Choosing a Crab Pot Puller

Anyone out there that catches crab or shrimp using a crab or shrimp pot will agree, the lightest pot is the first thrown into the water, after that they all just get heavier and heavier. As for retrieving the pots, well that is another matter altogether. Pot pullers are a vital tool for commercial crabbers and shrimpers and they need the strongest most reliable equipment available, their livelihoods and safety depend on it.

Raising the first pot from the depths quickly becomes hard work even for an empty pot. Empty crab pots are not what crabbing is all about, so a power assisted crab pot puller is a must for anyone using pots for crabbing or shrimping. Electric crab pot pullers are the most economical pot pullers with most manufacturers offering a variety of mounting options.

Shrimp and Crab Pot Hauler on Existing Downrigger Mounts

A popular mounting option is using an existing downrigger mount if one is available, irrespective of the down rigger brand. One needs to make sure when purchasing an electric pot puller that the mounting base is compatible with the style of the downrigger mount fitted to the boat.

Power for Pot Pullers

Most common power source is twelve volts for most electric crab pot pullers. If the boat is equipped with electrical down riggers the electrical outlet for the down rigger can be used for the electric crab pot puller, otherwise installing an electrical outlet is required.

Managing the line on a Pot Puller

Any pot puller works well as a crab pot hauler or as a shrimp pot puller because the function is the same and they all can accommodate common line sizes. Some pot haulers are designed as hands free, and this does not mean it’s totally no hands required. What that means is that once the pot line is threaded through the puller the operator is not required to keep tension on the line and is available to coil the rope as it is drawn in by the puller. Stowing the line as it comes aboard is always a challenge therefore ‘Discovery Bay Marine®’ have introduced their power hauler crab pot puller. This puller has a spool that the crab pot line is threaded into, and the pot puller winds the line onto the spool avoiding the line coiling onto the deck and around ones legs.

A well-known manufacturer of fishing equipment ‘Ace Line Hauler®’ manufactures a compact 12v pot puller. The ‘Ace Line Hauler®’ crab pot puller mounts directly onto the ‘Scotty®’ base plate and plugs into the ‘Scotty®’ downrigger outlet. Additional crab pot puller manufacturers such as ‘Trac Outdoor®’ and ‘Discovery Bay Marine®’ offer pot pullers with raised davits.

A crab pot puller davit not only extends outward away from the boat but also higher than the sides. This allows the davit to swing bringing the pot right into the boat.

Gasoline Driven Pot Pullers

Commercial electric crab pot pullers are rare as most commercial pot pullers are hydraulically operated. For an alternate to electric or hydraulic pot puller there is the option of a gasoline driven pot puller. ‘Mckay Shrimp & Crab Gear®’ manufacture a pot puller that features a 4HP ‘Honda®’ gasoline motor with a capstan attached to a davit making it a standalone unit.

What you need to know about Pot Pullers

Commercial crabbers & shrimpers know that they can depend on Go2marine / LFS for a wide selection of crab pot pullers and shrimp pot pullers, parts, and all the accessories to equip them for success. We also have a pot puller for every recreational boater wanting to catch their limits of yummy seafood.

Which crab pot puller or shrimp pot puller is best for you?

If you are on a small boat, a manual pot puller might be all you need. If you are planning on hauling in pots greater than 100lbs, then an electric pot puller is the way to go. A crab or shrimp pot puller can be a simple machine needed for pulling a few small pots up from shallow water like a davit with a pulley or block and tackle on the end. Good medium duty models include 12v electric winches. The Scotty pot puller is a popular recreational brand and we have pot haulers from McKay Shrimp and Crab Gear.

For professional shrimping, lobstering or crabbing, a gas powered pot puller should be considered as they can handle very fast line speeds and weights greater than 100lbs. A gas powered pot puller contains hydraulic winches powered by 4 hp Honda engines that can pull 500lb pots up at 170 ft per minute.

What is needed to complete a pot puller set up?

Once you have identified the pot hauler that suits your needs, you will also need a crab or shrimp pot or lobster trap. Crab rope or other commercial fishing line will be needed along with bait, buoys and flags. We stock all the pot pullers you need, and shrimp and crab pots, line, floats and all the tools for a successful crab and shrimp season.