shad - they'll leave the other baits in the dust! No comparison!

~steelymann~

Smelt in a frezzer bag w/ hole punched in the bag. works like a charm