Hardback crab

An ordinary shore crab with a hard shell. Wrasse crush them. Bass and hounds much prefer a peeler when it is about. Use hardback when you are on the rocks for wrasse, not as a pretend peeler.

Ranked from the species list. Commonly used — not a guarantee of catching.

• Ballan wrasseStrong target
• Starry smoothhoundGood target
• Corkwing wrassePossible target

1. 1Crush the shell slightly so juices leak, or hook through the edge of the carapace.
2. 2Bind with elastic. A hard crab will spin off a bare hook.
3. 3Match the hook to the crab — wrasse hooks are strong, not tiny.
4. 4Keep the point clear.